Gametrailers.com listens, compares component and HDMI
by Chris Powell 
{ Jan 19th 2008 at 10:45AM }
As many of you know, Gametrailers recently came under quite a bit of scrutiny when it was learned that the PS3 and Xbox 360 comparison videos they've been posting were used at the PS3's default video settings and using component cables. To silence its critics, Gametrailers posted a video comparing Uncharted: Drake's Fortune using standard component cables like they have in the past and what many PS3 owners have wanted – HDMI, full RGB and with adjusted ultra white levels.
After watching the video several times, we have to say, it's kinda hard to tell a difference. In the end, this whole controversy might have been a bit overblown, but we think it'd probably be smart on Gametrailer's part to just use the HDMI settings in any future comparison videos. It just might save you guys a lot of hate mail.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Chapman @ Jan 19th 2008 10:56AM
These videos are pointless anyway. You're not going to see any descent amount of comparisson unless you're viewing it yourself on a HDTV. It's awaste of GT's time and any fanboy who bothers to look at these video's xbox360 or ps3. How on earth can you compare HDMI to RGB in such a small comparrisson video? anyone agree?
HAAS599 @ Jan 19th 2008 11:07AM
yes.
Joshua @ Jan 19th 2008 12:01PM
Yeah.
Popfrogs @ Jan 19th 2008 1:06PM
I agree wholeheartedly. You won't be able to see the differences until you sit down in front of it on YOUR setup. Not only are computer monitors notoriously misconfigured for gamma and brightness, but most new LCD HDTVs need the backlight cut down by half (at least) out of the box to represent dark tones more accurately.
Severe_Gamer @ Jan 19th 2008 4:36PM
I DISAGREE. It is easy to tell the difference... but because of the low quality of the video (even in HD) it is tricky to tell the difference when it is in motion, especially when it is in the really bright spots, which constitute most of the video.
Do a pause at 1:21 to see the difference. Notice how the component appears washed out by comparison. Look at the pale fleshtones on Drake on the left. Notice how the edges on the leaves and trees appear sharper on the left (HDMI). Even his ring (worn around his neck) looks more luminescent in HDMI!!! For other good examples, look at the differences as they flip back and forth between the two at about 1:45. HDMI is consistantly more vibrant, colorful, and crisp.
nailerr @ Jan 19th 2008 11:07AM
The biggest problem for me was that the majority of people just assumed that Full Range RGB over HDMI was an instant improvement with no understanding of the option. A fair number of HDMI devices do not even yet support this mode and as such turning it on only loses you shades into the black turning once fine shadows into black patches.
On top of that SuperWhite is not a compatible option, you either use FullRGB *or* Super White and the two do not work together. In-fact SuperWhite should not even work in games. From Sony's own manual:
"When [Super-White] is set to [On], video content from AVCHD discs recorded in x.v.Colour can be played with a wide colour scale.
* A TV that is compatible with x.v.Colour (xvYCC) must be connected using an HDMI cable.
* An AVCHD disc that was recorded in x.v.Colour must be used."
If anyone wants to TEST their TV for Full RGB capability use the following image:
http://www.spitelords.net/junk/Brightness.jpg
If you can see ALL SIXTEEN SQUARES while RGB Full is set to on, your TV supports this mode. If you do not, even with Brightness turned up high, it does NOT support this mode.
bamf @ Jan 20th 2008 4:48PM
Thanks for this info. I used RGB on full and when I played the demo of GT5 prologue I thought there was something not quite right with the shadows in the game, as how you have described, there was no detail in the shadows, there was no different shades of black but black patches. I then used rgb limited and found this helped the problem but still think it has to much darkness in the game. Still I have been in between turning on and off the rgb full option because having it on makes the colours more vivd.
I do have a bravia and would imagine it would support this feature but for now I'll have rgb limited on and compensate the coloure by turning up the colour on the tv settings a little. My bravia has a vivid colour feature that I use which helps so I shouldn't moan really. I'll try that image on my tv.
