Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Xbox on iMac
- Thread starter mikefal33
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Because those only accept Thunderbolt video input, not mini-DisplayPort like the 2009 and 2010 models. The XBox cannot output its video signal via Thunderbolt.
No target display mode.
----------
Incorrect. MiniDP and Thunderbolt are one and the same (in this particular scenario).
2011 and 2012 iMacs have target display mode, but only when connected to another computer with Thunderbolt.
There is a distinction. 2009 and 2010 27" iMacs can accept video via a Mini-Displayport adapter (like the Kanex XD). 2011 and 2012 iMacs can accept video in but only as a Thunderbolt signal.
Physically the two are the same, but the 2012 iMac does not accept DVI compatible signals via the video port, only Thunderbolt signals. The 2012 iMac does have Target Display Mode, but can act as a display only for other Thunderbolt Macs just like the 2011 iMac. The 2009 and 2010 27" iMacs can act as a display for any device that outputs DVI compatible signals.
No, they aren't the same signals. The 2011/2012 only take Thunderbolt signals from other Macs. Nothing else. And no adapters exist.
Which is exactly why I hate Apple for not growing a brain and just slapping an HDMI port on the back of their 27" computer screens.
No, but you could try video capture or game capture devices that would work to play games on your Mac. It would rely on usb connectivity, but I think it performs better than expected.
I've played games with an EyeTV Hybrid before. Works really well, little to no noticeable lag.
I thought buying the actual HD capture device with my 20" iMac and my PS3, but I never got to play anyway due to being a full-time student and stay-at-home dad. I was really tempted though.
http://support.elgato.com/index.php?languageid=1&group=englishdefault&_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&parentcategoryid=1&kbarticleid=1063
You can connect this via the break out cable either with the s-video or composite output, then you can connect them and play.
Plug EyeTV Hybrid into iMac, plug in the breakout cable into EyeTV, plug GameCube/Playstation/Xbox/whatever into EyeTV, turn off recording and timeshifting, play game.
Thanks. "Console with iMac as Display" is a question that is asked very often but I never read of this solution before.
I wouldn't count on any acceptable input lag with that solution, though I admit I've never personally tried it. Just from what I read.... not so good!
With the analog setup it might be fine, but not digitally. So games will look pretty darn awful.
Unless you've personally tried it, don't claim it as being not good. There is very little to no lag. And if one uses the Eyetv 250 or whatever the non-Hybrid one is called, you can reduce the already inperceivable amount of lag even more. While the yellow RCA video doesn't look very nice, S-Video and RGB look very nice when stretched to fill a full iMac screen.