HDMI or Component?

I think HDMI is far better than Component.

 

HDMI, by FAR. I can't emphasize the word "far" enough.

Component is a little better than RCA (standard red/white/yellow cables); it does provide a clearer picture, but it's not that big a difference. HDMI, on the other hand, allows full HD (1920x1080 in progressive scanning mode) and provides a crystal clear picture. If you're using a SD or ED TV, use component as it'll show you pretty much the best picture those can provide, but if you're using an HD TV, then you really should go with HDMI. The difference is enormous.

 

Plus it is far less cables to deal with. HDMI does audio/video meaning less of a mess behind your tv. Also if you ever have to unhook it having to plug in one HDMI cable is better than the RGBWR cables and as Kurosan said HDMI just has straight up better picture.

 

But on the chance that your TV can't handle HDMI, like some from more then 4 or so years ago, it probably wouldn't hurt to have an RGB cable set as backup.

 

Then congratulations, you did indeed make the right call! You may have seen some HDMI cables with insane prices around, like 90 bucks or so (one of the more popular brands being Monster), but believe it or not, those are actually no better than a 5-10 bucks cable. Take it from me; employees at Future Shop (a Best Buy-like chain and their biggest competitor in Canada) get those 90-ish dollar cables for less than 5 dollars. Those brands sell HDMI cables with a mark up of around 1900% simply because they know that a lot of people don't know how much they're really worth.

 

Nah, the difference between component and composite is pretty big (especially when it comes to color resolution), and component does support higher resolutions (720p, 1080i vs. 480i and 576i for composite)

HDMI is still better though. Mainly because it's digital so your TV wont have to reconvert it from analog to digital again while processing the video. You need HDMI to play Blu Rays in HD. I believe they will only playback at 480p on component connection.

 

That what it's like over here in the UK with PC World. When they first came about, they were selling a 1.3m HDMI cable for £65. Went to town and pick one up for £15 for a 3m one.

 

HDMI is just repackaged DVI + Audio basically. It's digital, and won't suffer the distortion effects of signal attenuation analogue signals like YPbPr (which is often called component). However, given common use, it won't matter.

HDMI-supported televisions commonly can push 1080p, while the same TV via component is usually restricted to 1080i, which is mathematically a super wide 540p :P. Some better TVs can do 1080p over component.

If you have a CRT, which is a good TV, use YPbPr or RGB (if available). For an LCD or Plasma, which is digital by nature, you should go with HDMI or DVI. On an LCD, those will be much clearer.

The difference is HUGE. Composite suffers horrible artifacts and blurring, as well as supporting only low resolutions.

H... hey wait a minute, offtopic but... Phredreeke have I seen your name elsewhere? TDC perhaps?

 

720P. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-JXfyvlPh0
that should answer why 720P is better.

 

Most PS3 and Xbox 360 games run in 720p anyway, so you should stick with that. Even if you had th option of 1080p I've only played a few games that use it, and they're mostly PSN titles.

 

Actually, many games run at 400p or 480p and then upscale. Their pixel shaders are very expensive to go higher.

 

I'd have to go with HDMI. I bought one when I first purchased my PS3 and never looked back. Component is ok (need to use it for Wii, and had to use it for my old 360), but the picture and sound seem a lot better through an HDMI connection, even if you're not running in 1080p (which my HD TV can't do).