Calling Xbox 360 experts:

I've done some searching but couldn't find a definitive answer. So I hoping you kind sirs could help me out!

I have the older middle spec 360 with 20Gb Hard Disk and HDMI output - although it comes with a component cable. Could anyone confirm that this does upscale normal DVD without the HD add on drive?

I did find out that I needed a HDMI cable to get upscaling anyway - so I've bought one. My terminology might not be correct but my 32" LCD TV is capable of 720p but used to flick from the 720p of the Xbox dashboard to 576p when playing a DVD through the component cable. Through the HDMI cable the TV now stays on 720p. Is that right? Is that upscaling?

My next query is regarding the Dolby/Surround soundness! I know I'm the only person who'll be able to test this but I'm after a best practise/technical set-up kind of answer rather than a subjective one, so:

My TV has a 'fake' surround setting - should this process anything from the Dobly 5.1 setting on the Xbox via HDMI or does it just fettle a stereo input? or will 5.1 only work via an optical cable anyway? I have an amp capable of surround too but only have two main speakers - but should this sound better with just a stereo input than the TV on 'fake' surround?

Thanks for your help! Luke.

PS - time for a sandwich.

Through HDMI yes, it will upscale normal DVD's. Through the component cable, no it doesnt. Through component, the xbox will switch to 576i when playing DVD's. The xbox will also upscale using a VGA cable.

Through HDMI yes, it will upscale normal DVD's. Through the component cable, no it doesnt. Through component, the xbox will switch to 576i when playing DVD's. The xbox will also upscale using a VGA cable.

Cool. Thanks for the confirmation! A friend of mine was adamant that it had to have the HD add on to upscale. I knew about the VGA option too but my TV doesn't have VGA connection.

last time i looked on the game website the hd add on was down from £115 to £12, so might as well just buy that,. worth a look

Yeah Ive just got a 360 HD drive (thanks Bengie x), looks nice. Such a shame they quit on it.

got it all working then ross, brilliant

hows the films going then?

last time i looked on the game website the hd add on was down from £115 to £12, so might as well just buy that,. worth a look

Yeah, I had a look on eBay for one too... seem to be fetching £30 inc postage there. It is listed as £12.71 at Game - but sadly sold out.

Hmmm...

Regarding the sound aspect - you can't physically get the Component cable plugged into the Xbox while the HDMI is in place so you can't use either the audio connections or the optical out off it.

This might be a silly question - but do some modern surround sound systems take a HDMI input and process the sound and relay the picture to telly then?

Hmmm...

Regarding the sound aspect - you can't physically get the Component cable plugged into the Xbox while the HDMI is in place so you can't use either the audio connections or the optical out off it.

This might be a silly question - but do some modern surround sound systems take a HDMI input and process the sound and relay the picture to telly then?

yes

yes

Good.

If you buy the Microsoft HDMI cable kit then you can use the optical out as the plug is thinner so it'll fit over the top of the HDMI cable. Alternatively (if you're feeling brave) you can pop the casing off the normal component cable and it'll fit then with the optical port still working.

Alternatively (if you're feeling brave) you can pop the casing off the normal component cable and it'll fit then with the optical port still working.

That's what I did with mine. It's not so bad, takes 10 seconds with a flat bladed screwdriver and is actually quite satisfying in a destructive way - more so when it means you don't have to give Microsoft any more money