MadCatz Xbox 360 HDMI Conversion Kit, $90 in Jan.

Isn't this over a year too late? MadCatz has the opportunity to have the "must-have" periferal for the 360 if you wanted HDMI, but now it looks like they just missed the boat all together.

Just sell your old box and get a new one with HDMI. Will be both a cheaper and better solution.

From the engadget comment section:

http://images.madcatz.com/sales_sheets/4744MCB-SS.pdf

Product info PDF.

The HDMI cable that comes with the elite also comes with a dongle that includes an optical audio out and a composite audio out. The optical works just fine with the HDMI.

I just got my 360 back (RROD) as well and while it looks like I got a different one (different serial number) it's a refurb. The interesting this is while it sounds like the drive is much quieter, they put a HUGE fan in it that makes at least as much noise as the drive did. So now when I'm done playing a game the fan keeps blowing and it makes too much noise to be able to enjoy watching a movie through it. I love this thing, but I've been through two, and with the noise thing now...

I just wish the ps3 had some games.

ive got the VGA cable so im fine without the HDMI

Let me tell you, if you have a new 1080P TV then HDMI makes a huge diffrence in PQ. Everything is clearer and more vibrant than using component cables.

I was shocked how much of a difference actually.

Oh and if you have an HDMI 360 and you want to have optical audio with the HDMI picture quality, just mod the adapter that comes with the 360.

I used a Dremel and cut the bottom of the adapter to fit the HDMI cable so it would fit, and it works like a charm......DTS BABY!!

I could sell my used 360 and buy a brand new one with ACTUAL HDMI, and still lose less money than the $90 this trash cost. Mad Catz products are always a pile.

It is nice but I'm curious if it can let the console know it its HDCP compliant maybe it emulates VGA so that it can upscale DVD's

Isn't that just turning a analog signal into digital? Does not not defeat the porpes of the pure digital signal that makes HDMI "all that"?

I could be wroung, just wanted to point that out.

Draco --

Actually, I would prefer to have all 3 consoles running at their best resolutions, but because my TV won't do 1080p over component or VGA, I'm kinda stuck with what I have on my 360.

I kept with component on the PS2 and Wii because it's the best those systems can do. I do notice a difference with the component vs composite on those systems -- especially the PS2 in games like Guitar Hero 2. The display is blurry when the game is in interlaced mode, it's sharp and crisp when it's in progressive mode.

From the description, this adapter sounds like what I need to get 1080p from my 360 to my TV, even if it is a little less ideal than a 360 with an HDMI port would provide. It has to be an improvement over the 1024x768 over VGA that I'm using right now.

That was going to be next question - whether there would be any HDCP issues with this adaptor.

XCM already makes an identical cable, but it doesn't support 1080p. Also, if this thing supports VGA conversion and not just component conversion, then that would be FTW. I'm interested, although I'm interested if there is any way to get some power from the 360's video port...I imagine there is, but if this thing taps into a digital signal straight from the mobo, that's even more impressive.

Interesting debate. Quite a bit is being missed in the debate in this thread and quite a bit is not known about the adapter.

Assuming that the system believes it to be the equivalent of VGA, not Component, then those with a HD-DVD will benefit right away because they can run full 1080p without the HDCP restrictions placed on component. More important though is that most current sets have a 3-7% overscan on component while most sets also have, or have a FW update to enable, 1:1 pixel mapping on the HDMI (which is what VGA has). Right off you have gained picture real estate. The only place this is not a benefit is broadcast signals as they underscan on purpose.

Many sets do not have a VGA input. If you have one of those sets, then without HDMI you are forced to overscan, saturated colors and copy protection restrictions on HD DVD content.

Now the benefit of HDMI assumes the adapter is telling the system it is accepting the equivalent of VGA, otherwise all of the above is moot.

Well, I am one of the ones who have had the premium (without the HDMI) die THREE TIMES. The first two were red rings of death and now this time a disk read error (will not play any game disk or DVD in the console drive, although HD DVD works fine). The second time MS sent me a refurbished unit and within two weeks, the drive has failed. I have been on the phone with XBOX 360 reps every day this week and they will not replace my original with a pro (with HDMI), they are only repairing the current unit AGAIN. The only concession the supervisor offered was a free accessory. So those of you who think that when your 1st generation console dies, you will be getting an upgrade...think again. If anyone has any suggestions on how to make this happen, please let me know! Thanks.