Blaze463 @ Jan 19th 2008 11:18AM
i guess everyone forgot that Uncharted ONLY runs on 720p....and also i thought the whole arguement was about comparing ps3 to 360 games wtf?
Skeptic @ Jan 19th 2008 11:10AM
Am I the only person who sees a problem with comparing them at 720P rather than 1080i (component) and 1080P (HDMI). What the heck is the point of having a cable capable of 1080P output if you don't use it for that?
Neil @ Jan 19th 2008 11:53AM
Most action games still only run at 720P.
Tim Parsons @ Jan 19th 2008 5:51PM
FYI: Component does fullHD 1080P same as HDMI
JFT @ Jan 27th 2008 1:25PM
Component is _capable_ of 1080p, but due to most things we have content-related morons who like to limit the ability to actually _do_ 1080p without hdmi. Even upscaling DVD players won't scale to 1080p without HDMI.
(It's not a problem for me, because I have a 720p TV... heh.)
Gosh, I love HDCP. _not_. ;)
nailerr @ Jan 19th 2008 11:11AM
The biggest problem for me was that the majority of people just assumed that Full Range RGB over HDMI was an instant improvement with no understanding of the option. A fair number of HDMI devices do not even yet support this mode and as such turning it on only loses you shades into the black turning once fine shadows into black patches.
On top of that SuperWhite is not a compatible option, you either use FullRGB *or* Super White and the two do not work together. In-fact SuperWhite should not even work in games. From Sony's own manual:
"When [Super-White] is set to [On], video content from AVCHD discs recorded in x.v.Colour can be played with a wide colour scale.
* A TV that is compatible with x.v.Colour (xvYCC) must be connected using an HDMI cable.
* An AVCHD disc that was recorded in x.v.Colour must be used."
If anyone wants to TEST their TV for Full RGB capability use the following image:
http://www.spitelords.net/junk/Brightness.jpg
If you can see ALL SIXTEEN SQUARES while RGB Full is set to on, your TV supports this mode. If you do not, even with Brightness turned up high, it does NOT support this mode.
moparful99 @ Jan 19th 2008 11:12AM
Well to add to what you're saying, its ironic that the game they choose to show is a ps3 exclusive. Its hard to differentiate graphics for a game on the same freakin console. This whole controversy started over all of the videos comparing cross platform games. So why havent they realeased a cross platform video using full rgb and super white? I agree that these videos are a waste of time due to the compression but you dont realize how many people watch these videos that have yet to purchase either the ps3 or the 360. So if someone on the fence see's these videos and they see the cheaper 360 with equal graphics to the higher priced ps3 then it gives the handicapped advantage to the 360... I think thats why people are so up in arms over this... Gamers in this generation have become soo passionate over their respected console...
Dehshizknight @ Jan 19th 2008 8:49PM
That is EXACTLY what I was thinking.
Rick @ Jan 19th 2008 11:24AM
There is a HUGE difference near the end where Sully is lighting the giant fire lamp in the HD version. With the component cables, it's dark and hard to see anything. With HDMI it very easy to see things before he lights the lamp.
--Rick
Mike Jenkins @ Jan 19th 2008 12:48PM
I don't know what you're smoking, but in that scene they look identical.
Doug @ Jan 19th 2008 1:20PM
mate i'm pretty sure that it's much brighter on the HDMI simply because of where drake's looking in the game - it's probably the fact that his flashlight is pointing where the camera is looking in HDMI but not in the component video.
bamf @ Jan 20th 2008 4:51PM
I've seen this and this isn't just a slight difference where you have to look carefully for it, its noticeable straight away. Sometimes when showing the game in component and when it went to hdmi, it did seem like it goes sharper.
bxbailey @ Jan 19th 2008 11:24AM
actually uncharted supports 1080i but the big issue is that GT doesn't know what full capabilities means, these guys are monkeys.
jonny3k1 @ Jan 19th 2008 11:27AM
you are right.
Mike Jenkins @ Jan 19th 2008 12:49PM
Supporting a resolution and running natively in a resolution are two different things. Every game can be output at 1080p on the PS3 and 360 but most games are natively rendered at 720p and then upconverted.
