Xbox on iMac?
February 1, 2010 12:24 PM Subscribe
Is there a way to hook up an Xbox (original, not 360) to play using one of the new 27" iMacs as a teevee surrogate?
I've looked around quite a bit on Google but everything I find seems to be about the Xbox 360. I've looked at the tech specs for both the Xbox and the 27" iMac but my knowledge of A/V connectors pretty much begins and ends with RCA, so I have no idea what I'm reading. Thanks!
I've looked around quite a bit on Google but everything I find seems to be about the Xbox 360. I've looked at the tech specs for both the Xbox and the 27" iMac but my knowledge of A/V connectors pretty much begins and ends with RCA, so I have no idea what I'm reading. Thanks!
If you're willing to spend a bit of money you could buy an Elgato EyeTV Hybrid USB tuner, which accepts input from an RCA or S-Video source. I think I read somewhere the encoding lag is meant to be minimal enough to allow it to be used for gaming as well.
posted by fearthehat at 12:36 PM on February 1, 2010
posted by fearthehat at 12:36 PM on February 1, 2010
No, the Imac has video outs, but no way of using it as a monitor.
This is no longer entirely true. The new 27" iMacs can take video input from DisplayPort sources. Right now I think that largely means you're limited to laptops, though - Apple's own laptops all come with mini-displayPort output, so you're one adapter away from plugging one into the 27" iMac. But I'm not sure about the viability of getting an original-Xbox video feed into DisplayPort.
posted by Tomorrowful at 12:38 PM on February 1, 2010
This is no longer entirely true. The new 27" iMacs can take video input from DisplayPort sources. Right now I think that largely means you're limited to laptops, though - Apple's own laptops all come with mini-displayPort output, so you're one adapter away from plugging one into the 27" iMac. But I'm not sure about the viability of getting an original-Xbox video feed into DisplayPort.
posted by Tomorrowful at 12:38 PM on February 1, 2010
I used that EyeTV as an input for a PS2 through a Mac Mini to a monitor for awhile (videogames at work, yay). There was a tiny bit of lag, about the same as when using wireless controllers. It was not a game-killer for most titles, though it might be enough of a lag to make fast-twitch shooters frustrating. I used it for Madden and GTA and such and it was fine.
As Tomorrowful says, more recent iMacs have a video input as a response to people wanting to use that big sexy display for other things. That's your best route, I suspect.
posted by rokusan at 12:42 PM on February 1, 2010
As Tomorrowful says, more recent iMacs have a video input as a response to people wanting to use that big sexy display for other things. That's your best route, I suspect.
posted by rokusan at 12:42 PM on February 1, 2010
Response by poster: No, the Imac has video outs, but no way of using it as a monitor.
The Apple website says that the Mini DisplayPort works as input on the 27-inch model.
The Apple website says that the Mini DisplayPort works as input on the 27-inch model.
The Mini DisplayPort lets you connect an external display, including the Apple LED Cinema Display, to your iMac. On the 27-inch iMac, the same port offers input, too. So you can connect any external source that has DisplayPort output — including a MacBook or MacBook Pro — and use your iMac as a display. (from here)posted by shakespeherian at 12:42 PM on February 1, 2010
Ah, my mistake. I have a couple of the 20" and 24" models in my office, but we're not shelling out for 27" at this point.
posted by Oktober at 12:47 PM on February 1, 2010
posted by Oktober at 12:47 PM on February 1, 2010
Perhaps this would work with the Mini DisplayPort? With an adapter?
posted by de void at 1:18 PM on February 1, 2010
posted by de void at 1:18 PM on February 1, 2010
Whoops, muffed the link.
Try, try again:
http://www.x2vga.com/product
posted by de void at 1:18 PM on February 1, 2010
Try, try again:
http://www.x2vga.com/product
posted by de void at 1:18 PM on February 1, 2010
It looks like the 27" iMac doesn't accept input formats other than DisplayPort, which means you need a true video signal conversion and not just a simple adapter.
Luckily, somebody has made an adapter that will convert HDMI into DisplayPort. It's expensive because it is doing a true video signal conversion and not just moving electrical signals to different wires ($150 instead of $20 or $30) - but that will likely be the only way you can do it.
Note that box will only work with 1280x720 (720p) sources, so make sure your Xbox is set to 720p before you plug it in; else you may not see the output.
posted by agentmunroe at 1:28 PM on February 1, 2010
Luckily, somebody has made an adapter that will convert HDMI into DisplayPort. It's expensive because it is doing a true video signal conversion and not just moving electrical signals to different wires ($150 instead of $20 or $30) - but that will likely be the only way you can do it.
Note that box will only work with 1280x720 (720p) sources, so make sure your Xbox is set to 720p before you plug it in; else you may not see the output.
posted by agentmunroe at 1:28 PM on February 1, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! We've been talking about getting rid of the teevee and using a mounted iMac, and my wife wondered if that would obviate use of the Xbox, so now I have an answer.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:09 PM on February 1, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 2:09 PM on February 1, 2010
Note that box will only work with 1280x720 (720p) sources, so make sure your Xbox is set to 720p before you plug it in; else you may not see the output.
I don't think the original Xbox does 720- it's 480, right?
posted by mkultra at 2:44 PM on February 1, 2010
I don't think the original Xbox does 720- it's 480, right?
posted by mkultra at 2:44 PM on February 1, 2010
I think the Xbox does have limited 720p and 1080i support, but only for a select number of games (see here) and some homebrew software (I'm pretty sure XBMC can display in 720p, for example). I don't know if it can show all content in HD.
Another problem is that the original Xbox can't output through HDMI - you'd need to use another converter to switch from composite/component/S-Video before using the adapter linked above.
posted by fearthehat at 3:01 PM on February 1, 2010
Another problem is that the original Xbox can't output through HDMI - you'd need to use another converter to switch from composite/component/S-Video before using the adapter linked above.
posted by fearthehat at 3:01 PM on February 1, 2010
Original XBOX doesn't do HDMI, either.
Putting that aside, the video converter may introduce lag if it does any buffering.
posted by rr at 3:43 PM on February 1, 2010
Putting that aside, the video converter may introduce lag if it does any buffering.
posted by rr at 3:43 PM on February 1, 2010
Best answer: Ack! I'm sorry, I missed the part where it was an original Xbox.
That adapter won't work at all then, since it uses HDMI, and an original Xbox will only support component. So then you'd need a component to HDMI adapter ($50), and at that point it's getting rather scary, especially considering the large majority of Xbox 1 games will only output at 480p and would require a scaler on top of that.
posted by agentmunroe at 3:43 PM on February 1, 2010
That adapter won't work at all then, since it uses HDMI, and an original Xbox will only support component. So then you'd need a component to HDMI adapter ($50), and at that point it's getting rather scary, especially considering the large majority of Xbox 1 games will only output at 480p and would require a scaler on top of that.
posted by agentmunroe at 3:43 PM on February 1, 2010
Response by poster: Yeah this is beginning to look like we will perhaps come up with a different solution (it will probably just involve a small teevee for the Xbox).
posted by shakespeherian at 3:45 PM on February 1, 2010
posted by shakespeherian at 3:45 PM on February 1, 2010
On any mac, you should be able to use the hauppage HD PVR ($250) to capture / display component video. Haven't tried it, but I'd imagine it also includes some delay in processing/encoding, so that might not be a really viable option. For the original xbox, if you are OK with S-video, you can get any number of capture cards that should work.
posted by CharlesV42 at 6:01 PM on February 1, 2010
posted by CharlesV42 at 6:01 PM on February 1, 2010
Best answer: Yeah, judging by this FAQ entry on El Gato's website, there's a fairly significant delay on the video inputs, so that likely won't help you much I'm afraid if you want to play games.
Although it's admittedly quite cool for what it's designed for (real-time HD capture/H.264 encoding).
posted by agentmunroe at 7:19 PM on February 1, 2010
Although it's admittedly quite cool for what it's designed for (real-time HD capture/H.264 encoding).
posted by agentmunroe at 7:19 PM on February 1, 2010
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posted by Oktober at 12:35 PM on February 1, 2010