http://antibeat.host.sk/vgaguide/

It took me a while to find various information about vga mods here. people were very helpful, but the tutorials were slightly old and some of the diagrams confusing. also, i only knew about hex editing after stumbling upon it.

To make it easier for someone to get into making a VGA mod to play xbox games on their PC monitors, i've brought together much of this information from the xs forums. I made my own diagrams i thought were more clear, and tried to make it all as simple as possible. Although i tried to keep it simple, i wanted to introduce someone with no information to the terms assosiated with doing the mod so that they could easily search this forum for relevant information.

Includes:
-HD vs s-video comparison with screenshots
-Guide with diagrams on wiring a vga cable
-Quick guide to hex editing the MS Dashboard and other non-HD games to work in 480p
-A list of games with the green-tint problem

Hey man this is awsome, thanks I have been waiting fora decently drawn diagram for a bit. Appreiciate it..
-EvX-

Splinter Cell (the first one) also does the green wash. I wonder why these games in particular all do this?!

Yeah, i'd assume that maybe the programers wanted to use some type of special commands to the video processor, and when they sent them it over-rides the vga-bios. I'm not too familiar with how all of this works, but it seems that its definitely something paticular groups choose to use since KOTOR and Jade Empire were made by the same people on probably the same engine, and the Splinter Cells were probably on the same engine.

do people have this problem with SOG monitors? also, does anyone know if the x2vga+ has this, i heard its better and maybe the LM1881 is just a crappy sync seperator and these games throw out a weird sync signal.

I was also wondering why the x2vga people even made the 480i Easyview mode. They say its for displaying the MS Dashboard, but you could just as easily hold both triggers and hit both thumbsticks and display the whole image on the screen in 480p. Or is it because they wanted to give people a chance to initially enable HD on their xboxs?

There are instances when video mode is switched without resetting gpu. In these cases code that sets gpu output to RGB is not called hence it's outputting YCbCr.

Also see my sig for thread with my nkpatcher vga code.
It can patch the retail bios on the fly with vga support and also auto patch 480i only games/applications to output progressive video i.e. no hex patching. It does things a bit differently than all VGA bioses - iND, JunkMonkey, etc that basically use the same Pixel8 vga code.
I have never had any green tint issues with my code in games including Jade Empire and Spliter Cell series.
Of course this is on my 1.4 focus chip, but theoretically it should run even on 1.6 xcalibur boxes.
Only not much people seem to be interested in trying this...

First of all, kudos for compiling the info.
Second, maybe you should post it here, as a seperate tutorial.

And now for a question: The photos you have comparing S-video to VGA are taken on the same display?

My monitor is SOG and gives me the green problem on all the games listed.

I cant post the pics here since i dont have a host that supports hot-linking.



Yes, they are all taken with a nikon digital camera set up on a tripod. The actual image is produced from my 800x600 digital projector (epson 51c). The images were taken one after another so lighting and everything was the same. All of the digital photos were then corrected for contrast using photoshops autolevel feature. Its hard to take a picture of a computer monitor as you might know, and the results were similar to what i've experienced on my PC monitor, however in reality, HD looks a little better and s-video through the upconverter that i had looks a little worse. actually a lot worse, it had discoloration and other artifacts.



I'm checking this out right now. As i said, when i see things like nkpatcher, i dont connect it to vga, so i never knew about this. I'll have to try it out.

very nice, i was about to buy another Vdigi box but now seeing this, i think i'll just make it

to dr_oldschool

i sent you a PM asking about your method. I couldn't find any precompiled files at the usual places. If it would be possible for you to put one up somehow for all of us windows people, that would be great. If not, as i said in my pm, any help would be apreciated.

Added precompiled binary. See here.

Why is a v1.0-1.3 xbox required? Why wouldn't this cable work for a v1.6 xbox?

The version 1.0-1.3 work with a conexant (sp?) video processor. I think its 1.0 to 1.3. This means that the ind-bios 5001-vga code is specific to this processor. I've heard that other xbox's might work, but supposedly these ones are the only supported xbox types.

if anyone else has any info that would be great, i have only a version 1.0 xbox, so i cant test any of this info.

So it's not the cable that wouldn't work, it's the BIOS, right?

So is there any VGA compatible bios that supports the Xcalibur video encoder?

Thanks,
-Danny

i'm not really sure, but the ones i know of, pixel8, TATX, and the ind-bios shouldn't work, although you could try them.

I've posted a request for someone to incorperate dr oldschools code into a bios since its supposedly better than the ind-bios, so if this is done it might support your xbox, but then i'm not sure about that either.

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)

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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)

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.

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.

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

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

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

Can anyone tell me how I can create a fail proof vga, without playing around with bios or finding some sort of software on the web and is easy for a newb like me to follow? Pictures would be nice also .

my guide has pictures. It sounds like you're interested in buying one though. no need to mess around with anything or do any thinking, just lay down that money. go with the x2vga. or vdigi or whatever.

Buy one..... naw. I just don't want to deal with tampering with bios (have a bad past with flashing bios) and finding software on the web (unless you can point out the torrent). I just can't find it and I hate using anything that's not a simple click to download. Other than that, if it's just get a chip and solder then I'm ok with it.

