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27" iMac Video Input With Xbox 360?

belvdr said:
If I take any of my LCD monitors and run the resolution lower than the native, it's never as crisp as the native resolution. I just took my 20" HP monitor to 1280x1024 from its native of 1440x900 and things got blurry. What you're saying isn't making any sense.
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Mate, read orange.x's post above. He explains that you need to be using the same ratio as your native resolution, i.e. 16:9.

1280x1024 is not 16:9, however 1440x900 IS 16:9, so obviously it will look blurry because the image isn't stretched properly. Try out another resolution that can be divided by 16:9 and then tell us your results.

This is exactly gainly's reasoning why the scaler won't be necessary with the new iMacs. The native resolution of the new iMacs is divisible by 16:9 (unlike the older ones). 16:9 is the resolution that the XBox outputs high-definition image. Therefore there won't be noticeable degradation of the image, just a larger image.

There also WILL NOT BE ANY LAG.

Like I mentioned previously most PC gamers don't play games at their monitor's native resolution anyway because it's too taxing on the graphics card. For example if you want to play Cyris on the 27 inch iMac through boot-camp you won't be able to play it at the iMac's native resolution without significant lag but people don't cry and moan about that do they?

RealEvil, you're a star.
 
SachaS said:
Like I mentioned previously most PC gamers don't play games at their monitor's native resolution anyway because it's too taxing on the graphics card. For example if you want to play Cyris on the 27 inch iMac through boot-camp you won't be able to play it at the iMac's native resolution without significant lag but people don't cry and moan about that do they?

RealEvil, you're a star.
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Those having a imac compatible graphic card certainly will play it at the native resolution. AFAIK only 4890 and the 5970 (and propably the 5870) support displayport output. All of them have enough power to run the display at native resolution.
 
SachaS said:
Mate, read orange.x's post above. He explains that you need to be using the same ratio as your native resolution, i.e. 16:9.

1280x1024 is not 16:9, however 1440x900 IS 16:9, so obviously it will look blurry because the image isn't stretched properly. Try out another resolution that can be divided by 16:9 and then tell us your results.
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Same thing. I was wrong in my first reply. The native is 1680x1050. I dropped it to 1440x900 and it's still blurry.
 
Meriana said:
Those having a imac compatible graphic card certainly will play it at the native resolution. AFAIK only 4890 and the 5970 (and propably the 5870) support displayport output. All of them have enough power to run the display at native resolution.
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I don't know what you're talking about but you definitely won't be able to play Cyris or other high-demanding year old games at the iMac's native resolution without annoyingly low frame rates. I'm talking about playing PC games here, not running Snow Leopard.

belvdr said:
Same thing. I was wrong in my first reply. The native is 1680x1050. I dropped it to 1440x900 and it's still blurry.
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Right, well in that case your monitor is a 16:10 monitor not a 16:9! You're testing out the resolution 1440x900 which is 16:9! Test out a resolution divisible by 16:10 and get back to us.

Sacha
 
Ah yes, my apologies there, belvdr. I failed to notice that 1440x900 is divisible by 16:10 and 16:9!

I still don't see why it would be blurry. I always play games at non-native resolutions and yes it isn't as perfect, but it's still acceptable.
 
SachaS said:
Ah yes, my apologies there, belvdr. I failed to notice that 1440x900 is divisible by 16:10 and 16:9!

I still don't see why it would be blurry. I always play games at non-native resolutions and yes it isn't as perfect, but it's still acceptable.
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That's true about those calcs. Never saw that.

It may be because it's a game and not a precise GUI. I'm sure a computer GUI is much more accurate than any of the games out there. Not many games have lots of static pictures.
 
When you run any display at a rez that is not native or pixel perfect, it will soften. This will bother some people and others won't care. I, for one, would want my iMac OS to run at native rez, but could care less if a game does (to an extent). I'd rather keep the frame-rate high, textures, and other stuff turned all the way up.
 
Meriana said:
Those having a imac compatible graphic card certainly will play it at the native resolution. AFAIK only 4890 and the 5970 (and propably the 5870) support displayport output. All of them have enough power to run the display at native resolution.
Click to expand...

Are you insane? There isn't a video card on the market UNDER $1000 that would push Crysis (or ANY 3D Action based game, for that matter) at 1440p (2560 x 1440) with all the settings turned up.

And if you come back with "turn the settings down" ... then you, sir, know nothing of gaming. I'll take the lower resolution and better shaders, effects, shadows, anti-aliasing, etc any day of the week.
 
belvdr said:
If I take any of my LCD monitors and run the resolution lower than the native, it's never as crisp as the native resolution. I just took my 20" HP monitor to 1280x1024 from its native of 1440x900 and things got blurry. What you're saying isn't making any sense.
Click to expand...

"Blurry" how so? Everything appears "bigger," but it certainly shouldn't be blurry.

Here is an SS of my iMac (24") at 1900x1200
Here is one at 1280x800 (an increment down of 16:10)

As you can see... it's HARDLY blurry in any way shape or form. Is it AS sharp? No, of course not. Would you notice it in any game? No, as the "step down" isn't drastic enough to cause any real difference.

