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Can You Use Retina MBP as PS3 Monitor?

T

Taylor-C

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 12, 2011
702
118
UK
Okay... I don't know if this is in the right thread - so sorry if it's not!
I've also searched for an answer, but nothing recent came up.

So, I use my PS3 only to check how long the titles of Blu-ray Discs are - i.e. the length of a TV Episode, so that I know I am copying the right one to my Mac using MakeMKV.

Now, I am moving to a Uni campus next month and don't want to take my TV with me, as I'd have to pay a TV Licence (and I only use my TV to use the PS3 to check the Disc title length...). So, I was wondering if I could use my Retina MacBook Pro as a monitor for the PS3 so that I don't have to take a TV with me and pay a licence fee...

Thanks in advance!

TL;DR: Have Retina MacBook Pro, can you use it as a Monitor for a PS3?
 
TaylorClark said:
Okay... I don't know if this is in the right thread - so sorry if it's not!
I've also searched for an answer, but nothing recent came up.

So, I use my PS3 only to check how long the titles of Blu-ray Discs are - i.e. the length of a TV Episode, so that I know I am copying the right one to my Mac using MakeMKV.

Now, I am moving to a Uni campus next month and don't want to take my TV with me, as I'd have to pay a TV Licence (and I only use my TV to use the PS3 to check the Disc title length...). So, I was wondering if I could use my Retina MacBook Pro as a monitor for the PS3 so that I don't have to take a TV with me and pay a licence fee...

Thanks in advance!

TL;DR: Have Retina MacBook Pro, can you use it as a Monitor for a PS3?
Click to expand...

You don't need a TV licence if you're just going to play PS3 and not watch live TV.

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/resources/library/BBC/policies/No_Licence_Needed_policy_25Aug2011.pdf

http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/what-if-a-tv-licence-is-not-needed-top12/
 
While there are likely workaround that will let you, I really wouldn't recommend it. Even for single player games there's going to be lag, and forget about playing online. I'm also confused about the TV charge, I presume they do this if you're actually watching TV, but you can't just bring in your own that you'd just watch movies/play games off of? Just never heard of anything like that in the US.
 
Interstella5555 said:
While there are likely workaround that will let you, I really wouldn't recommend it. Even for single player games there's going to be lag, and forget about playing online. I'm also confused about the TV charge, I presume they do this if you're actually watching TV, but you can't just bring in your own that you'd just watch movies/play games off of? Just never heard of anything like that in the US.
Click to expand...

That's actually how the BBC gets most of its funding.
 
Yes you can using an Elgato EyeTV Hybrid or EyeTV HD or any other Matrox Capture Device with a chipset compatible with EyeTV Software or XBMC on OS X.
 
jafingi said:
You could also just buy a computer screen without TV tuner, and then a HDMI to DVI adapter :)
Click to expand...

^ This. Only you'd need a mini display port to HDMI adapter. Doesn't have to come from Apple either. Any generic model should work and be available for 10 quid or less.
 
Zeov said:
What about thunderbolt? there must be some way of turning the signal inwards
Click to expand...

If by that you mean connecting an external HDMI capture device, then yes. If you mean by somehow making a TB port "understand" HDMI, then no.

All the different ports use different signals and protocols, that's why they are also physically different. There is no magic trick that makes those ports do what they were not designed to do. You need a separate device to transform one form of signal to another.


saturnotaku said:
^ This. Only you'd need a mini display port to HDMI adapter. Doesn't have to come from Apple either. Any generic model should work and be available for 10 quid or less.
Click to expand...

No, the rMBP has an HDMI output.
 
TaylorClark said:
Oh, okay thank you, I think Uni's are quite strict about it - but I will email and ask!
Click to expand...

IANAL but... you should have no reason to ask. The laws surrounding TV licensing clearly state that you only need a TV license if you intend to watch live TV. They can't tell you that you need a license anymore than they can tell you to go to on a health and safety course if you want to use a cheese grater. Just buy a TV if you want to, don't let our ridiculous laws put you off.

About the Elgato other capture cards, if I recall correctly all the HD Elgatos had too much latency for gaming, however the SD ones are fine. That was according to their site, I'm sure the notice is still up.
 
