The title refers to these cables as HD (standing for high definition) cables for the Wii. That is a mostly false statement. Much of this post is at least a bit of an oversimplification, but I will try to get to the heart of the matter. If you don't want technical details: these cables aren't really HD, but may produce *slightly* better results.
When dealing with TV graphics there are three possible resolutions: 480, 720, and 1080. Your TV display is comprised of square dots (called pixels), arranged in a rectangular grid. While some manufacturers taut brag about color features, the prominent and most basic indicator of image quality is the single integer associated with the image.
The three numbers I've given stand for the number of horizontal lines (rows) in the display. So, 480 is the number of rows in the display. Based on convention, 480 rows = about 337920 pixels, 720 = 921600 pixels, and 1080= 2073600 pixels. 480 can vary a bit, but this is probably close enough to what the Wii will produce. In essence, these numbers indicate high definition or standard definition. 480 is standard (what you see on DVD and broadcast TV) and 720/1080 are considered "high definition".
On to what you are really getting by upgrading, if you have the correct ports on your Wii:
The standard cords have one video cable and two audio cables. These cables have three video cables and two audio cables. While the three video cables CAN cary a HD signal (minus a bit of quality due to digital to analogue to digital conversion that isn't worth discussing), they don't in this case. And here's why:
You often see an 'i' or a 'p' immediately after the number (480, 720, 1080). To understand these numbers, you need to know the difference between interlaced and progressive scan video. Displays like TVs refresh. That means you have one picture, and then another picture takes its place. This happens fast enough that you see movement, and not a slide show. (The term "refresh rate" is based on how often the images swap out, but that is generally reserved for computer monitors and not TVs.)
A 'p' stands for progressive scan. That is the simplest to understand, and it is a slightly newer development than interlaced video. With progressive scan, every pixel in every row is updated each time the monitor is refreshed. When you have an 'i' (the older style of updating a TV) every other row is updated each time the monitor is refreshed.
The result of interlaced video is that it appears slightly less smooth, but only for those who can tell the difference. There may be scientific studies that show what percent of people are likely to see the difference, but I haven't looked into it. My casual experience is that not everyone can tell the difference. My thought is that people that can tell the difference are mostly naturally sensitive to visual stimulation.
Not every TV will take 3 video inputs. If you can use these you will have ports labeled 'Y" (green), "PB/CB" (blue), and "PR/CR" (red). (Don't worry about what the letters stand for.) If you can't, you will have a single video port that is either yellow or white.
By purchasing these cables you will move from 1 video cable (interlaced video) to 3 video cables (progressive scan). In other words these three cables ONLY add progressive scan capabilities. If you can detect the difference, these cables will make your video game experience more enjoyable. If you can't (I would guess most people fall into this category) the upgrade will be a waste of money. Either way, these cables represent an upgrade, but it is not fair to call them an HD upgrade.
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