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Using a (Apple) DVI display as cheap HDTV solution for 360

K

Kuran

Banned
Would it be possible to use a Apple display on a 360?

I don't feel like paying 1500 euros for a HDTV, and I can get this (beautiful) Apple display at a good price, and also use it for my laptop at the same time.

Problem is, it uses a DVI connection.. I can of course use a DVI to VGA adapter, but I do not know if this will then work since the resolution of the monitor is higher then a standard HDTV.

Anyone with experience on this?
 
As far as I know, unfortunately Apple Cinema Displays don't accept converted VGA->DVI signal. I was looking to this as I too wanted to not buy a HDTV yet...

Quoting from Macrumors:
Assuming that your ACD only has a DVI-D input, there's really NO solution for this. The Xbox 360 does not have any sort of DVI output option, and a box to convert VGA or component video to DVI-D is, as pdpfilms indicated, going to be expensive.
Click to expand...
 
you can get HDTVs way less than 1500€. What size apple display are you looking at? Those things are expensive, and I don't know if you can drive them at their native resolutions with a 360

Samsung do 26" HDTVs for around 1000€
 
People need to realize that those little VGA/DVI connectors ARE NOT converters. Most PCs with DVI connections can output an analog signal through the DVI port. All that cable does is take that analog signal and move it from DVI to VGA. Converting DVI to VGA or visa versa would in fact be very expensive and wouldn't be a compact cable connector.

You're SOL.
 
There already cheap 19" 16:10 LCD Displays for around 250 Euros, HD-Ready 32" LCD TVs starting at 900 Euros.

What size and price are you looking for ?
 
Whelp, I work at Apple so I can get a 20" (which is enough for my needs) pretty cheaply.. I guess that HD Mate someone linked to is interesting. I wonder if I'll lose any quality with it though.

Thanks for all the information people; I wish this was easier!
 
It would look shitty anyway. I sure do hope Sony is smart enought to include HDMI, unlike M$. Makes such a huge difference on fixed pixel displays.
 
I have a Cinema Display and a DVI to VGA conversion box (not the one listed in the thread, I have one made by Dr Bott, called the VGAtor). I tested out using it with the 360, and while the picture quality is great, getting the picture to scale correctly on the display is a bitch. Instead of it being centered on the screen, it shows up way on the right side of the display, with a big black bar on the left side. Honestly, I'm using a flatscreen CRT monitor with my 360 right now, and the picture quality is fairly equal to the Cinema Display's. I love my Cinema Display, but it's not really a viable solution for the 360.
 
acidviper said:
Dell
Click to expand...
Yes. The widescreen Dells use the same screen as Apple cinema displays (it's made by Philips). They have all the standard inputs, as well as console friendly ones (component, composite).
/pimpage
 
Kuran said:
Whelp, I work at Apple so I can get a 20" (which is enough for my needs) pretty cheaply.. I guess that HD Mate someone linked to is interesting. I wonder if I'll lose any quality with it though.

Thanks for all the information people; I wish this was easier!
Click to expand...
Hey Kuran, WOPR here! You work for Apple now?!?!?
 
Kuran said:
Whelp, I work at Apple so I can get a 20" (which is enough for my needs) pretty cheaply.. I guess that HD Mate someone linked to is interesting. I wonder if I'll lose any quality with it though.

Thanks for all the information people; I wish this was easier!
Click to expand...

ok, now in exchange, tell us whether any of that iPod video stuff on the net is real?














I know it's not :(
 
Keio said:
The product needed to connect an ACD with an Xbox 360 is here:

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=3459

Buying an ACD for Xbox 360 would be a real waste of money though. I guess if you already owned one this product would be interesting.
Click to expand...

This looks like a nice solution but unfortunately it doesn't support 1080p (for Blu-Ray movies if we ever get that res over component).

Besides, I'm not sure if 720p sources are going to scale that well on my 30", 480p DVDs already look horrible.
 
Newzboyz99 said:
I got a 30inch wide Sony HDTV CRT for under $500 bucks at ultimate electronics. Thing is sweet.
Click to expand...


