Review: XCM 1080p Mega Cool VGA Box

[bandit]

XCM 1080p Mega Cool VGA Box
Manufacturer: XCM
Site: Buy from Play-Asia / Buy from Divineo China / Buy from ConsoleShop / Buy from ConsoleSource / Buy from Extreme-Mods
Price: $79.90-120.00

Overview : Connect any Component Video source to any VGA monitor for the best resolution possible! Supports up to 1080p HDTV resolution! New sleek design.

Features :

• Supports PC video display resolutions up to UXGA (1600 x 1200 @ 75 Hz) or HD TV (up to 1920 x 1080)
• Supports 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p
• Display pictures from your console (Game Cube, Playstation 2, Xbox, PSP Slim, Wii , Xbox 360, Playstation 3) on your PC monitor (up to 1600 x 1200) or HDTV (up to 1920 x 1080)
• Supports SDTV, HDTV, XGA, SXGA, and UXGA video formats.
• Works on both PAL & NTSC systems.
• Easy Plug and play installation.
• Connect any compatible YPbPr (component video) device to your VGA monitor via Integrated YPbPr to RGBHV converter.
• Applications: TFT LCD monitor, CRT monitor, Set-top box, Display projector
• Works on LCD TFT monitors
• Video output: VGA
• Automatic video source mode detection (film/graphic)
• Motion-adaptive interfiled de-interlacing
• Uses the power from your USB port, no extra power supply needed!

Quality/Usability : I dont like to have lots of wires dangling or have to constantly plug/unplug cables so I opted to use the XCM Multi-Console Component Cable v3. The XCM 1080p Mega Cool VGA Box is housed in a sturdy chrome casing with component cable input, VGA input and output, stereo speaker input and USB power input. The top of the XCM 1080p Mega Cool VGA Box contains a SOURCE button as well as directional pads. The SOURCE button lights up when in use (blue for component and green for VGA) and allows you to switch between your computer/laptop or consoles. The directional pads allows you to change resolution and frequency on your monitor.

Below is a video of the Mega Cool VGA Box being used with the Multi-Console Component Cable.

I connected my PSP Slim, Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Dell computer to the Mega Cool VGA Box and to my Dell 24" 1080p Widescreen monitor. All worked flawlessly without a problem. Pictures displayed just like it would on a TV/monitor. There were no lags or distortions. I liked that you were able to change the resolution and refresh rate from the VGA box rather than going through all the menus on your monitor/TV. What I dont like however is that it only supports 1 component cable. Luckily, I have the multi-console cable but others might not and this may be an annoyance.

When switching devices, it does not remember the display resolution. So you'll have to go and change it each time. Its not a big problem but would be nice if it remembered the previous setting. I like the fact that it gets it power through the USB. Having multiple consoles, TV, satellite box, computer and other devices plugged in, I am running out of sockets in the surge protector. So using a USB port from either the Xbox 360, Wii, PS3 or PC is a PLUS in my book. If you're not using that device that the VGA box is connected to, it wont be powered. So you'll have to turn it on.

Conclusion : Overall, the XCM 1080p Mega Cool VGA Box works great but as mentioned, it only allows for one component input. So if you have a PS3, Wii and Xbox 360, you can only connect one. If you want to play a different console, you'll have to unplug the cable and insert the other one. If you're like me and want to make your life easier, I suggest looking into XCM Multi-Console Component Cable v3. One cable that has all the connections for all consoles. When you want to use that console, just move the switch to that corresponding console and you're ready to go. No unplugging or plugging needed.

Would be nice if this was extended to incorporate additional component cables and turned into maybe a selector?

Images via comments

[wraggster]

i hope its better than the other vga box they released, i got it a few days ago and it didnt work at all for me, sadly

[wraggster]

i hope its better than the other vga box they released, i got it a few days ago and it didnt work at all for me, sadly

[bandit]

I havent had any problems with any of the XCM products. This product says it works on PAL. Only product I had problem was that mini guitar which was utter crap.

[wraggster]

hmm i may get one when i have some cash to spare

[Solar]

to bandit.

thank you for the review of the vga box.

what i was wondering is...if i use the component/composite combo wire (the one which comes with most xbox 360's) will i be able to play in HD and record in SD....the components will run into the vga box whilst the compisite will run into my capture card......i have a 1080p 24" monitor.

i really want to record my gameplay and i heard the combo wire can be used, but it limits gameplay in standard definition.

the combo wire has to setting HDTV and SD....if i select SD will i be able to change the resolution on the vga box to 1080p?.


hope you or sumone here can help...thanx.

[bandit]

You should be able to record. As to what resolution, I dont know.

As for the combo wire for Xbox 360, if you select SD and change resolution on VGA to 1080p, it will not convert it to HD. So dont expect to convert a SD qualityl to HD.

[D34DL1N3R]

Hey man,

Could you please do a video showing gameplay of the PS3 running a 720p only title in 1080p using the VGA Box? I'm thinking of getting one of these but I don't know if, or how well it can do what I am wanting it to do.

Basically I just want to see gameplay of a 720p PS3 game (without 1080p support) running in forced 1080p via the VGA Box.

Thanx!!!