Chapman @ Jan 19th 2008 11:25AM
I vote to stop gametrailers doing comparison video's, why can't we just get some middle man to test both games on highest and best settings for each console using the top gear and cables that each console can support, then write a decent review> Hell i'd do it myself if i owned an xbox360 or ps3 and had another 40" HDTV
Dan @ Jan 19th 2008 11:27AM
Blaze is right, most games today run at only 720p with a few running at 1080i or 1080p. While the ones that do play at 1080p are one of few or PSN titles. This whole story is a whole waste of time.. GT should act like a dictator and silence/ban those on the forums crying like like little fanyboys and babies.. what are they gonna do?? tell their mommy that there ps3 games aren't being displayed in their non-noticeable fully colored glory???..
Any user of a PS3 should know that the games displayed on their tv are fully crisp and shouldnt care about something as dumb as comparison videos. GT was asking for this crap when they started doing so.. now can we go on with our lives and worry about better things PS3 guys??
I mean burnout comes out next week ;) and we got DMC, DW6, and more coming out soon. Hell Turok Demo came out and there hasnt been any post on how it looks, PS3 fanboy site is starting to lose its appeal on doodoo arguments.
Rick @ Jan 19th 2008 11:27AM
The part I'm talking about starts at 2:43.
--Rick
pizzanerd @ Jan 19th 2008 11:31AM
The big deal about GameTrailers wasn't about component vs. hdmi, it was about whether or not they turned on 'Full' for the RGB setting. Remember the Assassin's Creed comparison where they had it set to limited and the PS3 version looked washed out? They turned full on in both of these, but component vs. hdmi was never the issue. This is more or less just a distraction. What they need to do is show the Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, etc. or any other multiplat game with limited vs. full rgb for them to be vindicated.
russell @ Jan 19th 2008 11:32AM
haha i'm sure a low quality flash based video can show the quality differences.
sean @ Jan 19th 2008 11:50AM
sorry if double posted.pc problems. but bet you'll notice the diffrence on this video.compares assassins creed full settings to limited.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HvdRfUmoqQ
Kiko @ Jan 19th 2008 11:59AM
It's Clear at the end only because Drake is there (see the head on the bottom ? :P) and is lighting the room with his flashlight ;)
I don't see the point of comparing Uncharted HDMI and Component, when they could have done it with Assassin's Creed, the mighty one wich seemed washed out !
Khaliel @ Jan 19th 2008 12:00PM
Do you just have any proof that once again it's not fake, and both part are Component made ? Can someone proove us it's component and hdmi, and not two times component ? How to believe GT when they already lied to us so many times...
jtedesco33 @ Jan 19th 2008 12:02PM
Why would you run comparison videos in 1080p? Isn't the idea to compare the two systems out of the box video capabilities. You wouldn't get a fair comparison if u ran PS3 games in 1080p. The fact that everyone is bitching about all the untapper power these systems has means jack shit.
Quit being insecure fanboys and trying to justify a purchase over another. Graphically on default settings out of the box, which is may I add what most consumers will use there is not much difference between the consoles. If someone's knit picking can decipher a defference when the general public can't it doesn't matter.
I like the news on the fanboy sites but the most enjoyment comes from watching the fanboys squirm when negative press is afoot.
Kxpuc @ Jan 19th 2008 12:02PM
what i realize is that EVERYONE saves the camera
From Uncharted, Blair Witch to Cloverfield
the camera is more important then some people
PS3 person @ Jan 19th 2008 12:11PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HvdRfUmoqQ
a real comparison between the diffrences. and this site is takin really long confirming comments or its not workin on my other email
Efeez1986 @ Jan 19th 2008 12:30PM
This doesn't prove anything, Gametrailers is still bias against the PS3. Fuck Gametrailers. i only go there for the game vids, i don't care what those Xbox fanboys have to say about games.
Fohacidal @ Jan 19th 2008 12:30PM
Comparison video is way to small to make any good judgements, however I noticed the HDMI video was sharper then the component side.
