27" iMac Video Input With Xbox 360?

[acd483]

So because 2560x1440 is the same proportion as 1920x1080, the Atlona HD620 simply upscales...correct? We should not use the term stretch as there is no reason for it to (except in the case of the 24" LED which has a resolution of 1920x1200).

My question is how does upscaling the image by 133% look?

One other thought that I haven't seen addressed. Why isn't it possible to use a program like switchresx to create a custom 1920x1080 resolution on the iMac, thus allowing the Atlona to automatically recognize it and not scale output at all?

 

[Alx9876]

http://kanexlive.com/products/kanexXd.html

 

[Xenc]

Is the Kanex reliable? For the price I'd expect it to be flawless.

 

[hh83917]

Basically here's what I understand from all the reading and googling pictures. Hope it will help people to decide in which to purchase. But, please correct me if I am wrong.

Belkin / Dr. Bott / Kanex= Simply HDCP pass-through interface for HDCP devices to work on external monitors. Therefore, since iMac, as a monitor, only takes 720P or 2560x1440, so unless these interfaces support up to 2560x1440 and your source is also 2560x1440 (which is unlikely), it will only show 720P on the iMac screen. This results in pixels when one look up close at the iMac screen.

Pros: simple connection, audio get sent to iMac (stereo), space saving, cheaper
Cons: will see pixels when up close since it's 720P on a 2560x1440 display

Close-up actual pictures from the type of devices above:

Atlona AT-HD620 = A HDCP capable interface with scaler built-in. It not only work with HDCP inputs (PS3, BD-players, Xbox360) but also upscale the input signal to the iMac monitor's max resolution (2560x1440). So the iMac sees the input as 2560x1440 while the AT-H620 upscales the input signal so you will see un-pixelated image on the iMac.

Pros: Un-pixelated image on iMac screen, use iMac screen to it's full potential
Cons: device is more bulky, a bit more expensive, (iMac 24" only, audio does not output to the iMac speakers (have to use RCA cables or optical cable to output sound to speakers))
Update:
Correction made by Atlona1: "The AT-HD620 will pass Audio to iMac 27" or 27" LED. The Audio RCA outputs are designed for users of Apple 24" LED displays which d not support audio though MDP connection, only though USB."

Actual pictures from Atlona AT-HD620:

by MacRumors Forum member: hustl3r

Conclusion: If you are looking for convenience go for the Belkin / Dr. Bott / Kanex devices. If you want quality pictures, go for the Atlona AT-HD620.

I am planning to upgrade to a iMac 27" and I will tell you that I'm kinda picky about pixels... so I will go for the Atlona AT-HD620.

Hope this guide help those who can't make up their mind

 

[I oO AL3X Oo I]

I've just recently bought a Dr bott to go with my 27"imac i7 but i can't get this command f2 to work, what is this shortcut linked to? I could try and assign it on system preferences

thanks

 

[tc3jg]

Wow HH thanks for that comparison now you make me want to send back my kanex I just ordered and havent even received yet and only if the Atlona AT-HD620.
wasnt so expensive...sighs...Guess I can hope that apple allows the imac to input 1080p via a firmware update or something...till then I can dream...sighs.

 

[atlona1]

Cons: device is more bulky, a bit more expensive, audio does not output to the iMac speakers (have to use RCA cables or optical cable to output sound to speakers) (may have to get a matrix switch to switch audio around if are connecting iMac and the input device to power speakers)

The AT-HD620 will pass Audio to iMac 27" or 27" LED. The Audio RCA outputs are designed for users of Apple 24" LED displays which d not support audio though MDP connection, only though USB.

 

[Nautilus007]

redicioulous

This is insane. Apple talks about inputting devices and doesnt even offer a cable that supports inputs for other devices. Xboxes dont ven cost 150 anymore and these companies are charging 150 for a piece of plastic? This is insane. there has to be a solution that is cheap.

 

[golden.hand]

many good information
after reading this thread I set my mind into two devices
Kanex XD and Atlona AT-HD620
I really care about the quality of graphics
so what do you think?

 

[tc3jg]

d

 

[edtate]

Well, I just took the plunge and ordered my first iMac (i7 2.93GHz w/ 4g ram,1tb hd) that will arrive tomorrow. I've lurked and read the entire thread, and came to the conclusion that the Atlona AT-HD620 was the best choice for me (which I ordered on the same day as the iMac which should also come tomorrow ).

I personally don't know or want to know how long Apple will take to address this problem (1080p display), so I might as well enjoy what I know I could have with the hd620 playing at full res as compared to waiting and suffering with just 720p from my ps3 (oh i know, the horror of 720p!!!). It also makes more sense for me to invest in this as I have no room in my dorm for a full fledged tv, so I might as well make the most out of what I've got.

@golden.hand- If you, like me, want the best picture since the iMac's all you've really got, then I say go ahead and get the at-hd620 (and especially now since some pretty good deals are to be found on it). If you already have a tv that can play games @1080p then to me, it just wouldn't be worth it.

 

[golden.hand]

@golden.hand- If you, like me, want the best picture since the iMac's all you've really got, then I say go ahead and get the at-hd620 (and especially now since some pretty good deals are to be found on it). If you already have a tv that can play games @1080p then to me, it just wouldn't be worth it.

Thanks for your recommendation
if you don't mind me asking,from where did you buy the AT-HD620?

