Can I Use My Monitor To Play 360?

Ice Rich · 7 Nov 2006 at 10:11

Hi,

Im thinking about getting a 360 for Christmas.

I woudld like to ruun it via my PC monitor - is that possible? I hoping there is some kind of splitter available, dont really want to keep switching leads etc..

I would also need to find a way of getting the sound out throuh my PC aego 2.1 speakers.

Also, what would the quality be like? Would I be missing out over a HD TV?

Regards

Caustic · 7 Nov 2006 at 10:31

The 360 has a VGA cable available for it. The output is really good and you can get the best signal from it, if your monitor does it. You might have to get a few adapters to get audio working, but thats not hard or expensive.

VGA output is one of the 360's good points.

Dr_Evil · 7 Nov 2006 at 10:35

VGA output - is that the same output PC video cards used to have before DVI came out?

dirtydog · 7 Nov 2006 at 11:13

Dr_Evil said:
VGA output - is that the same output PC video cards used to have before DVI came out?

Yes.

Ice Rich · 7 Nov 2006 at 13:41

Thanks for reply's guys.

Does the 360 also have a speaker input connector?

McDaniel · 7 Nov 2006 at 13:42

You can use Optical, or the VGA cable has composite(that right?) L + R channel connectors.

I use mine via Z5500 Optical on a 20.1" Dell 2005FPW

Loverly

Deanje · 7 Nov 2006 at 17:53

I take it you can use the 360 VGA cable on a bog-standard CRT monitor then?

Mr_White · 7 Nov 2006 at 17:55

Deanje said:
I take it you can use the 360 VGA cable on a bog-standard CRT monitor then?

Certainly can.

oweneades · 7 Nov 2006 at 17:56

Deanje said:
I take it you can use the 360 VGA cable on a bog-standard CRT monitor then?

Well you have to buy the VGA adaptor/lead for the 360 first. I believe the official one is cira £18.

Deanje · 7 Nov 2006 at 18:02

Bargain

Might have to invest in one while I wait for the funds to buy a HDTV, will be better than playing on a portable TV anyway.

Arsey · 7 Nov 2006 at 22:07

How does the sound work, do the VGA cables automatically transmit sound or do you plug a seperate bit into something else?

There are red and white jacks, where do these plug into?

DaveyD · 7 Nov 2006 at 22:10

Arsey said:
How does the sound work, do the VGA cables automatically transmit sound or do you plug a seperate bit into something else?

VGA doesn't carry audio. 2 phono cables separate to the VGA need to be connected to your audio equipment. Wether that be the back of an amp, or the line in on your sound card etc.

Arsey · 7 Nov 2006 at 22:13

DaveyD said:
VGA doesn't carry audio. 2 phono cables separate to the VGA need to be connected to your audio equipment. Wether that be the back of an amp, or the line in on your sound card etc.

So i could put it in where my PC speakers go into? Wouldnt that make the speakers not work?

LadFromWales · 7 Nov 2006 at 22:41

Hmmm, thinking now! So could I hook my 360 to my HDA soundcard via line/optical, and thus hear my 360 audio mixed in with my PC audio? That'd be ace, as I can't stand WM Connect!

DaveyD · 7 Nov 2006 at 22:47

Arsey said:
So i could put it in where my PC speakers go into? Wouldnt that make the speakers not work?

No, you would put it in the line-in on your soundcard if you want the sound to come out via your PC, but I don't know what your speaker setup is, so I can't tell you what the best way will be.

Arsey · 8 Nov 2006 at 11:24

I have speakers plugged into the black, blue and yellow slots on my integrated sound card. Headset is plugged into the green one and microphone into the pink one. What colour is a "Line In"?

oweneades · 8 Nov 2006 at 12:41

The way I have mine setup (although I am using component the phono cables are still the same) is running through a phono to 3.5mm headphone jack converter. The green plug from my trust 2.1 speakers then plugs into this, woila I have 2.1 sound just for the 360. (please note I don't have this anywhere near my pc)

You need one of these: (not the best example)

and then one of these:

So using the above the phono plugs from the vga cable plug into the adaptor in the first pic and then you take the 3.5mm plug from the adaptor and stick that in one end of the coupler. Your green plug from your speakers (normally on 2.1 channel speakers) plugs into the other end of the coupler.

Just to add some ATI graphics cards come with the above adaptors as one (thats what I use).

Jackal · 8 Nov 2006 at 12:46

Arsey said:
I have speakers plugged into the black, blue and yellow slots on my integrated sound card. Headset is plugged into the green one and microphone into the pink one. What colour is a "Line In"?

read your motherboard manual!
it should tell you all you need to know about your intergrated sound card

i use a VGA lead with my 360, got fed up of not being able to read what was going on in dead rising.

Mirage · 8 Nov 2006 at 13:14

As per a couple of posts above that's my setup, except it then plugs into a KVM switch, with my PC plugged into the other side.
Monitor currently shares the 360 and server through the KVM(VGA) and my gaming PC through the DVI. Along with the TV plugged into either PC to let the misses play the sims 2.....wires coming out of every hole.

Arsey · 8 Nov 2006 at 15:41

Thanks owen, so the first one is called a photo to 3.5 jack convertor and the second one is called a 3.5 coupler?