Yeah, the rMBP has a HDMI output. By having a HDMI->DVI, he could both use the external screen as rMBP monitor and PS3 monitor. :)

If you're lucky, you could maybe also find a newer monitor with HDMI input and speakers. Otherwise you won't get sound from your PS3 (DVI has no sound). Then you'd need to get the sound out from it in another way.
 
laurihoefs said:
If by that you mean connecting an external HDMI capture device, then yes. If you mean by somehow making a TB port "understand" HDMI, then no.

All the different ports use different signals and protocols, that's why they are also physically different. There is no magic trick that makes those ports do what they were not designed to do. You need a separate device to transform one form of signal to another.




No, the rMBP has an HDMI output.
Click to expand...

it's just, it is possible to add a video card to a MacBook Pro Retina via the thunderbolt, and have the card show the image on the internal screen, so it is possible to get video data the other way.. right?
 
Zeov said:
it's just, it is possible to add a video card to a MacBook Pro Retina via the thunderbolt, and have the card show the image on the internal screen, so it is possible to get video data the other way.. right?
Click to expand...

Because that's so much easier than just bringing the damn TV :p ;)
 
Zeov said:
it's just, it is possible to add a video card to a MacBook Pro Retina via the thunderbolt, and have the card show the image on the internal screen, so it is possible to get video data the other way.. right?
Click to expand...

Not quite.

It is not achieved by feeding the signal from the eGPUs display connections to one of the TB ports, but with a special display driver (Optimus or Virtu), that makes it possible to clone the eGPU display output to the laptops built in screen. This results in a slight performance loss compared to using an external display, but is less cumbersome than the other option: using an external capture device.

This is explained in a bit more detail here: DIY eGPU experiences FAQ, specifically the question "4. Can I make this work using just my notebook's LCD display?"
 
I spent all year in uni halls watching tv without getting a license! my view was if they ask just plead ignorant :D
 
TaylorClark said:
So, I use my PS3 only to check how long the titles of Blu-ray Discs are - i.e. the length of a TV Episode, so that I know I am copying the right one to my Mac using MakeMKV.
Click to expand...

Well, if that's all you do with it, why not just buy a blu-ray drive for the mac? There is an app now that plays blu-rays. Or did I just totally misunderstand the problem? :p
 
cambookpro said:
Because that's so much easier than just bringing the damn TV :p ;)
Click to expand...

you're missing my point :)

i meant, if it is possible to reroute a GPU signal back to the internal screen, a playstation "should" be able to do the same. (due to my logic, at least)
 
Zeov said:
you're missing my point :)

i meant, if it is possible to reroute a GPU signal back to the internal screen, a playstation "should" be able to do the same. (due to my logic, at least)
Click to expand...

Like I wrote earlier, the signal is not fed through the TB/DisplayPort, but a hacked driver is used. It is not rerouted in any way, because that is not possible.
 
Sorry to necropost but has anyone discovered anything that can do this? I have a capture card (see my signature) and I don't have a TV in my room at the moment so when I want to play I open up the capture cards software, since there is no real latency at all it works fine but the software isn't optimized for it obviously...wondering if their is an application where you can view full screen from a thunderbolt capture card...theoretically possible. I know my rMBP doesn't officially support target display mode BUT certain iMacs DO support target display mode so its not unheard of. I can see this useful if you needed to use say a Mac Pro on the set of a video/film shoot and needed more power than your rMBP so you use its monitor and possibly its keyboard and trackpad.

wwe2008 said:
I spent all year in uni halls watching tv without getting a license! my view was if they ask just plead ignorant :D
Click to expand...
Ignorance is no excuse to break the law! That said uni's and "TV Licenses"? Don't they greese you enough already!
 
I use a EasyCap to play / record gaming from my xbox 360 to my MBP, you can easily get one of them cheap from eBay (I paid about £4 for a knock off one)

Technically you STILL need a TV licence regardless if you have a TV or not, these days nearly everybody either has a laptop / PC or a smart phone which all allow access to BBC iPlayer. This is how they catch you out if you say "I don't even have a TV"

Also,

nateo200 said:
Ignorance is no excuse to break the law! That said uni's and "TV Licenses"? Don't they greese you enough already!
Click to expand...

There is no actual law saying you have to pay TV licence, it may be illegal to not pay it, but it certainly isn't unlawful.



EDIT: oh my, I didn't realise how old this post was... SORRY didn't mean to zombie the post :(
 
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