 

[edtate]

Thanks for your recommendation
if you don't mind me asking,from where did you buy the AT-HD620?

I bought mine online from compusa for $199; for a grand total of $217.65 with next day shipping. With a little more research, I could've gotten the same thing from this place for 185 without shipping and handling. If I weren't so impatient the day I bought the iMac I would have ordered from that place lol.

 

[golden.hand]

@edtate
Thank you so much it's so much cheaper now
since you're going to receive it very soon,may I ask you for your feedback & if you can a very close up picture to the screen"ps3",please?

 

[Ashok0]

I have an XBOX 360 with no HDMI (I use the VGA cable).

Can I go XBOX360 (vga) ---> AT-HDVIEW (vga to hdmi) ---> AT-HD620 (hdmi to mdp)? Has anyone tried this to confirm that this works? Thanks!

 

[osiris24x]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I'd love to play my PS3 on my iMac 27" especially since I got a 5.1 surround sound system for said iMac. This thread was quite useful! I too will be ordering an Atlona AT-HD620.

 

[edtate]

@edtate
Thank you so much it's so much cheaper now
since you're going to receive it very soon,may I ask you for your feedback & if you can a very close up picture to the screen"ps3",please?

Yea, well, the only camera I have is the one I have on my phone (8mp...yea it's not an iphone lol), but I'll try and get some pics.

Just a reminder to anyone picking up the hd620; not every game is going to look extremely smooth. While it's definitely a step up since its outputting at the iMac's native res, most ps3 games run natively at 720p (as has been stated in many post before mine), so while the display is 20whatever by 1440, the source material is still going to be 720p and still going to look a bit rough. So moral of the story is don't expect too much out of the hd620 since you may be disappointed, not particularly of the converter but on sony's part for not making it mandatory for all games to display at 1080p lol (if your're a ps gamer like myself, I don't really know what most xbox games run at).

 

[courboy]

I have the original xbox 360 without an HDMI. I decided to buy the XCM 1080p white cable, which converts it to an HDMI connection.

I then purchased the Atlona device from the US to be shipped over. Unfortunately it doesn't actually play 1080p for me. I am assuming this is because my xbox doesn't have HDMI out natively, but I would have thought my solution had worked.

Has anybody else had this problem? Slightly irritated because the Atlona was much more expensive than other options and I only got it for its 1080p potential.

 

[Cycom]

Yea, well, the only camera I have is the one I have on my phone (8mp...yea it's not an iphone lol), but I'll try and get some pics.

Just a reminder to anyone picking up the hd620; not every game is going to look extremely smooth. While it's definitely a step up since its outputting at the iMac's native res, most ps3 games run natively at 720p (as has been stated in many post before mine), so while the display is 20whatever by 1440, the source material is still going to be 720p and still going to look a bit rough. So moral of the story is don't expect too much out of the hd620 since you may be disappointed, not particularly of the converter but on sony's part for not making it mandatory for all games to display at 1080p lol (if your're a ps gamer like myself, I don't really know what most xbox games run at).

Seems like 27" iMac owners are SOL since it doesn't support 720p or 1080p. Strange, because the 27" ACD I just picked up does. Is it just a question of Apple updating the firmware on the iMac so it can support those resolutions?

 

[edtate]

Seems like 27" iMac owners are SOL since it doesn't support 720p or 1080p. Strange, because the 27" ACD I just picked up does. Is it just a question of Apple updating the firmware on the iMac so it can support those resolutions?

Yup, that's exactly what it takes; but since I'm a new mac owner and I don't really know how receptive apple is to user demand to something like this I took it into my own hands to go ahead and get the hd620.

@courboy- Well, I think you hit the nail on the head. Is the cable you use an upscaler or something like that, because if so, you would be right since the original signal must be hdmi. Then again, I'm not really a pro with this so someone else will probably know more about it than I. The only thing I could think of that would most assuredly work is if you had an xbox that came with hdmi.

 

[OSeXy]

Kanex XD

I have a 27" imac and I picked up the Kanex XD!

Plug-ed in my 360 and it's nice.
It's not as good as the VGA cable hooked up to my 24" asus.
But it's bigger. Colors are much better also.

If apple would let us input 1080p things would be even better.

I picked up the Kanex XD for 100 bucks on amazon.
I was about to spend 200 on the other adapter but I was like thats the damn price of another xbox. Plus I only payed 85 bucks for my 360 off of ebay.
Just didn't pass my logic chip to spend that much on an adapter.

-peace

 

[dagomike]

So, the iMac won't support 1080p, but the ADC does, right?

I'm testing the Atlona box, and I'm uncertain I like the scaling up to 2560x1440. Any opinions on this?

I'll try this out with XBox/PS3 and see if it bugs me, otherwise ADC might be a good excuse to add a second monitor to the iMac.

 

[APtalent]

Can anyone with any success post pictures?

I'm hesitant to buying the converter and an xbox.

 

[Cycom]

So, the iMac won't support 1080p, but the ADC does, right?

I'm testing the Atlona box, and I'm uncertain I like the scaling up to 2560x1440. Any opinions on this?

I'll try this out with XBox/PS3 and see if it bugs me, otherwise ADC might be a good excuse to add a second monitor to the iMac.

Yes, the 27" ACD, unlike the iMac, supports both 720p and 1080p.

 

[WilliamG]

Just ordered my Atlona 620. What's the best way for getting the Wii to display via the 620? I'd like something as good as 480p if possible...