Darko @ Jan 19th 2008 12:39PM
How old are you, 12? Grow up or stop posting.
tkbaby13 @ Jan 19th 2008 12:53PM
Yea, this whole argument is between 360 and ps3 not exclusive games. the reason we complained is because our colors looked *washed* out compared to 360 yet they compare our own games? GT is still a bunch of idiot and will always be.
BTW: only action game i know that supports 1080p is CoD4
Tranando @ Jan 19th 2008 1:04PM
Hhhm, is anyone forgetting the fact that game trailers said they could not capture the HMDI output due to DRM on the HDMI output.
Basically they were lying, and now the DRM has magically gone....
Popfrogs @ Jan 19th 2008 1:07PM
CAPS LOCK IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL!
Tim Parsons @ Jan 19th 2008 1:14PM
Need I say : I TOLD YOU SO,. HDMI in terms of video output is no better then Component ,. it's only advantage is having AUdio as well and HDCP needed for copyprotected content.
Video games dont have this so HDMI is not needed for Gaming. ,. and the PS3 is a Gaming Console. HDMI is only being pushed by SONY so strong because Piracy has always been #1 on SONY's list
mike @ Jan 19th 2008 1:20PM
How quickly we forget that Microsoft has implemented HDMI with their generation of consoles.
Tim Parsons @ Jan 19th 2008 5:54PM
whats your point mike?? ,
xboxhater @ Jan 19th 2008 1:50PM
Are they using the RGB settings, I think not. Which was the whole point in the first place.
carterk88 @ Jan 19th 2008 1:58PM
I was one of the lucky few to pick up my PS3 on it's release day a couple November's ago. Well I found out as I'm at the register that it didn't have any HD cables so to lessen the blow on my wallet I got a set of component cables. Well after a few weeks of gaming I started to regret my purchas because in my opinion the games just didnt look right, I thought to my self constantly "This kinda looks cheap & shitty". Thankfully though I got an early x-mas gift and it was a Monster Gaming HDMI cable. WOW what a difference, the picture was more vivd but most of all stable. Everything looked solid and strait up more HD. So if anyone thinks the two are equal (even in 720) your wrong. And if you still disagree get rid of that ancient 720 tv set and upgrade to 1080p to see my point.
Ty @ Jan 19th 2008 10:59PM
this has more credit than the crappy flash video above.
jitty @ Jan 19th 2008 2:14PM
This comparison is bullshit! 1st of all, you can only get full RGB will HDMI, and that makes a noticeable difference. They obviously weren't taking advantage of full RGB with HDMI. Second of all, if there was a small difference besides full RGB, how the hell would gametrailers expect us to spot it with their not-so-good quality wma compression?
KingMe @ Jan 19th 2008 2:18PM
Wait a minute....I thought GT said they couldn't record over HDMI. So, not only have they never used full settings, but they have been lying as to why they haven't also?!?!?!?!
Deathalo @ Jan 19th 2008 3:05PM
Ok, there's no way they are using full RGB. I have tested myself, and when you turn RGB on it brings the colors out substantially, when you turn it off it's almost like a gray screen goes on top of it and the colors are washed out.
Full RGB is HDMI ONLY (or DVI), therefore you should at least see a difference in color and I mean a big difference. If they were using full RGB on a TV that supports it with HDMI (some only support it through DVI) then you'd see a major improvement from component to HDMI. Just saying, something seems wrong here.
-DH
Tim Parsons @ Jan 19th 2008 6:52PM
"I have tested myself, and when you turn RGB on it brings the colors out substantially, when you turn it off it's almost like a gray screen goes on top of it and the colors are washed out."
BS
Deathalo @ Jan 19th 2008 10:43PM
Um.. ok how is that BS, have YOU personally tested it? I have my PS3 hooked up via DVI to a Westinghouse 42in LCD that has full RGB capabilities. You can instantly tell the difference even just by looking at the background screen. But when playing a Blu-ray movie and pausing the screen you can change it on the fly by going into the menu by pressing triangle. You can switch it on and off and believe me theres a huge difference. Don't BS my comment when you obviously don't know what your talking about.
-DH