Adding HDMI output to 1st Gen, HDMI-less Xbox 360

If, like us, you were one of the many early adopters of the XBox 360, you would have felt a bit annoyed when the Xbox 360 hardware was revised to run more reliably and add a HDMI output. For those of us stuck with the first generation hardware without a HDMI port, an analog High Definition component cable gave the best quality picture...or, at least it used to.

HDMI gives a significantly better picture than component because the connection is digital, so there is no quality degradation. The geniuses down at XCM (creators of the XFPS Pro Sniper and the play-anything-on-your-PC-Monitor Hi-Def VGA Transcoder), have made a high fidelity HDMI cable for the original Xbox 360 without the HDMI port. It works by converting the analog signal into digital straight out the 360, thereby decreasing the signal loss rate and making for a much sharper picture. The cable supports 480p, 720p and 1080i and can be used on your HDTV or monitor. It includes both optical and analog phono audio outputs, so you can choose how you get sound to your speakers, amp or TV.

For your viewing pleasure, we've added a couple of videos of this 360 HDMI cable in action. Even on these YouTube clips, you can see what a difference the cable makes:

Which Wii AV Cable Should I Buy?

When it comes to connecting the Wii to your TV, you've got a lot more options than simply using the composite cable that comes in the box. Though the composite cable is great for small Televisions, if you really want to get the most out of TV, it's worth upgrading.

It's important to realise: you can't use RGB Scart cables on a US/Japanese Wii and you can't use S-video on a UK Wii. This is true of all Wii cables and is due to limitations built into the consoles by Nintendo - there's no way around it. So here goes...

Wii Component Cable (£7.49)

If you have a HDTV with a component input (like the picture below), this is without doubt the best cable to have. The video signal is split over three separate cables to give a pin sharp image, and you can run your Wii in progressive scan at 480p.

Wii S-Video Cable (£6.99)

If you have a US or Japanese Wii and don't have a HDTV, the Wii S-Video Cable gives the best picture, superior to the default composite cable that comes with the console. This won't work on a UK/European console.

Wii RGB Scart Cable (£7.99 / £5.99)

If you have a UK Wii and no HDTV, the Wii RGB Scart Cable give a picture that's better than both the original composite cable and S-video. We offer two types of Wii RGB Scart cable, the Talismoon one includes separate red/white audio phonos so you can connect to speakers and a slightly cheaper version without the audio phonos:

TheGameTrain Console Cable Chooser

We're happy to announce a brand new feature to the site that will stop your fingers scratching your head and get them twiddling joypads, where they belong. If you've ever wanted to connect your N64 to your monitor, join your Wii to your HDTV or know the best way for your PS3 to be displayed on your regular TV, we've come up with a tool to solve all your questions - and more!

TheGameTrain Console Cable Chooser is an extremely helpful, simple to use tool. Just select what console you're trying to play (you can currently choose from Wii, Gamecube, N64, Xbox 360, Xbox, PS3, PS2, PS1, Dreamcast and Saturn) and what type of screen you want to play it on (from a HDTV, PC Monitor or conventional SDTV) - the Console Cable Chooser will then tell you what cables you require and how much they cost. Simple and effective. It's sure to make for less time working out how to play games and more time actually playing them!

PS3 on the Mayflash 1080p RGBHV to YPbPr Transcoder (Component to VGA Converter)

In the follow up to our guide on how to setup the popular Mayflash 1080p YPbPr to RGBHV Component to VGA Converter with the Nintendo Wii, we now present a step by step guide to getting the Playstation 3 to work with the Mayflash VGA Transcoder. If you're having problems setting it up, just follow our simple ten step guide. This tutorial works with all types of monitors - LCD, TFT, CRT etc.

Please note: not all monitors support 480\ progressive/interlaced so you may find that PS2 games/DVDs won't run on your monitor, as they display in 480p/i. It will play all your PS3 games perfectly in 720p/1080p High Definition though..

The advantage of using this type of component to VGA transcoder over a HDMI to DVI cable
is that your monitor doesn't need to be HDCP (High Defintion Content Protection) compliant, as the PS3 only enforces this when played through HDMI cables.


Anyway, on with the tutorial:


1. Connect your PS3 to a conventional TV using either a SCART, Svideo or composite cable.

2. Turn on your PS3. In the main menu, scroll across to 'Settings' and then select 'Display Settings' and 'Video Output Settings'.

3. You're offered various choices of connections. Select 'Component / D-Terminal'. The screen will go blank for a few seconds while it recalibrates and you'll be asked whether you want to keep these settings. Select 'Yes.'

4. The next screen will ask you what resolutions you want to select. Working within the parameters of your individual monitor, check each box.

5. Press right on your controller's D-Pad. You will hear a 'click' sound and the screen will go blank. You won't be able to see the screen, but press left on the D-pad and then press X.

6. With your PS3 still turned on, unplug the video cable from the back of the PS3 and plug in your PS3 Component Cable where the AV cable was before.

7. Plug the red/green/blue ends of the component cable into the approprioate sockets of the Mayflash VGA box.

8. Plug your monitor's VGA cable into the 'VGA output' socket on the Mayflash VGA box and plug in the AC power adapter. A yellow LED should come on to indicate it's receiving power.

9. Make sure the switch on the VGA box is set to "YPbPr".

10. The PS3 will now be displayed on your monitor in glorious High Definition. You should be at the 'save settings' screen, which will then lead you onto the audio output options. The spare red/white phonos on the component lead will provide your speakers with analog audio.