Xbox 360 to DVI-D, can it be done?

Korlash

Hello internets, I need your help.

So I was all set to buy myself a nice tv as a gift to myself for surviving this session of college when my financial situation... evolved.

So yeah, after the soul-crushing disappointment, I figured I'd just plug my xbox 360 into my computer monitor (since I'm using my parents' tv right now, and that is only temporary). I already figured out I need a 5.1 to RCA adapter for the audio, but it's the video that's trouble.

Now technically I can plug my xbox 360 in my monitor using the vga cable adapter, but then I'd have to constantly plug and unplug the cable to use my pc and the console, which is certifiably not cool. My monitor supports DVI, which would allow me to keep both my computer and console plugged.

Searching the web, I found that you can buy a vga to DVI-I converter for next to nothing. Problem is, my monitor only supports DVI-D.

So, do you have any idea what I could do to get this working?

ArcticMonkey

Get a VGA switcher with two inputs and one output. Should not be too expensive. But it doesn't hurt to try the digital input first. Most new graphics card has the adapter, so borrowing one should be easy.

Noray

ArcticMonkey wrote: »

Get a VGA switcher with two inputs and one output. Should not be too expensive.

That's what I did, in the same boat as the OP. Did set me back around 35 eurobucks, though.

focused7

Does your xbox have an hdmi port? You could just pick up a hdmi to dvi-d cord. I don't believe there is a adapter to go from VGA to DVI-D (although you could pick up an expensive convertor). VGA is an analog signal while DVI-D is strictly a digital signal and DVI-I handles analog and digital.

If your xbox doesn't have the hdmi port you are probably stuck using a switch box for the VGA like mentioned above.

Daedalus

You can't convert VGA to DVI-D.

If you have HDMI on the Xbox, you can convert that to DVI-D.

If not, you're fucked.

focused7

You can convert VGA to DVI-D but the box is about $300+ and you don't gain any quality from it.

shutz

I doubt that you'll be able to get HDMI to convert to DVI-D, unless we're really lucky and the HDMI coming out of the 360 is not HDCP-encrypted... One thing's for sure, if you have the HD-DVD addon, that won't work through HDMI->DVI-D.

The reverse works great, though: my HDTV has an HDMI port, and my laptop has DVI-D, and the results let me watch some of my first HD movies (since I don't even have analog cable nor any of the HD disc formats.)

ElJeffe

shutz wrote: »

I doubt that you'll be able to get HDMI to convert to DVI-D, unless we're really lucky and the HDMI coming out of the 360 is not HDCP-encrypted... One thing's for sure, if you have the HD-DVD addon, that won't work through HDMI->DVI-D.

You can get a HDMI->DVI-D converter for under $10. DVI-D is HDCP compliant, so there won't be any issues.

DrFrylock

Can your computer's graphics card not output DVI-D? If it can, plug the computer into the DVI port. If it can't, you probably have an old video board, and you may be able to add one to your computer for cheap...

Korlash

DrFrylock wrote: »

Can your computer's graphics card not output DVI-D? If it can, plug the computer into the DVI port. If it can't, you probably have an old video board, and you may be able to add one to your computer for cheap...

Is there a loss of quality when switching to DVI-D? I have a 7950 GTX, I'm pretty sure it can output in DVI-D.

That would be the easiest solution. Otherwise, I'll just buy a vga switcher, seems like the cheapest option.

Raere

Korlash wrote: »

DrFrylock wrote: »

Can your computer's graphics card not output DVI-D? If it can, plug the computer into the DVI port. If it can't, you probably have an old video board, and you may be able to add one to your computer for cheap...

Is there a loss of quality when switching to DVI-D? I have a 7950 GTX, I'm pretty sure it can output in DVI-D.

That would be the easiest solution. Otherwise, I'll just buy a vga switcher, seems like the cheapest option.

DVI-D is better quality, if your computer and monitor support it, you should be using it anyway.

Sorenson

As said, a DVI>HDMI adapter or cable is probably going to be your best bet, and they're really not expensive at all. The two problems you're going to run into with this though are (A) finding a place to connect the VGA audio cables since you'll only get the image through the cable and (B) in order to get both the VGA and HDMI cables to fit you're going to have to crack open and remove the VGA plug' plastic case, understandably undesireable to certain people and mentalities. You'll probably have to get one of those media center boxes that let you switch between inputs for the sound issue (though it also allows headphone use depending on the model you get, which I've found absolutly wonderful in my case).

DrFrylock

Raere wrote: »

DVI-D is better quality, if your computer and monitor support it, you should be using it anyway.

Yeah dude, this is a no-brainer. Computer through DVI-D, Xbox through VGA. Voila.

Korlash

Alright, I indeed realised my computer was already plugged in through DVI-D and immediately felt like a moron. Now my xbox 360 is all hooked up but it doesn't work. I go into my monitor's menu and switch the input from digital to analog, and it shows a no signal screen then switches back to digital.

The lights on the ring of light are normal, everything is fine, but there seems to be no video signal. I know I'm using a used vga adapter so that might be the problem. Do you have any other ideas?