Getting a 360 - need advice.

RaMDOM

RaMDOM

RaMDOM

Associate
Joined
20 Nov 2005
Posts
1,664
Location
Birmingham
It was gears of war that did it for me so am taking the plunge this week. Some questions though.

Can I run the 360 through my monitor? I have an NEC Multisync 20WGX2 widescreen monitor - do the cables that come with the machine

I am also planning to run in on the TV downstairs - the cables that come iwth it - are they the best? or should I be getting some other types?

I have noticed from the 'post your 360 setup pictures' that quite a few people have it linked up to their monitor. Okay - can do, but what do you guys do for sound? I have a 7.1 Creative setup for my PC plugged into a audigy 2 card - can I utilise the speakers? and how?

Cheers in advance.
 
Can't help for all those question but for connecting to you moniter you'll need a VGA cable, and for what cable you use for your TV depends on the TV, it does come with HD cables though (provided you get the prem package I think?)
 
Yes you can put it through your monitor, but you'll need a VGA lead, which is not included in either of the packages.

You didn't say if the TV downstairs is HDTV or SD, but the premium comes with composite scart leads so it will connect to an SDTV but to get the best picture youll need an RGB Scart cable.

If its a HDTV then you get the component lead with the premium package.

To get sound, the VGA cable comes with an audio jack, plug the phono leads into that and then into your sound card.
 
Last edited:
To run a 360 through a PC TFT monitor, you'll need the VGA cable, make sure you get the official cable.

If you just have a standard, non High Definition TV, the composite cable that comes with the 360 is okay, but not spectacular. Ideally you want the Advanced SCART RGB cable, if you can get hold of one.

As for sound, the 360 will only output surround sound in 5.1 optical Dolby Digital for games, and also standard stereo via 2x phono cables. If you've got a more expensive 7.1 speaker system, which has digital inputs, then you'll be okay, else, you'll have to spend a lot more on getting a digital converter, such as the Creative DDTS-100, which would work perfectly witht your speakers, if a little pricey.

If you run your phono cable into your line-in on your PC, you'll get 2 channel stereo sound, but will only get surround from the above option.
 
Cheers for the reponse guys. the TV downstairs is standard 28inch widescreen CRT TV, not high def. I have no immediate plans to get a HiDef TV so from what you guys have said I will need to buy the Advanced SCART RGB cable. Where can I get one from and are they official? there are a load of cables on Gameplay - which one should I get (I am assuming I can mention them as OCUK don't sell this stuff - if not then feel free to delete)

I am confused with the sound as I have digital inputs, but they are on the sound card. So wouldn't I have to have the PC on? And if so then the monitor will be used up. Am I getting confused and missing something obvious?
 
Well,

What Sound Card / Setup is it? Audigy 2 with the front inputs/outputs as well?
What Speakers are they?
What TFT is it?

Some TFTs will support more than one input, so you could be okay with that, else you'll either have to manually switch between 360 and the PC, or get a KVM switch to switch between the two.

Sound wise, you'll probably have to have your PC on while the 360 is on if your 7.1 speakers are just a basic setup, as in, no external reciever/amplifier, as the Audigy would be doing everything for you. Else if they're a better quality set of speakers, you may have separate inputs, and if that's the case, you wouldn't need your PC on for it.
 
DaveyD said:
Well,

What Sound Card / Setup is it? Audigy 2 with the front inputs/outputs as well?
What Speakers are they?
What TFT is it?

Some TFTs will support more than one input, so you could be okay with that, else you'll either have to manually switch between 360 and the PC, or get a KVM switch to switch between the two.

Sound wise, you'll probably have to have your PC on while the 360 is on if your 7.1 speakers are just a basic setup, as in, no external reciever/amplifier, as the Audigy would be doing everything for you. Else if they're a better quality set of speakers, you may have separate inputs, and if that's the case, you wouldn't need your PC on for it.
Click to expand...

Just had a look at the monitor (model mentioned above) and it has a separate VGA port so I assume it will just plug into there. No front panel for the card and have had a look at the back and no digital in (thought I had one - damn) so I can't go through the card. Does this mean I will have to get some sort of separate sound setup for the 360?
 
has the 360 got a headphone socket - I am guessing that it has considering you get headphones with it. Therefore could I just use head phones for when I play on my monitor?
 
RaMDOM said:
has the 360 got a headphone socket - I am guessing that it has considering you get headphones with it. Therefore could I just use head phones for when I play on my monitor?
Click to expand...


Nope.

It has a headset socket in the controler, but that is for voice coms only.

If you want 5.1 then I suggest going to the AV section of this forum and asking advice. if stereo is all you want then maybe a micro hifi will be enough for you.
 
Last edited:
Does the amp have inputs for phono? Aka red and white connectors. You could use that.

Or worst comes to the worst you can combine the 360's phono connectors using a, er, I don't know what they're called but they take two connectors and make it one, and stick it in the input in the back of the soundcard. Not even stereo I would think though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom