Cheap way to do DVI/VGA capture from a PC to MacBook?

February 12, 2013 10:38 AM

I need to figure out a cheap way to take a DVI or VGA signal from a PC, and capture it to a MacBook Pro to stream video to the internet. Situational constraints inside.

I am looking into streaming games on Twitch.TV, but I have an older rig that presents some logistical problems. It's not an optimal rig, but bear with me:

Source PC - Mac Pro (2006, 8 core 2.66 Xeons) running XP, sufficient to play the game I wish to stream but unable to handle both streaming and playing at the same time. My video card is has 2 DVI ports, and a displayport. I also have a DVI signal splitter, that would remove any need to mirror the display on the XP side.
Current resolution - 1680x1050

Recording PC - Macbook Pro with a 2.26 Core2Duo processor. Will handle the encoding and streaming to twitch. Twitch provides and suggest software that will work, but here is where I am coming into problems. Not looking for it to stream 720p, but 480p should be fine for now.

I am looking for a converter that would take a DVI or VGA signal and convert it to a Firewire DV or USB that would be Mac compatible. The streaming software will handle the rest.

I see that the Epiphan VGA to USB Video Grabber (VGA2USB) might work, but it's currently outside my budget at $300. Under $150 is my optimal budget.

Used or older equipment is fine. I'm open to both creative, insane, and/or unreliable solutions.

posted by chambers to computers & internet (4 answers total)

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr2-gaming.html

$159

Haupage makes great stuff
posted by bobdow at 12:10 PM on February 12 [1 favorite]

Here is a tutorial from Epiphan on using their VGA or DVI frame grabbers to rebroadcast that feed with QuickTime Broadcaster. Maybe you could find a used/refurbished one, or one via eBay.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:19 PM on February 12 [1 favorite]

The HDPVR2 is a good capture board, and has HDMI passthrough so if your monitor has an HDMI input you don't even need the splitter. Apparently the Hauppauge doesn't directly support the Mac, but someone else does for $30. (of course if your MBP is also running windows, you can just use the Hauppauge software)

You'd also need a DVI -> HDMI converter but HDMI and DVI are electrically very similar so those are cheap.
posted by aubilenon at 2:06 PM on February 12 [1 favorite]

Thanks everybody! Looks like I've got some experimenting to do.
posted by chambers at 7:32 PM on February 12