Again, you're still looking at it in 1080p, just across a bigger area (decreased pixel density - decreased sharpness) - which MAY BE OK. A lot of reviewers (one of which I just posted) have returned with claims of the 27" iMac being TOO sharp. Again I maintain, everything will be just fine.
 
blizaine said:
When you run any display at a rez that is not native or pixel perfect, it will soften. This will bother some people and others won't care. I, for one, would want my iMac OS to run at native rez, but could care less if a game does (to an extent). I'd rather keep the frame-rate high, textures, and other stuff turned all the way up.
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Exactly! I like this man - give him a Gold Star! :):apple:
Within the OS, by all means, go all out. Within a game.. you'll never tell the difference.
 
When im on my computer, i want full native resolution for the sharpest image possible. And since you usually view your computer a lot closer then your tv, it is noticeable and you will want the added pixels.

When i watch movies (blu ray) or play games (ps3) im not sitting nearly as close to the screen.

It is the same deal with hdtv sets. There is a formula out there for viewing distance and the ability to tell the difference between 720P and 1080P. a stretched 1080P image should look fine at the appropriate viewing distance.
 
RealEvil said:
This thread has been fascinating... so I just ordered the following from Future Shop in the UK:

1 x Atlona DVI to Mini DisplayPort Converter (NEW) (AT-DP200) = £149.99
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royal Mail Special Delivery (UK only) (Guaranteed Next Working Day): £5.99
Sub-total: £155.98
VAT @ 15.00%: £20.35
Total: £155.98

:)

I am about to order an adaptor to get HDMI to DVI.

The DP200 will arrive tomorrow I just need to find a HDMI - DVI cable or adaptor with Amazon Prime...

I will report back once I have it all :)
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so you're going to run it without the scaler eh? definitely eager to hear your results.
 
danny_w said:
Why don't you send Atlona that request? Maybe they haven't thought of doing that.
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To be honest I was a little sceptic about your post, but I thought: let's give it a try! This was the answer to my request for a video that explains the diffrence between setups with AND without the scaler:

Hi Mark,

I will send your request over to marketing and hopefully we get some video’s before the end of next week.

Thank you

Regards,
Michael Khain |Product Manager
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This was the email that was send:
Hello there, Some people, including me, are waiting for screens or videos of a working machine which has the AT-DP200 in action. Many people want to buy or bought the iMac 27", which should be compatible with the AT-DP200, but nobody knows how it will look with or without the scaler if it would be in use with a PS3 or an XBOX360. I know via some forums that you're working on a new version of the DP200. But it would be nice to see what happens when you connect a XBOX360 with the DP200 to an iMac 27". You've tested it otherwise you wouldn't sell it saying "iMac 27" compatible". It would be nice to see some video of the setup working on YouTube or somewhere else. Or maybe some screenshots or photos! Thanks in advance for reading, Kind regards, Mark
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Let's hope that they understand that i'd like to see the diffrence between the 2 setups :)

Another update to my order.... Here in Holland we have some Apple Premium Resellers, not actual Apple Stores. We had with our company a little deal with a reseller and ordered some stuff with 8% discount. The only problem is that we ordered it at a Reseller and not Apple itself. The rumors about shipping to the resellers are about to become very scary! A person ordered an iMac at a reseller at the end of october and still is without his iMac!! Some other guy was mentioning that another reseller already had a waiting list for 200 people waiting for an iMac! I really REALLY hope it's not true.... We're waiting... Can be next year before it massivly impresses me :)
 
Can't wait to see the results without a scaler. I have a 24" ACD so I guess it doesn't matter but I am curious none the less. Anything to keep my mind off that fact that I have to patiently wait for a more elegant and affordable solution.
 
Please stop arguing about the resolution aspects and lets focus on checking how it actually works on the iMac.
Full HD at 2500X.... should look ok, it might look a little but soften but no big deal, it would be worse to downscale to 1400x900 instead.
Anyway, I am very excited with the results that will come up with these new adapters, lets hope it just works without the scaler, hopefully upscaling automatically or placing a black frame around the image.
 
Bluegiz90 said:
I have just seen this on Youtube, some of you may be interested. PS3 displaying on the iMac!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhMCHwAnUQY
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The image quality isn't that bad. But it looks like only a small part of the whole screen is in use.. If it is 480p that means the resolution of the PS3 on the screen is 720x480 which isn't that great if you're asking me :) Then i'd rather buy an extra 23" 1080P monitor :)
 
I ordered new AT-DP200 too.
I have to wait a week to receive it.
I hope RealEvil reports good result, good luck.
 
It has arrived...


I just had to run out and buy a MALE HDMI to FEMALE DVI adaptor so that I can plug the output of the 360 into the (male) input of the DP200. The cable I ordered from Amazon yesterday was not correct as it was MALE HDMI to MALE DVI.

I will install tonight and let you know what happens.
 
RealEvil said:
It has arrived...


I just had to run out and buy a MALE HDMI to FEMALE DVI adaptor so that I can plug the output of the 360 into the (male) input of the DP200. The cable I ordered from Amazon yesterday was not correct as it was MALE HDMI to MALE DVI.

I will install tonight and let you know what happens.
Click to expand...

Damn, the wait is killing me already! If it works on 360, will this mean it will definitley work on PS3 also?
 
What is "tonight" in you time??? :) You're from the UK right? Than it should be in about a few hours from now :p Cant wait! :) Although, it's already evening here GMT +1

RealEvil, you're online! Now post! :p
 
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