there was some confusion in Gil Jawetz's thread about what exactly is HD or not - so I thought this might help clarify things.

480i is "regular" TV - you get this from using composite cables or s-video cables

480p is progressive scan, otherwise known as EDTV - Enhanced Definition TV. This type of display can only be achieved with component video cables or DVI cables. PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox games are all capable of 480p enhanced definition. Progressive scan DVD players also display at this resolution.

720p and 1080i (and the rare 1080p) are HDTV - High Definition TV. This type of display also requires component video cables or DVI cables. Of the current generation consoles, only the Xbox can display in 720p and 1080i.

What is the difference (with pictures if possible) between 480i and 480p?

Do you not still need a HDTV to be able to view 480p? For example, Sony Wega has component inputs, however, if I get the Gamecube component cables, I'm still stuck with 480i, correct?

I believe the "i" means interlaced, which only displays every other line , and quickly flashes between even and odd lines.

"p" means it shows all lines at once, giving a sharper image.

The difference between 480i and 480p is that one is interlaced, and one is progressive scan. Only TV's which are compatible with etiher EDTV, or HDTV can display a progressive image. Component does not always meen progressive. Let me try my best to explain the differences...All TV's display at 30 frames a second. The way an interlaced image works is the screen will display the even number lines of resolution 1/60th of a second, and the odd number lines the next 1/60th of a second totaling 30 full frames a second. Progressive scan displays 30 full frames every second. This cuts down on jitter and "jaggies", and is overall a cleaner image. Also, not all games are 480p. Almost all XBOX games are, a good amount of GC games are, and very few PS2 games are. XBOX is the only system which can display either 720p or 1080i. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any more HDTV questions. I've been working with it for about 6 years now.

Which is better, 720p or 1080i?

Is there a big difference between regular (s-video) and HDTV when playing Xbox games?

Just curious as I haven't bought my HDTV yet or experienced seeing any games played on either of those.

720p is better for motion such as fast paced sports or action movies. 1080i is better for slower moving and still images as it has a higher resolution.

Not many Xbox games are in HD but there is a big difference between s-video and progressive scan. You'll notice a sharper picture.

and just a to clarify the first post all xbox games are 480p(with the exception of 3 or 4), and there are a only a handful of 480p games on gamecube and ps2


WOWZY, this is a very hard debate about 720p and 1080i, and which is "better" you ask 50 people and 25 will say 720p, and 24 will say 1080i, I being the last person will say 1080p


froma game standpoint it is much easier to program a game for 720p, than it is for 1080i, I just hope that the next gen consoles all support mandatory 720p/1080i, out of the box, and hopefully x2 steps up with 1080p

I thought it was the opposite?

No he is right, 720 is better than 1080 for sports. I can give you 1st hand info as just have watched the conference finals broadcast in HD on my 42" HD TV broadcast from Voom HD sat. I tried both settings and 720 done a better job.
720 shows all lines at once, 1080 will show one group of 540 lines then another group of 540 to produce 1080.

Must be some new type of HD goggles.

Excellent thread. For the record, I was never confused

One more note. Only more recent PS2s do progressive. Earlier models did not. (I don't know the cutoff). Also, many HDTVs do the deinterlacing to make a progressive image themselves on 480i feeds and it's up to whether the player or the TV does it better.

Early PS2's did support progressive scan in games but, 99% of the titles did not. SOCOM is progressive scan. The new models support progressive scan during DVD play back finally.

Ah, that's the detail I was missing. Thanks.

1080i does a maximum of 30 frames per second. 720p's frames can go much higher. That is why 720p, though graphically inferior just a little bit, is actually superior overall.

1080p will be the future.