Progressive Scan DVD in Xbox or PS2??

[Mavrick007]

I was wondering if the dvd players in the Xbox or PS2 are progressive scan players?
DVD-roms in computers are progressive scan and the one in the Xbox must be similar to those cause it's basically a PC but in the form of a console.

The Xbox will do 480p and 1080i with the High Definition AV Pack so it must be Progressive scan. If it is, I wonder what chipset is being used on it and if the Chroma bug is noticed.

 

[Maverick]

excellent questions...I can answer one.

No, the Xbox can not do progressive scan DVD for movies. It has the ability, but due to Macrovision licensing, they are not legally allowed to enable it. This may be bypassed in the future with the use of homebrew software (which requires a modchip to run). In fact I guarantee it will since they've already found a way to play DVDs without the DVD remote add-on.

Its abilities to do progressive scan is right now limited to games. But so far I'm not sure how many games have 1080i (though I'd be interested to know). As for the chroma bug I have no idea if it has it or not (don't really know what the chroma bug looks like).

I can tell you one thing though...with the stock DVD remote Xbox picture quality looks like ASS. Don't expect to get the same quality out of it as you would on even a basic progressive scan DVD player. Its worse than my last DVD player, a 3 year old Toshiba SD3109 non-prog scan player.

 

[royaldank]

Neither the XBOX nor the PS2 has progressive scan out of the box. There is one PS2 game that runs in progressive scan sort of, but it's software encoded and not part of the hardware. It's either the latest Virtua Fighter or Tekken game.

 

[Mavrick007]

The reason I was asking is cause I picked up an Xbox the other day with remote for a pretty good deal, and then I picked up an Advanced AV Pack cause I wanted better quality picture as well as Optical audio, and my tv only supports S-vid for now so I can't do progressive scan, but I wanted to know for when I do get a better tv, like some decent HDTV widescreen.

I tried a movie and it took me awhile to figure it out, but I finally found out how to enable DTS and DD. Hehe I didn't get a manual and I didn't know I had to set it in the Xbox too (as well as my receiver and on the software rom). Anyhow, I thought the pic quality wasn't too bad. You didn't like the quality? Maybe it was just the movie I watched but I thought it looked about as good as my player in my computer with the Hardware decoder.

I was suprised to read that it's limited to just games for Progressive scan considering the whole reason to get the HD AV Pack was for better movies (as well as games too I guess). I'm pretty new to the Xbox scene but eventually I want to mod my machine and maybe then I'll be able to use Pro scan for movies too. The Chroma bug is exhibited on certain chipsets for progressive scan machines, some being more evident than others. I know the Genesis chipset does show it. It has to do with improper colors like with reds where they appear like off hue or more amber.

Does PS2 allow you to watch movies in progressive scan? I understand the unit has problems with alot of movies and you have to keep getting new software for it.

 

[hoihtah]

bottom line...
get a progrossive scan player... or build a htpc.

i'm sure... someone will eventually come up with a crack for xbox.
but it always seems to make more sense to just get a standalone unit.

i got mine (progressive scan) dvd player for 150.

 

[Maverick]

yeah I'm doing the HTPC route and still waiting on my DIGN case so I'm using the xbox for now...I'm pretty annoyed with the PQ.

Right now you probably don't see a difference in PQ since you're not on an HDTV. I've got a 51 inch sony and I see all kinds of grainy images. Big difference from my old player.