Ideal Setup audio + lcd experts >help needed

Booner! · 17 Apr 2006 at 00:15

Ok several things , help needed on both as over the next month or so and want everything to be perfect and always research this first, will be buying 3 things:
> 360 Premium with 3 games + wireless controller + faceplate
> Logitech Z5400 5.1
> Decent Lcd Monitor IF needed ( you decide )

right, so first off i bought a VGA cable and TOSLINK cable (3m gold ) and need to know whether
A.) This is adaquete to hook up my 360 via Digital surround sound and will be any good?
b.) will my viewsonic 924 19" 3ms GTG monitor be ok for HD picture quality? will it look like 720p in 1280x1024 for example?
c.) If not, what is best for 720p in terms of picture quality (jaggies, scaling etc) out of these widescreens: Belinea 20.1" , Viewsonic 20", Dell 2005 20" or another counterpart for under £360

This is a lot to ask, but i know you guys can add help here and there and ALL information is gold to me

cheers guys!

DaveyD · 17 Apr 2006 at 01:02

1) Yes, you'll be able to hook up the optical output on the 360 to the optical input on your speaker setup.

2) I'm never quite 100% sure on the 1280x1024 setup, as some games are letterbox, some fullscreen, so not sure on 4:3/16:9 stuff, some like that resolution, others don't. But those games that don't like that resolution, you need to change to 1024x768 ala PG3.

3) Best monitor? Not sure, but for 720p, you'll want something which can either scale from 720p or is native 1280x720 resolution. You'll have to wait for the monitor gurus here for that.

Booner! · 17 Apr 2006 at 01:18

Im glad i got the go ahead for Speakers though, especially from you cause i know its your speciality as from reading around here! shall be buying them come friday (payday!)

cheers for the help, just need info on widescreen monitors, i just found out the viewsonic 20.1" model is NOT hd compatible which is a shame as it was big contender in my opinion...

ps. bought the VGA cable off ebay and will test with this monitor and a friends 360 and post some screenies and test results on 1280x1024 resolution etc

Energize · 17 Apr 2006 at 02:03

Most monitors let you adjust the screen so if it stretches you can correct it.

DaveyD · 17 Apr 2006 at 02:11

Energize said:
Most monitors let you adjust the screen so if it stretches you can correct it.

Are you thinking on CRTs? TFTs are generally different, especially under their native resolutions.

Energize · 17 Apr 2006 at 02:21

The cheapo ones at school have horizontal and vertical adjustment for position and size.

NokkonWud · 17 Apr 2006 at 12:05

z5400 or z5500 speakers?

Booner! · 17 Apr 2006 at 18:11

NokkonWud said:
z5400 or z5500 speakers?

well i dont know yet, is it REALLY worth the extra for the 5500? i mean that would mean waiting another week or so to get paid to buy them, arent the 5400 good enough ? i mean if i can reason the £200 for 5500 i will buy them!

Boogle · 17 Apr 2006 at 18:24

The Dell 2005 will have a full range of scaling modes: Stretch (traditional method all monitors use), Aspect (keeps the correct aspect ratio) and 1:1 (1:1 pixel mapping for the perfect picture).

Booner! · 17 Apr 2006 at 18:37

im thinking of using the 360 on my viewsonic 924 19" for the time being and then buy a 2005fpw 24" later on in may/june when i see a good deal or even a better monitor arise, but Dell looks like the strong winner at mo closely followed by the much cheaper Belinea 20.1". this will allow me to buy the 360 package and also the Z5400/5500

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