The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
HDTV: Is HDMI worth it?
Zimmydoom
Accept no substitutesRegistered User regular
Accept no substitutesRegistered User regular
I just recently invested in a brand new 42" HDTV (this one) for my father for Christmas, and it's already up in the main living room with my games and the DVD player. I have a Wii and 360, both with component cables, and will probably be getting a PS3 and/or Blu-Ray/HD-DVD player at some point. This is my first experience playing on an HDTV, so I really don't have anything to compare it to. Right now, everything looks absolutely freakin' gorgeous compared to the ten year-old 22" CRT in my bedroom.
My question, basically, is whether or not I'm fine sticking with component cables for my 360, or would I really be better off still if I invested in HDMI cables? I'm one of those people who likes to squeeze every last drop of performance out of his gear, but I don't want to throw my money away if there really isn't any discernible difference in quality since I only get to play on it when I'm home from school anyway. Also, if I do opt for HDMI, is it worth it to invest in Monster Cable, or should I just stick with the plain ol' first party stuff?
My question, basically, is whether or not I'm fine sticking with component cables for my 360, or would I really be better off still if I invested in HDMI cables? I'm one of those people who likes to squeeze every last drop of performance out of his gear, but I don't want to throw my money away if there really isn't any discernible difference in quality since I only get to play on it when I'm home from school anyway. Also, if I do opt for HDMI, is it worth it to invest in Monster Cable, or should I just stick with the plain ol' first party stuff?
Better-than-birthday-sig!
Zimmydoom on
0
Posts
HDMI is always going to give a higher quality picture in comparison to any analogue inputs, like component. For example, I noticed a huge difference in text clarity when I switched from VGA to DVI / HDMI for my PC.
For the 360, the component cables it came with are accpectable at this point in time.
This the best cable for the PS3 from Monoprice. Black 6ft, $6.43 (back ordered): http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024008&p_id=3992&seq=1&format=2
Here's one that will do and can later be used for the 360 (360 uses HDMI 1.2 instead 1.3a like the PS3), 7ft black, $6.99: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812189053
I paid roughly $30 at a Sam's Club for a Pure Digital Belkin HDMI Cable with extra shielding (I get high interference in my area) and I was ripped off about $10. You should never pay more than $25 max for an HDMI cable. And currently Sam's Club seems to have them back at $19.**.
Ahahahaha, that was so devious. For your father, yeah, right. ;-)
As for the Xbox cabling business, you can get a 1080p picture out of component cables but it isn't as good as using VGA or DVI or HDMI (in ascending quality order). Since you have a VGA and HDMI port, might as well use whichever one you can get a cheaper cable for.
A basic rundown of why you need it (with techno-jargin removed for easy reading):
HD-DVD and Blu Ray include a non-utilized feature in order to prevent copying or ripping of video. Basically hi-def movie makers don't want you to be able to hook up your Hi-def video player to some sort of box and record a perfect copy of the movie (which is stupid because no one in their right mind would rip a hi-def movie this way). So, in order to make sure this never happens, hi-def video formats include a method of copy protection. All HDTVs produced after a certain date (don't worry, unless you're a damn early adopter you're good) must be able to verify that the hi-def player is connected directly to the television. They do this using a digital signal. The hi-def player will send a signal, digitally, through the cable connecting it to the television, which the television must decode, figure out a reply with, and then send back to the hi-def player. The only way they can send it is with a digital connection.
Now, what happens if the verification cannot be detected? Well, like I said, it's unused now, but the planned purpose is to force the hi-def player to downscale. So, instead of outputting at, say, 1080p, it'll output at 480p. again, this is done in order to prevent people from recording hi-def streams. If they can't be sure it's not hooked up to some crazy box that'll record the stream, they'll drop you back down to 480p.
So VGA or component? Those are analog connections - they won't verify to the hi-def player that there is a direct connection. HDMI and DVI can both verify the connection. As I said before, this feature is unused, and the general consensus is that it won't be used for now. Will it be used? Who knows. But it's scary enough to convince some that unless you have an HDMI connection, hi-def formats are worthless. To clarify, right now you can connect a HD-DVD drive to a 360 which is connected to an HDTV using VGA and still output in HD. But there's a possibility that one day, it might not, and you'll be required to have an HDMI enabled 360.
I was misinformed
[/EDIT]
I suggest the following website for cables: www.monoprice.com
also, don't buy the $70 ones. There are hdmi cables that sell for like $6
B.net: Kusanku
Yes. Yes. Oh god, yes.
I have Penny Arcade to thank for pointing me to Monoprice. DVI-to-HDMI cable for my laptop? $50 at a brick and mortar ... $4 online.
false, his tv may not accept 1080p over component though
1080p over Component doesn't look great, though.
Change that to 50 feet. Monoprice's 50-footer has been tested against Monster's. Same quality, of course. I'd dig up the URL but I've got no time right now.
Yeah. It's only like 1070p. You need HDMI to get the extra 10 pixels. I am joking.
You will not notice the difference. Unless you're some manner of machine with the sole purpose of determining that sort of shit. Which, if you are, I apologize.
3DS: 1650-8480-6786
Switch: SW-0653-8208-4705
Don't say that sort of thing over at AVS...
You guys have to remember that HDMI has a company behind it that wants people to think there is a higher visual quality to their product. The marketing has certainly worked... but when you start testing things it doesn't add up.
Too bad it actually does look better, or you might have a point.
I have seen it with my own eyes.
ok then
info is out there if you want to look beyond a single anecdotal experience that could have additional factors
Edit: And sure, there are additional factors. There could be interference affecting the analog Component signal, or the television in question could just be kind of bad at handling the analog Component signal. Neither of these affect (or are as likely to affect, in any case) an HDMI signal.
Do you mean it was a TV with a resolution lower than 1920x1080, but it was advertised as 1080p because it could display 1080p signals? Or that it had a 1920x1080 resolution but was incapable of accepting a 1080p signal?
Anyway, his TV is both full 1920x1080 and can accept 1080p signals.
The tv was full 1920x1080, but could not take in 1080p signal. Well since his tv can take in 1080p through the component, the other question is, what devices support 1080p output through component?
360.
To my knowledge that is all.
3DS: 1650-8480-6786
Switch: SW-0653-8208-4705
uh, considering microsoft specifically created HDMI 360's to make their HD-DVD attachment qualified, and that they're a major proponent of the HD-DVD format, and that everything I've read states the opposite of what you said, I'm going to need a source.
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197970666737/
Same cable; don't let anyone tell you differently. Some devices support features from the 1.3 standard and some only from 1.2. The difference is minimal (some sound format shit, 40-bit color that nobody is ever going to actually use, etc.) and of course the device at both ends of the cable must support the 1.3 standard to get it to work.
Just like when people think they need component cables when they can really use composite if they wanted to (yes it works).
To contribute to the discussion: Although I love me some video, I can't really tell the difference between HDMI and component for quality. Having said that, it's nice to have digital audio and video in what is essentially a giant USB connector.
This should be how they are marketing HDMI to the masses. Not 'zomgz more rezomolutionisms', instead it should be '1 fucking cable. Seriously.'
3DS: 1650-8480-6786
Switch: SW-0653-8208-4705
I assume a 1.2 device connected to a 1.2 tv would still work fine over 1.3?
What do you mean "over 1.3"? It's the same cable. You plug a 1.2 device into a 1.2 reciever, you have a 1.2 connection.
Now, plug a 1.3 device into a 1.2 TV, which you might have meant, well yes it will work fine but you won't have Dolby Super Fucking Digital EX4 Turbo Hyper Fighting Edition 9-and-a-half-point-1 Super Surround Sound (which you almost certainly don't have the speakers for anyway) and 40-bit color (not that the human eye can tell the difference between 40-bit and 32-bit anyway).
Ughhhh, theres a 1.2 and 1.3? Now I am even more confused. I can build my own computers just fine but figuring out all this TV A/V stuff is a nightmare to me.
Final Fantasy XI -> Carbuncle - Samash
Probably not. In theory, it shouldn't, but some TVs apply different filters to component signals than to HDMI and such, so in reality it varies by TV. If you have a spare cable lying around, go ahead and compare; if not it's probably not worth the bother.
My mistake. I assumed it was a different cable standard as well, like USB 1.1 and 2.0.
Honestly, ignore it. You don't need to worry about it. I can't stress enough how little you need to worry about this. It's like needing a new USB cable because your printer upgraded it's firmware, or some stupid crap like that.
Buy the cable you need from monoprice. They are a real honest and well priced company.
It'll be gloriously clean and dust free. So pumped.
B.net: Kusanku
B.net: Kusanku
I was thinking the same thing.