How can I make my picture look better with my Xbox?

I'm not really satisfied with my 720p picture compared on what I used to play (480i w/component cables). I think the quality degraded actually. I can't really tell that it's HD and the colours and contrasts aren't as good, not to mention blurring... How can I make the picture look better? Why can't I make the picture hook really sharp like my computer screen monitor? Things in the distance don't seem really detailed they seem like they have shiney things around them.... hard to explain. I don't get what the big deal is with HD... I have my xbox running at 720p, I adjusted the picture tones... the TV is 22inches and is around $500. Why isn't the picture better than 480i?!!

When I play games on my computer monitor (LCD as well) they seem so much better even though my TV has better specs than the monitor? Pour Que??!!

Sounds like you are using a PC monitor that has been converted to a TV. I bet the native resolution is 1680x1050, which is only supported with VGA cables (not 100% certain), so the 720p you are sending it is being stretched.

Sounds like you are using a PC monitor that has been converted to a TV. I bet the native resolution is 1680x1050, which is only supported with VGA cables (not 100% certain), so the 720p you are sending it is being stretched.

Large_Soda

This is my LCD TV.

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10099791&catid=23243

Thats really strange, Samsungs LCD TV's are among the top of the brands out there right now. What Game are you playing? Also, what is your TV Set at? Zoom or stretch can do that. I've got a 40" 550 Series Samsung, and the contrast and etc. are definitely way better than my other 480i TV. My computer Monitor's contrast isn't near as good as my TV either. My Monitor has a 1000:1 contrast ratio, whereas my TV has a 30000:1 Contrast ratio.

Your also positive that the switch on the xbox's AV cable's are switched to HDTV instead of just TV?

That can cause the HDTV to run in 480i reguardless of what you set the picture at, and you get blurry images, because that 480 is being stretched to 720 pixels, and is running at only 30 frames per second, compared to 60 like a 720p picture should be.

Thats really strange, Samsungs LCD TV's are among the top of the brands out there right now. What Game are you playing? Also, what is your TV Set at? Zoom or stretch can do that. I've got a 40" 550 Series Samsung, and the contrast and etc. are definitely way better than my other 480i TV. My computer Monitor's contrast isn't near as good as my TV either. My Monitor has a 1000:1 contrast ratio, whereas my TV has a 30000:1 Contrast ratio.

Your also positive that the switch on the xbox's AV cable's are switched to HDTV instead of just TV?

That can cause the HDTV to run in 480i reguardless of what you set the picture at, and you get blurry images, because that 480 is being stretched to 720 pixels, and is running at only 30 frames per second, compared to 60 like a 720p picture should be.

Some_Anchovies

It's not frames it's something else... On 480i games that run in 60 FPS are a lot better. When you look at something that's moving it doesn't ghost or blur. Remember I said I used component cables as well.

I'm starting to regret buying an Xbox after all. I can't stand all these numbers and graphics crap... I was happier with Wii :cry:.

Dude, I don't know what to tell ya. My 360 runs perfectly fine in 1080p and everything is sharper and smoother than my computer monitor. And yes, My TV's contrast ratio is much better than my Monitors, I can tell just by having them side to side that the blacks are darker and whites are whiter on the TV.

Did you try it on another HD TV? The only TV I've expirenced with problems like that are Visio's, and I'm a TV Nut.

480i is done in 30fps, 480p is 60fps, due to how the frames are set onto the tv.

You tried it with HDMI? (if you have a 360 with HDMI)

Yeah it's a 360.

It depends on the source, I know 480p flashes 60 times a second, but most games run in 30 FPS and movies in 24 FPS. Its 30 FPS but the monitor is flashing 60 times a second, they are different things.. I may buy an HDMI cable, but I don't know if it will make a difference. It cost $50 too.

I bought my HDMI cable on amazon.com for $6 after shipping.

Also xbox 360 games always render at below 1280x768 no matter what TV you are using.

Where'd you get that information?

I wouldn't see the point in even having the 360 as an HD gaming system if it doesn't have any of its games in HD.

The Original Xbox had pretty much nothing in HD. if thats what your talking about.

My TV's resolution is 1680 x 1050, so would that make the image quality a lot worse?brandontwb

Yes, and it is basically why your picture quality sucks. Take an image from google or somewhere (say, my avatar). Zoom in until it fills your screen. It's basically the same effect when your output resolution (the 360) is displayed on a TV with a different resolution. Most likely, your TV is actually a monitor (why it's cheaper) and not meant for standard TV signals. Speaking candidly though, I have no idea why display signals are so unstandardized. The A/V industry really needs to get some standards for digital video and audio.

-Betta

[QUOTE="brandontwb"]My TV's resolution is 1680 x 1050, so would that make the image quality a lot worse?Thebettafish

Yes, and it is basically why your picture quality sucks. Take an image from google or somewhere (say, my avatar). Zoom in until it fills your screen. It's basically the same effect when your output resolution (the 360) is displayed on a TV with a different resolution. Most likely, your TV is actually a monitor (why it's cheaper) and not meant for standard TV signals. Speaking candidly though, I have no idea why display signals are so unstandardized. The A/V industry really needs to get some standards for digital video and audio.

-Betta

Thats really strange, Samsungs LCD TV's are among the top of the brands out there right now. What Game are you playing? Also, what is your TV Set at? Zoom or stretch can do that. I've got a 40" 550 Series Samsung, and the contrast and etc. are definitely way better than my other 480i TV. My computer Monitor's contrast isn't near as good as my TV either. My Monitor has a 1000:1 contrast ratio, whereas my TV has a 30000:1 Contrast ratio.

Your also positive that the switch on the xbox's AV cable's are switched to HDTV instead of just TV?

That can cause the HDTV to run in 480i reguardless of what you set the picture at, and you get blurry images, because that 480 is being stretched to 720 pixels, and is running at only 30 frames per second, compared to 60 like a 720p picture should be.

Some_Anchovies