Complete VGA Mod Guide (Diagrams, Hex Edits), HD vs. S-Video comparison, bad games. Options

[Jameson42]

I believe PiXeL8 and TATX VGA bioses work only with 1.0 and 1.1. iND-BiOS VGA works up to 1.5. (both focus and conexant, but not xcalibur)

[scabbsss jr]

WOW i been wantin to do this for a while. a great tut dude.

i wanna do it and put it in my car with my 17inch flat screen monitor for road trips

[HSDEMONZ]

One of the mods for this areas should add this topic to a list of guides/tuts/resources for this forum. In the meantime, It's pinned directly.

[leeloo5]

cool, another bad game (green tint) is Brothers in Arms.

[leeloo5]

I cant update the guide right now, but i'd like to add a part about PAL users. Also For enabling 480p blindly.


If you have a PAL xbox, you'll need to switch your xbox to NTSC by using a mod chip or enigmas video mode switcher. Note, I DO NOT HAVE A PAL XBOX so i take no responsability for things going wrong. I have not tried any of this switching, but others have tried these methods. PAL xbox's have HD modes disabled, and you can only enable them with NTSC xbox's.


Once you do that, or even if you have a NTSC xbox, you'll need to enable 480p. To do this without having another component cable, you'll need to hook up your VGA adapter, then enable the 480p blindly as follows:

When at the MS dashboard do this:
Down 5 times, Hit A
Down 3 times, Hit A
Down 1 time, Hit A
Left 1 time, Hit A
Hit B 3 times to go back to main menu.
Reboot

After you do this, you should be able to connect the cable to the PC monitor and it should work great.

[Boba_Fett]

Does anyone know how much of a difference there is (if any) between using VGA and component?

[leeloo5]

if your outputting in HD the difference between componenet mode and vga mode is that VGA mode is always 640x480 or 480p, while component mode can handle 720p and 1080i. I think component mode is better, and have heard its more compatable. I dont know why you'd use VGA mode.

[Boba_Fett]

Does anyone know how much of a difference there is (if any) between using VGA and component?

That's what I was thinking. Someone was trying to tell me the other day that 480p (what the vast majority of xbox games use for above standard resolution) looks better through VGA than component. Guess not :x

[grimlock]

Forgive my lack of patience to explain thoroughly, since I have done so in the innumerable other topics that asked the same question
Primarily the quality of the image depends on your display device (monitor, projector, etc). The specifications for YPbPr (progressive component signal) and RGB (VGA-like) are not so different to justify significant differences.
However a specific projector could output a better image with RBG input, while another with YPbPr...

Also (IIRC), YPbPr has a marginally larger theoretical colorspace, but it's useless for practical purposes.

[Pandoriaantje]

hey guys.

I already have a VGA mod but i used 74HC14 Hex inverting Schmitt trigger to 'buffer' the sync signals straight from the conexant chip (pin 35-36).

Now, i was wondering if one would be better then the other.
Since using the 74HC14 you get the signals straight from the chip, but when using the LM1881 they are extracted/sepperated right?

*edit*
Here's the diagram: http://members.lycos.nl/pandoriaantje/file...itung_07_12.pdf (page 8)

This post has been edited by Pandoriaantje: Oct 4 2005, 06:15 PM

[grimlock]

Actually, one could be more or less the same as the other. Let me explain myself:
1. The LM1881 is 10x more expensive ($1.5 compared to $0.15) -kidding
2. The 74HC14 maybe a "cleaner" solution, but I am worried that there could be timing issues -the sync signal could be faster or slower than the video signal, due to the buffer. Also, is somewhat more difficult to solder on so small pins...
3. What about focus video encoders? (only saw conexant there)

All in all, this pdf is an inspired resource, worthy of mention. I would recommend trying out the buffer solution if you're up for it -you certainly have nothing to lose.

[Pandoriaantje]

...
I would recommend trying out the buffer solution if you're up for it -you certainly have nothing to lose. 

I already did the mod some time ago. (back then i found a thread wich had alternative soldering points for the conexant, on this forum).

I just havent used it yet
But since i'm going to redo the whole output (I will be desoldering the original xbox connector and use a custom backplate) i was wondering if i should go with a LM or stick to the 74HC mod.

This post has been edited by Pandoriaantje: Oct 5 2005, 02:46 PM

[Helios]

Awesome. Just awesome. I can't wait to try it out! thanks buddy

[Spectrobozo]

http://antibeat.host.sk/vgaguide/
is not working here!

[leeloo5]

works for me, try again, its a free hosting service.