Microsoft Xbox 360 Component HD AV Cable Game console audio / video cable

...which. There is also a Microsoft sticker on there just to remind you that you have purchased the real deal. Pretty standard cable looks!

Features:
The Xbox 360 component cable is able to support standard definition and high definition TVs. To do this around two and a half metres down the cable the cable splits into two parts, one part is a composite section, yellow, red and white wires which support many TVs, the other part ...
...all tipped in gold to give you the best possible picture quality.

There is a box on the top of the cable with a switch so you can select TV or HDTV depending on the type of TV you are using. The cable itself when plugged in to an HDTV will support 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p (yes you can display 1080p over component if your TV supports it, you don't need HDMI) display modes, when plugged into an SDTV you will only have 480i only because ... more

The Xbox 360 Component cable is vital if you want to see your Xbox 360 games in high definition. This cable is included in the box with any Xbox 360 Premium or Elite system but if you have a Core or Arcade system you and an HDTV you will want to get one.

Appearance:
The cable is around 3 metres long and is grey in colour, the ends are clearly marked with colours so you can easily identify which part of the cable is which. There is also a Microsoft sticker on there just to remind you that you have purchased the real deal. Pretty standard cable looks!

Features:
The Xbox 360 component cable is able to support standard definition and high definition TVs. To do this around two and a half metres down the cable the cable splits into two parts, one part is a composite section, yellow, red and white wires which support many TVs, the other part is the component section blue, red and green. These are all tipped in gold to give you the best possible picture quality.

There is a box on the top of the cable with a switch so you can select TV or HDTV depending on the type of TV you are using. The cable itself when plugged in to an HDTV will support 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p (yes you can display 1080p over component if your TV supports it, you don't need HDMI) display modes, when plugged into an SDTV you will only have 480i only because of the limitations of your TV, if you have a standard definition TV with component inputs you still will only be able to see 480i but the picture will be improved. The cable also features an optical output so you can plug in your Dolby surround sound.

Quality:
The picture quality over component is fantastic, the colours are vibrant and clean. I find the best display mode to use is 720p as the image is more fluid and things appear to be smoother when there is alot of fast paced action on the screen. If however you are playing a slower paced game such as Tiger Woods, I find its best to switch to 1080i as the image is more detailed. I haven't been able to test the 1080p mode as my TV doesn't support it but I imagine it works fine giving you the detail of 1080i with the fluidity of 720p. Over composite the picture isn't so good, it loses all its fidelity but if your purchasing this cable you probably are planning to use it on an HD set.

Price:
This cable should set you back around £20 and sells at all good video game stores such as Game and Gamestation. You may be able to find a better deal at online retailers such as Amazon.co.uk and Play.com. There are cheaper alternatives made by third party companies but in my experience third party accessories are usually of inferior quality. There are alternatives such as the HDMI cable and VGA cable which you should also investigate to see which is best for your TV.

Bottom Line:
This is a must have for seeing the Xbox 360 games as they were meant to be seen in high definition. The only thing that could possibly be wrong with it is it may not be the best connection for your TV (and this is hardly the cables fault). So if you have an Xbox Core or Arcade system and are wondering just how much better high definition is spend the £20 and prepare to be amazed! 5/5 

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