14 DAY TRIAL // Now that Microsoft's released their Spring Update, 360 users surely have a lot to talk about. A dozen new features and improvements have been made available through this recently launched patch, among which "improved VGA output." Well, if other features aren't so impressive don't kill me, but at least VGA users can see a dramatical change.
DailyTech has conducted a study on a newly patched Xbox 360, using Need For Speed Carbon for testing games visuals and a King Kong HD-DVD, also for VGA comparison, as the new improvements will surely appeal hard core movie watchers the most.
Noticeable improvements: - increased richness and color in Need For Speed Carbon - difference of the new IRE settings is best noticeable when watching movies - dark scenes are accurate, black levels are essential - the new "expanded" reference level produces far richer and less washed out images
Overall, picture has been significantly improved, thanks to the Spring Update. DailyTech also points out that "The Spring Update adds a new feature allowing users to tweak the IRE setting that the Xbox 360 sends out to the television."
As Amir Majidimehr, VP of Microsoft's Consumer Media Technology Group explains "Both Xbox 360 Elite and current Xbox 360 units will have a spring (console) update which adds support for different video levels for VGA output ("7.5 IRE vs 0") ... using this setting you should be able to use computer monitors in addition to TVs with resolutions all the way up to 1080p with high fidelity and no issues with HDCP handshaking. So for current users, I highly recommend trying this update with your VGA connection to see if it does the job for you. Note that this is a console update and will work for both games and of course, HD DVD."
Why do they always use Need For Speed titles for testing picture quality anyway? It's not the only series showing off some impressive visuals and effects you know. I guess it's just a good translation of day-to-day objects and landscapes, thus becoming a good comparison tool.