Thanks for all the info, especially JAYTEE, avihappy and RealEvil. Just purchased the AT-DP200. Tiger Direct had it for $129. As I'll only be using it with an xbox 360 for games, 720p should be great. Keeping my fingers crossed.
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27" iMac Video Input With Xbox 360?
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So...Is there anything to that is available now that won't have any lag?
720p is definitely HD enough for me.
720p is definitely HD enough for me.
Couple of things I want to point out here:
For everyone who is thinking about using a 1080p output on their ACD 24" may encounter some difficulties. 1080p is 1920x1080, but the ACD's input requirement is 1920x1200. So any bluray player or console typically won't work, unless it has some wonky setting that actually allows you to output 1920x1200. Or if you can find a scaler that will actually scale 1080p to 1200p. These may exist, I haven't really looked.
It sounds like the ACD/iMac's are supposed to get inputs from other apple computers and as such have a wide range of resolution options (aka they didn't put in a more advanced scaler for the input because they assumed the output resolution would just be adjusted via output computer).
As for the 27" iMac's, they are lucky enough to have 720p as an input, which is perfect for gaming consoles. The only difference I want to point out here is that the belfan will actually do HDMI sound (uncompressed 2 channel) over the apple display port. With an HDMI to DVI adapter to the D200, you will need a receiver that will first get the sound.
Most games are 720p anyways, and even if its at 1080p doesn't mean it will look any better. The Matrix game for the original xbox could be played at 1080p, but Zelda on the Wii at 480p looks better. Just because a console can send information to a display for a larger number of pixels doesn't mean the console can actually utilize the extra graphical workspace.
For blurays, you'll have to watch them at 720p as well. Even if the D400 comes out, unless they have a built in scaler that can take 1920x1080 input and scale it to 2560x1440, the dual link DVI will not do any good. You need a source that can output at 1440p or a scaler that can scale a 1080p signal to a 1440p. They are some scalers that will go up to 1080p, but I haven't found any that go to 1440p, it's just not something a scaler would ever care to do (until now perhaps). If you can find one, please post, because that would make the D400 an attractive option for bluray viewing.
Quite honestly, it is likely cheaper to get an external USB bluray player and a copy of windows 7 home premium OEM over a hardware bluray player and the extra cables, converters, and scalers needed to get bluray to work at full resolution.
Long story short:
XBox/Ps3/Bluray playback on an ACD 24" not possible UNLESS you can find a 1920x1080 to 1920x1200 output OR scaler. This is as far as I can tell from reading up on the products without actually owning them.
Xbox/Ps3 on an iMac 27" is perfect, just set to 1280x720 on console (which is the resolution games are rendered at anyways, so no loss in graphical detail)
Bluray 720p on an iMac is fine as well. Does result in a loss of 55% of the graphical detail available on a 1080p signal. This may or may not bother you or be apparent to you.
Bluray 1080p on an iMac 27" same as ACD 24" but needs an even more difficult scaling/output of 1080p to 1440p (more difficult because 1440p is dual link dvi)
Bluray on any iMac can always be achieved with windows vista/7 and an external BD-ROM - playback may not be optimal however:
http://www.cnet.com/8301-18603_1-10381850-73.html
For everyone who is thinking about using a 1080p output on their ACD 24" may encounter some difficulties. 1080p is 1920x1080, but the ACD's input requirement is 1920x1200. So any bluray player or console typically won't work, unless it has some wonky setting that actually allows you to output 1920x1200. Or if you can find a scaler that will actually scale 1080p to 1200p. These may exist, I haven't really looked.
It sounds like the ACD/iMac's are supposed to get inputs from other apple computers and as such have a wide range of resolution options (aka they didn't put in a more advanced scaler for the input because they assumed the output resolution would just be adjusted via output computer).
As for the 27" iMac's, they are lucky enough to have 720p as an input, which is perfect for gaming consoles. The only difference I want to point out here is that the belfan will actually do HDMI sound (uncompressed 2 channel) over the apple display port. With an HDMI to DVI adapter to the D200, you will need a receiver that will first get the sound.
Most games are 720p anyways, and even if its at 1080p doesn't mean it will look any better. The Matrix game for the original xbox could be played at 1080p, but Zelda on the Wii at 480p looks better. Just because a console can send information to a display for a larger number of pixels doesn't mean the console can actually utilize the extra graphical workspace.
For blurays, you'll have to watch them at 720p as well. Even if the D400 comes out, unless they have a built in scaler that can take 1920x1080 input and scale it to 2560x1440, the dual link DVI will not do any good. You need a source that can output at 1440p or a scaler that can scale a 1080p signal to a 1440p. They are some scalers that will go up to 1080p, but I haven't found any that go to 1440p, it's just not something a scaler would ever care to do (until now perhaps). If you can find one, please post, because that would make the D400 an attractive option for bluray viewing.
Quite honestly, it is likely cheaper to get an external USB bluray player and a copy of windows 7 home premium OEM over a hardware bluray player and the extra cables, converters, and scalers needed to get bluray to work at full resolution.
Long story short:
XBox/Ps3/Bluray playback on an ACD 24" not possible UNLESS you can find a 1920x1080 to 1920x1200 output OR scaler. This is as far as I can tell from reading up on the products without actually owning them.
