I downloaded the latest xbox 360 update which now apparently enables the Hi Def up-res of SD PAL DVDs, and fixes/adds some other Hi Def resolution output variants.

So now in my European xbox 360 and attached 360 HD-DVD player I can run both SD NTSC and SD PAL DVDs with quite wonderful upres to Hi Def quality - I am franlky astounded! It is far better at letting SD play 'as' HD than the Faroudja chip in my video projector which had served well until now.

My HD output can be PAL 50 or PAL 60, and I think leaving it in PAL 60 is fine, as this setting is for when it catches a SD NTSC DVD or 60hz game or HD-DVD - a 50 Hz source goes through unchanged (apparently there are some European monitors not enabled to play 60 Hz HD material). You can set outputs through VGA upwards of 1280 x 720 through to 1920 x 1080 to fit your monitor/projector resolution.

It is my belief that there is currently no better way to watch Standard Defintion DVDs in a faux HD, the picture quality is astounding for a SD 'blow-up' to HD - I have so many SD DVDs and that this is exactly what I was hoping for!

The only downside is that the xbox is expecting (R0 or) R2 DVDs, so any other regions would have to be backed-up to R0 (which is no great hassle IMO).