BTW I ran into this: http://photobucket.com/albums/v205/xboxexp...Def_AV_Pack.gif
Will this do the job or is it flawed?


----edit--------
Just noticed something about bios. Do I have to tamper with it in this case?

Anyone going to help? Whats "vga" BIOS? A chip I have to add or something I have to put into the xbox bios????

did you read through this thread, or the tutorial that it points to?

if you want to run a vga (to pc monitor) cable, you will need to solder together a circuit in a audio/video cable.

then you will need to install a vga bios on your modchip. this outputs the video signal in the correct colors RGB.

dl the bios from the usual places, thats the only place to get it.

i should really just say to read, i'm not answering any more questions that are contained in the begining of this thread.

Sorry, I was just looking for a way to bypass the bios modding (I realy have a bad time with them, almost killed my computer a few times)

Thanks for helping me get those files leeloo5.

BTW make sure to answer those PMs and is TATX_Debug_Dual_VGA_LameOne_beta trust worthy? I have 1.0 Should I go with that diagram I showed ya?

Use iND-BiOS 5001 VGA, the others aren't very good at all.

Should I install it prior to the vga mod or will i screw up the current video mode. I not doing it anytime soon, but I'd like to have it installed early.

BTW: If I somehow screw it up, how to I go about recovering it. For my PC its a jumper change and floppy recovery. If the bios screws up what will happen. Also I've been hearing thing about some chips being """clones""'' and that they can't be flashed properly. I have a Duo X2. Or are clones not that big of a deal.

I just got banned ...... hmmmm.. I only downloaded three files...... >>>Anyway is it considered more than one penalty if I try to reconnect.<<<< It took me some time to realize I was banned. This is first time to do this.

1 680kO resistor

I'm haveing trouble finding one of these.

Radio Shack, nor the local computer store has them. Can I use a larger resistor or will that screw things up? I know NOTHING about circuitry.

you could chain them together, or you could buy a ton on ebay for a total of about $3-$5 after shipping.

So, does this only output in 480p? What would I need to do to get it running at say, 1024x768? Would a YPbPr adapter be what I'm looking for, or would this do the job?

I believe your drawings of the plastic piece of the end of your scart are wrong/backwards... looking at mine from the top oriented the same direction as your drawings... my pins go from small to tall '|'|'|'|'|'|
so are the schematics still the same, or are they backwards too???

please help.... thank you

life-less, yes they are wrong. Go by the numbers, not the drawing. In the meantime, leeloo5, you should change the drawings so there is no future confusion. The xbox scart cable pins should be flipped around. As life-less said, the first one is small, then the second is tall. You have the drawings showing tall then small. Good tutorial though.

I think i understand the problem.

1. I live in the US, and we don't use SCART from what i understand. I looked on the internet, and SCART is nothing i've ever seen before, it doesn't look like anything i see on the xbox either. The xbox in the US might have this, but if it does, it looks very different.

2. Since my connections look nothing like this, i'm not going to try and figure out this mess, if other people want to, feel free.

3. I made these drawings with the cable in front of me and i'm pretty sure that's what mine looked like, maybe they make them different ways, it shouldn't really matter.

therefore, this guide should work for people who live in the US. as far as the cable goes, who knows, maybe they made a totally different system for those in the UK or wherever this SCART business is used.

SCART is a european connection IIRC

Anyways,
If I make this cable but want to be able to choose to use TV or monitor, my DuoX2 has 2 banks, I flash one normally and another with the the VGA bios?

I recently started using VGA output. What can I say, it induces a videophile orgasm.

I have few short questions, I would greatly appreciate your input.
From what's discussed about VGA output, it sounds like 2+3 HDTV mode is better than 1+3 VGA mode in all aspects. It also seems there is that green hue problem in games like Top Spin and Splinter Cell when using IND-BIOS(or any other pixel8 based BIOS) even with a SOG monitor or a proper circuit using LM1881.

But does 1+3 VGA mode combined with SOG or LM1881 and IND-BIOS show green in those games too? Does a 1+3 VGA mode cable really output in YPbPr, only to show RGsB with a modified BIOS? I'm assuming at the end of the day it is indeed green because no one mentioned any reason to use the 1+3 mode over the 2+3 mode.

One more thing, how do games and applications behave in 640 x 480P mode compared to 720 x 480P mode? Are there any issues like left or/and right edges of the screen being cut off? Is there a dedicated 640 x 480P mode as let's say, the 1280 x 720P mode? I'm trying to know in advance in case I encounter a monitor that cannot handle 720 x 480P, although I haven't had to deal with such monitor yet.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

hello, the link with the vga guide is down, can someone post a mirror please?

thanks

As many of you that have used a X2VGA or Vdigi may have noticed, games played on a monitor look darker than on a TV. Is this true for this VGA mod as well? If not, what video chip do you have in your Xbox?

On the Xbox 360, the VGA cable displays games "lighter" than with the component cables.

By darker, I am refering to something known as crushed blacks in the video world, where details in dark areas are lost.

Here is an example:
click thumbnail to view full size


original image (as it looks on a television)


same image with crushed blacks (as it looks on a PC monitor)