Setting up the man-room...

[Jingo]

Hello those who frequent the computer/gaming forums- now allow me to pick your brains...

I've moved the xbox360 in to the office and I'm wanting to run it through my computer monitor opposed to my oooooooold television in the lounge.

In addition to the following bits and pieces, what will I be needing and how do I set it up please?

I have:

- Xbox 360.
- Samsung T220 with DVI / RGB Ports.
- HDMI cable.

I have a fantastic computer speaker system also which I would ideally like to use but I'm unsure how I would get both vision and sound from the xbox running through :confused:

Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

[divine]

http://www.trustedreviews.com/images/article/inline/9038-img6273s.jpg

Does it have that connection panel? That's a T220HD according to the review yet you mention RGB which the normal T220 doesn't seem to have, that only has DVI and VGA from what I can see.

Anyway, if that is the panel you have the easiest solution would be to use the standard component cable or the HDMI cable.

As for sound, that would depend on the speakers, I would suggest the easiest solution is likely to be using component, then taking the red and white audio leads to the speakers, possibly via an adaptor if needs be.

If the PC speakers only take one input and thats from the PC, you may find you're able to run the sound into the line in on the PC and have it pass through.

[Kreeeee]

Real men have all rights over the living room, making that the man room!

VGA cable is the easiest solution, it comes with white and red phono cables for sound or you can use optical out. Alternatively you can cut up your component cable to use the optical sound from that with your HDMI cable.

[divine]

VGA cable is the easiest solution, it comes with white and red phono cables for sound or you can use optical out.

Assuming he has the model that only has DVI and VGA yes, this is clearly more sensible than component/hdmi, though this would also rely on the PC using the DVI else he'll be forever swapping the VGA cable over.

[Kreeeee]

You should always use DVI for PC's, and any PC with a dedicated graphics card should have DVI.

[divine]

Whilst it's preferable it's not essential and it wasn't until I got my latest graphics card that I had to switch over (and go get a DVI cable) because of it's awful analogue filters. Combined with the fact that DVI cables are rarely given away (every Samsung screen i've bought has come with VGA or nothing) it's quite possible he's just using VGA.

Still, worst way he has to go out and buy a DVI cable as well as an XBox VGA cable.

[Jingo]

Thanks for your replies - sorry for any confusion but I have just the two ports on the back of the appliance - the DVI where I plug in from my graphics card and then the 'old school monitor port'.

Obviously there is nowhere to plug in my hdmi cable- do I need to get a converter or does this vga cable you say about plug into the 360 one end and then the dvi at the other?

Please excuse my childish questioning, I have not a clue about what I'm doing. ;D

Edit: My samsung came with both DVI and VGA which was nice :)

[divine]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Xbox-360-High-Definition-Cable/dp/B000AYYADE

edit - MS link, better info on the page - http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360vgahdcable/

Grab one of those (probably cheaper elsewhere but that's what you're after)

It'll plug into the 'old school monitor port' as you term it :D

The audio can then be taken from the two audio cable bits you see, or optical out on the 360, how it then plugs into your speakers will depend on what exactly they are.

[Jingo]

Nice one mate - thanks for clarifying the cable.

My speakers connect with what I believe to be a fairly standard 3.5mm jack- but I've seen a converter for 2x RCA Phone Female to 1x 3.5mm male jack audio cables for ~£2.50 which I'm thinking should do the job?


P.S. Kreeeeee - the office is a useful retreat that should not be overlooked :D

[divine]

You might find you need a female 3.5mm jack, as I suspect the speakers have the male connector but I can't be sure without knowing what they are :p