x box 360 numpty questions

[NDA]

A few years ago I bought a 360 and then promptly never used it... I have now retrieved it.

I think this is the first generation, it has a wired (connected) handset and is grey in colour (the box and handset).

Some quick questions as I'm out of touch with these things, so this is for my son (honest).

How many X box variants are there? On the web I see some black ones....

Are all x box 360 games compatible with my machine? (Before I start buying some games for him).

The screen resolution doesn't look brilliant, we're playing Project Gotham Racing on a large plasma. Can this be improved or is it just because it's an old game?

Thanks.............

[The Restorer]

Sound like you have an original xbox and not the 360. 360 games will not work on the original console.

[Daxed]

Pop a pic of the console up

[NDA]

It looks identical to this and the games that are running on it at the moment are marked 'X Box 360'. I remember buying it when the 360 first came out, quite a few years ago....

[Daxed]

Yep, first version 360. All current games will run on it.

[NDA]

Daxed said:

Yep, first version 360. All current games will run on it.

Excellent.... thanks.....

What is the current best driving game and are the graphics better than Gotham Project Racing, which must be one of the first version of the game.

[Gav147]

yes its still compatible with all the new games, xbox live etc.

As for the screen resolution, as you say it probably just because that game is one of the very early 360 games.

ETA - forza 3 would probably be the best recommendation.

Edited by Gav147 on Sunday 16th January 15:26

[Daxed]

+1 with forza 3. Check out the pre owned section in any games shop.

[NDA]

Great, thanks chaps....

Forza 3 (ultimate edition) ordered - £11 from Amazon. Also the latest need for speed... which looked quite good. For my son. Obviously.

[davepoth]

Daxed said:

+1 with forza 3. Check out the pre owned section in any games shop.

Nah, you don't get the bonus cars there. The ulimate addition, with pretty much all of the DLC (about 100 extra cars and some circuits) is only £12 from Amazon at the moment.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forza-3-Ultimate-Xbox-360/...

Also, you need to make sure you have plugged the console in via HDMI rather than SCART, as it won't run in HD otherwise.

[NDA]

davepoth said:

Also, you need to make sure you have plugged the console in via HDMI rather than SCART, as it won't run in HD otherwise.

I'm not sure my 360 has an HDMI socket.... I will explore!

[grim_d]

If it is as old as you say it wont have, you will need to use component (the red, green and blue plugs). Also make sure the switch on the connector is set to HDTV.

If you are already using these then check system settings to make sure it is actually putting out hd.

Edited by grim_d on Sunday 16th January 17:37

[MilleniumFalcon]

If its an early 360, it wont have a HDMI connection, but you should be able to output to component for HD.

[Silverbullet767]

NDA said:

davepoth said:

Also, you need to make sure you have plugged the console in via HDMI rather than SCART, as it won't run in HD otherwise.

I'm not sure my 360 has an HDMI socket.... I will explore!

If your xbox is an arcade, the back of it will look like this



They didnt come with HD cables as far as i'm aware.

It wont have an HDMI socket.

It will run HD, but you'll need an HD lead.

You need a component HD lead that looks like this.



You need to use all the cable except the yellow one.

Alternatively you can use one of these, an xbox 360 VGA lead that looks like this.



It comes with a 2 phono to 3.5mm jack adaptor too should you need it (mine did)

For your xbox these are the only 2 cables that can deliver HD.

If your xbox looks like this at the rear.



Then you can notice the HDMI slot under the normal picture socket, if your is like this then any HDMI cable will do.

[Handie Andy]

I wish i kept my first xbox.

£250 i seen one for the other day on ebay with still a day to go, the first-ish consoles without the update are well sought after by the "i refuse to buy video games gang."

[NDA]

As always, PH is the source of much knowlege!

Thanks to silver, I can now say it's an arcade version. I'm currently using the RGB phono plugs into a scart adapter.

The plasma tv I have accepts just about every conceivable input by the way.....

I've been Googling and it would appear that the RGB plugs deliver 1080i, ie the same resolution as HDMI - does this sound correct? However those plugs shouldn't plug into a scart but, instead, into a dedicated RGB input. Is that correct?

I have some phono inputs but they are marked green blue and red. So I'm lost to know what they're for.

Silver, the link to the arcade cable didnt work by the way, so not sure what that would look like.

Thanks again, this is new to me!

[Gav147]

NDA said:

I have some phono inputs but they are marked green blue and red. So I'm lost to know what they're for.

This is the cable you are after Click

Also if yours is an original xbox 360 i doubt it will be the arcade, from what i remember they released the arcade later as cheaper version as it has no hdd in it.

[RobDickinson]

To get high def you need to sure component inputs (differnt from RGB inputs which can be via scart).

You also need to switch the cable to 'hidef' (little switch on the side) and in xbox settings change it to 720p or 1080i.

IMo 720p is better, only 1 or 2 games actualy run at higher than 720 anyhow.

[NDA]

Gav147 said:

NDA said:

I have some phono inputs but they are marked green blue and red. So I'm lost to know what they're for.

This is the cable you are after Click

Also if yours is an original xbox 360 i doubt it will be the arcade, from what i remember they released the arcade later as cheaper version as it has no hdd in it.

Thanks for that, the plugs that are already with my x box are red white and yellow. Is the lead above offering a different signal out? I assumed yellow was composite and that I can't get a higher resolution out other than that (on my set).

Mine has no HDD and looks identical to the arcade.... I think it must be the arcade. Is there another way of telling?

[RobDickinson]

NDA said:

Thanks for that, the plugs that are already with my x box are red white and yellow. Is the lead above offering a different signal out? I assumed yellow was composite and that I can't get a higher resolution out other than that (on my set)

What inputs do you have on your set?

Your current cable does composite and stereo audio.

There are cables that will do s-video, vga and component.

s-video is better than composite but will still be low resolution.

vga is tricky but wil get you high resolution if your TV has a vga socket.

Component is the most likely candidate asnd will get you hidef .