That's a steal. Try not to sit too close.
 
I've got a Dell 24" widescreen hooked up to my G5 Quad at work here... havn't (and can't) try hooking it up to my 360, however, from a quality standpoint, the picture is beautiful.
 
sky said:
Yes. The widescreen Dells use the same screen as Apple cinema displays (it's made by Philips). They have all the standard inputs, as well as console friendly ones (component, composite).
/pimpage
Click to expand...

One of my coworkers bought the Dell. I'm going to get one as soon as I can afford one - which means in at least 9 months. Sweet screen, and a huge amount of inputs FTW.
 
Get a Dell FPW display...Xbox 360 games look gorgeous on them and they accept both DVI and VGA.

Dell's and Apple's displays are pretty much the same as already stated just the Dell ones are quite a bit cheaper when they have their deals.
 
dont blame anyone but Apple for this crap...the cheap bastards charge an arm and a leg for displays that have 1 connection....1 dvi port is it. Frickin jackholes.
 
I currently have my Xbox 360 set up with my Cinema Display using this:

http://www.drbott.com/prod/db.lasso?code=0151-VGAT

I already owned the VGAtor for work stuff. It works great with the computers I've used it with, but with the 360, it won't center the picture, so you have a big bar on left edge of the screen. The picture quality is phenomal though, so it works for me. I can take some photos if anyone is interested in seeing how it looks. Obviously, this isn't an affordable or reasonable solution for most people, but there is some novelty of running the 360 on an Apple display.
 
Yusaku said:
People need to realize that those little VGA/DVI connectors ARE NOT converters. Most PCs with DVI connections can output an analog signal through the DVI port. All that cable does is take that analog signal and move it from DVI to VGA. Converting DVI to VGA or visa versa would in fact be very expensive and wouldn't be a compact cable connector.

You're SOL.
Click to expand...


True, you can't convert A/D or D/A without a convertor. The little adapters that you see are for converting analog signals from one form factor to another (either VGA or DVI-I/A). Apple's Cinema displays are purely DVI-D single or dual-link compatible, which means that they're digital only. So as you said, he's SOL unless he wants to spend ~$260 or so for a convertor.

Here's a decent FAQ explaining the differences between single, dual-link, DVI-A, DVI-I, and DVI-D connectors:

What is DVI?
 
HokieJoe said:
True, you can't convert A/D or D/A without a convertor. The little adapters that you see are for converting analog signals from one form factor to another (either VGA or DVI-I/A).What is DVI?
Click to expand...

It's not converting anything, the DVI is merely acting as a passthruogh for the VGA signal. Converting implies that it's somehow modifying or acting on the signal, it's not. The same signal that the videocard is outputing from the DVI port is reaching the monitor without modification from the DVI/VGA cable.

It's being picky, but this is how people confuse a little passthrough cable with an expensive ADC converter.
 
Yusaku said:
It's not converting anything, the DVI is merely acting as a passthruogh for the VGA signal. Converting implies that it's somehow modifying or acting on the signal, it's not. The same signal that the videocard is outputing from the DVI port is reaching the monitor without modification from the DVI/VGA cable.

It's being picky, but this is how people confuse a little passthrough cable with an expensive ADC converter.
Click to expand...


Yes, I meant "converting" only in the sense of form factor- from VGA to DVI. Perhaps "adapting", hence the term adapter, would've been a better choice of words. :)
 
the dell 24 (2405 fpw) has some lag over dvi, but im not sure about the vga or other analog inputs. the horizontal viewing angle isnt that great either, colors tend to change shade not too far from directly ahead. not that its horrible or anything though. the lag is the biggest issue with it for me, although ive gotten used to it. i used to play some shooters in mame, but i havent bothered since getting the screen.

The widescreen Dells use the same screen as Apple cinema displays (it's made by Philips).
Click to expand...
dell uses samsung panels (at least on the 24, and a bunch of other of their lcds). im not sure what apple uses anymore. hp also has their own widescreen lcds with multiple inputs as well, and i dont think ive heard anything about lag with them...not that ive checked.
 
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