Xbox/Ps3 on an iMac 27" is perfect, just set to 1280x720 on console (which is the resolution games are rendered at anyways, so no loss in graphical detail)
Bluray 720p on an iMac is fine as well. Does result in a loss of 55% of the graphical detail available on a 1080p signal. This may or may not bother you or be apparent to you.
Bluray 1080p on an iMac 27" same as ACD 24" but needs an even more difficult scaling/output of 1080p to 1440p (more difficult because 1440p is dual link dvi)
Bluray on any iMac can always be achieved with windows vista/7 and an external BD-ROM - playback may not be optimal however:
http://www.cnet.com/8301-18603_1-10381850-73.html
Umm.. Long story short, the iMac 24" is UNABLE to accept video in of any kind. If you're talking about the 24" ACD, then it's a different story - the XBox (and likely the PS3) has an option to display at 1920x1200, so it's a non-issue.
Finally have my iMac 27"! Now we're going to hunt some converter / adaptor down 🙂
I'll wait a while for the coming DP400, but my guess is the DP200 from Atlona will work aswell. Maybe I'll try the German adapter if it is out in the open. I'll post my findings here when the time is right.
I'll wait a while for the coming DP400, but my guess is the DP200 from Atlona will work aswell. Maybe I'll try the German adapter if it is out in the open. I'll post my findings here when the time is right.
I don't know if you're still active here? Maybe too much gaming on your xbox / ps3 😛
But have you already bought the adapter? And does it work etc? Because I might buy it if it works great 🙂!
On your first point, you are correct, I wasn't really paying attention to the display type (ACD vs iMac). They don't even sell 24" iMacs anymore. I corrected my post to reflect this.
On your second point, you are wrong. This was the point I was trying to get across. The Xbox nor PS3 have a 1920x1200 output. They have 1920x1080 (1080p). These are not the same, and using non-scaling converters from HDMI/DVI-->mDP will NOT give you an appropriate signal for the ACD 24".
The iMac 21.5" resolution is natively 1920x1080, but no input on that one.
Dr. Bott's
Digital Video Link for 27" iMac 720p HDMI plays just out of the box. With sound 🙂
http://www.drbott.net/product/9598-DGVL/
Got it today.
Just hooked it up and hit cmd F2 on my iMac 27" keyboard.
Digital Video Link for 27" iMac 720p HDMI plays just out of the box. With sound 🙂
http://www.drbott.net/product/9598-DGVL/
Got it today.
Just hooked it up and hit cmd F2 on my iMac 27" keyboard.
Hi there, can you make some screens of your console running on your imac? Some close ups maybe? And you're saying that you're using the speakers of the imac for sound?
A nice little product but identical performance to the DP200.
I would be interested on how you think it performs at short distances - e.g 90cm which is about the typical distance between you and your iMac on a deep (but standard) office desk.
I think I would like to use the Dr. Bott version b/c its using a separate power source not USB power like the DP-200. I am running out of USB ports even with a hub & Dr.Bott's version carries audio.
Me too, but I would like so see some "evidence" that it works before I'm buying this product. And what quality I can expect, obvious something similar to the DP200, but just for the record 🙂
Whoever purchased the converter, could they please post some pictures of it running through the iMac and the 360/PS3? Thanks!
With the Dr. Bott Digital Video Link are any other accessories required? Do I need the Xbox 360 HDMI cable? Do I need a mac Digital Video cable?
As far as I know everything is combined in the package. So you won't need more cables.
Seriously... I want to see some evidence of this. It's big news if it's successful at carrying the video without lag, PLUS audio. Screen shots, vids, come on!
Please...
That's a good news ! I don't care either about 1080/1200p...
My x360, is very old and don't have a HDMI port, i connect it to my TV via RCA cable... Does anyone know if it will be a problem ?
Kind of a big problem. RCA/Component/VGA connections are all analog signals - DVI/DVI-D/HDMI/MDP are all digital. Without looking into it, I believe you're SOL.
Well, if nobody will post some result I'll make them my own. I ordered the adapter today, so it will be sent tomorrow ( already 9PM here ). Wednesday is the day of trial and error.... Or just hooking up the stuff and let it work 😛 I'm hoping for the second option 🙂
If it works I will provide some pictures and video footage of possible. Never posted something on YouTube, but won't be a problem 🙂 First of all I just hope it works 🙂 With or without sound, don't matter, I want to have a 27" gamemonitor 😀
If it works I will provide some pictures and video footage of possible. Never posted something on YouTube, but won't be a problem 🙂 First of all I just hope it works 🙂 With or without sound, don't matter, I want to have a 27" gamemonitor 😀
iMerlin
macrumors 6502a
How does this do sound? I thought the miniDPs only supported video? (sorry if this has been answered. Ive been trying to keep up with this thread but its getting impossible.)
The text from the original webpage drbott.de says: "Digital Video Link ist HDCP kompatibel und überträgt im HDMI-Betrieb auch Audio auf den 27" iMac." Which means that it transfers audio when it is in HDMI mode. xbox does HDMI, so that should work 🙂
iMerlin
macrumors 6502a
Thanks for pointing that out x. Im still skeptical though. I know HDMI can do audio, I have it plugged in all over my house. But I didnt think the miniDisplayPort on the iMac could accept audio. Maybe Im wrong... Ill have to check Apple's site, unless someone else can chime in here...