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ndnimac · 05-24-2008

This might be a silly question, but I am desperate to know this.
I will be getting an iMac very soon, and would like to know if my Wii can be connected to the iMac, since I want to sell my TV.
If it can, what cables/hardware is needed?

notabadname · 05-24-2008

This quote is from the Elgato Systems, EyeTV web site (link below), and provides one solution:

Elgato Systems FAQ

Can I connect my PlayStation/Wii/XBox 360 to EyeTV Hybrid?

You can. The analog inputs of EyeTV Hybrid have a delay of only few milliseconds, allowing for excellent live gameplay. Other EyeTV devices have encoding hardware that causes a larger delay, rendering gameplay difficult to impossible.

Next generation systems like PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 can use component or other higher end connections. EyeTV Hybrid can only use composite RCA and S-Video from these systems, and cannot receive HDTV via component or other connections. Nintendo Wii will not feature HDTV, so this platform will be supported just like the current PlayStation 2/GameCube/Xbox consoles.

Some Games published on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii Virtual Console might not work on the Hybrid. PAL 60Hz input is not supported, and some widescreen content may not be accessible.

ndnimac · 05-24-2008

thanks a lot for the info...i was wondering if it was possible to only have the break-out cable for composite video and S-Video without the hybrid tv and able to play my wii on the imac? I don't really need the TV part and that's why I am try to get rid of my TV. Any thoughts?

**baseballboy828** · 05-24-2008

There's no way to connect it any easier. All the video ports on your iMac are video out, not in. You need an external capture device, which is where the EyeTV hybrid comes in. There is no way to use just what comes with the Wii and iMac to do what you want.

iPodmanTim · 05-24-2008

There are a number of solutions like the one you're seeking, though from my experience, they don't stand up as cost effectively as the Elgato systems, as they're aimed at pro video producers and the like. Also, I'm not sure if their software allows you to view the feed from the input as easily as the Elgato system.

By all means, however, check out the Apple Store's page of video I/O hardware. (Link)

Apologies if the UK store is irrelevant to you, but it's my default, and I feel sure that there are equivalent products on the worldwide market.

Jugger Grimrodd · 05-25-2008

Don't sell your TV. The delay that you will experience will be unacceptable. I tried it with a Elgato 250 - it was horrible. The 250 went back and I bought a TV. Just sayin' is all...

**baseballboy828** · 05-25-2008

The EyeTV hybrid will not give the delay the 250 does. The 250 has a hardware encoder in it, which adds a lot to the response time. The EyeTV Hybrid does not process the signal and is therefore much quicker. The advantage to the 250's hardware encoder is that it takes the load off your Mac's processor. The EyeTV hybrid just passes the signal to your Mac and your Mac needs to process it, which is what you want.

The EyeTV Hybrid will give very little noticeable lag, if any.

divigation · 05-25-2008

Actually the Elgato hardware encoders have a "Game Mode", which turns off encoding and just streams video like the Hybrid does. So either solution works for gaming.

Jugger Grimrodd · 05-25-2008

It sounds like I should give it another look. Have you guys actually used the Hybrid with a gaming console?

05-24-2008	#2 (permalink)
notabadname Personal Shopping Specialist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 272	This quote is from the Elgato Systems, EyeTV web site (link below), and provides one solution: Elgato Systems FAQ Can I connect my PlayStation/Wii/XBox 360 to EyeTV Hybrid? You can. The analog inputs of EyeTV Hybrid have a delay of only few milliseconds, allowing for excellent live gameplay. Other EyeTV devices have encoding hardware that causes a larger delay, rendering gameplay difficult to impossible. Next generation systems like PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 can use component or other higher end connections. EyeTV Hybrid can only use composite RCA and S-Video from these systems, and cannot receive HDTV via component or other connections. Nintendo Wii will not feature HDTV, so this platform will be supported just like the current PlayStation 2/GameCube/Xbox consoles. Some Games published on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii Virtual Console might not work on the Hybrid. PAL 60Hz input is not supported, and some widescreen content may not be accessible. __________________ Dual 2 GHz G5; 20" ACD; MBP 15"- 2.5GHz-4Gb mem-250 Gb HD-512MB Video; iPhones 2G/3G; 40 Gb iPod; Shuffle Last edited by notabadname; 05-24-2008 at 04:50 PM. Reason: added link note

05-24-2008	#4 (permalink)
baseballboy828 Assistant Store Manager Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,165	There's no way to connect it any easier. All the video ports on your iMac are video out, not in. You need an external capture device, which is where the EyeTV hybrid comes in. There is no way to use just what comes with the Wii and iMac to do what you want. __________________ iMac Intel Core Duo 17" 1.83Ghz, 2GB Crucial RAM ::Twitter : Ben Drucker Photography: Professional Photography Services :: Interested in a free trial Smugmug account?

05-24-2008	#5 (permalink)
iPodmanTim Inventory Control Specialist Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: iTune's Forgetten Land (The UK) Posts: 51	There are a number of solutions like the one you're seeking, though from my experience, they don't stand up as cost effectively as the Elgato systems, as they're aimed at pro video producers and the like. Also, I'm not sure if their software allows you to view the feed from the input as easily as the Elgato system. By all means, however, check out the Apple Store's page of video I/O hardware. (Link) Apologies if the UK store is irrelevant to you, but it's my default, and I feel sure that there are equivalent products on the worldwide market. __________________ My Mac: 2GHz MacBook, 1GB RAM, 60GB HD My Site \| My dA \| MySpace \| e-mail

05-25-2008	#6 (permalink)
Jugger Grimrodd Personal Shopping Specialist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 286	Don't sell your TV. The delay that you will experience will be unacceptable. I tried it with a Elgato 250 - it was horrible. The 250 went back and I bought a TV. Just sayin' is all... __________________ 24" iMac 2.4GHz C2D, 4GB RAM, 256MB VRAM, 320GB HDD 32GB iPod Touch - 160GB iPod Classic

05-25-2008	#7 (permalink)
baseballboy828 Assistant Store Manager Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,165	The EyeTV hybrid will not give the delay the 250 does. The 250 has a hardware encoder in it, which adds a lot to the response time. The EyeTV Hybrid does not process the signal and is therefore much quicker. The advantage to the 250's hardware encoder is that it takes the load off your Mac's processor. The EyeTV hybrid just passes the signal to your Mac and your Mac needs to process it, which is what you want. The EyeTV Hybrid will give very little noticeable lag, if any. __________________ iMac Intel Core Duo 17" 1.83Ghz, 2GB Crucial RAM ::Twitter : Ben Drucker Photography: Professional Photography Services :: Interested in a free trial Smugmug account?

05-24-2008	#1 (permalink)
ndnimac Operator Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2	This might be a silly question, but I am desperate to know this. I will be getting an iMac very soon, and would like to know if my Wii can be connected to the iMac, since I want to sell my TV. If it can, what cables/hardware is needed?

05-24-2008	#3 (permalink)
ndnimac Operator Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2	thanks a lot for the info...i was wondering if it was possible to only have the break-out cable for composite video and S-Video without the hybrid tv and able to play my wii on the imac? I don't really need the TV part and that's why I am try to get rid of my TV. Any thoughts?

05-25-2008	#8 (permalink)
divigation Concierge Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 768	Actually the Elgato hardware encoders have a "Game Mode", which turns off encoding and just streams video like the Hybrid does. So either solution works for gaming. __________________ 17" MBP 2.33GHz C2D 3GB RAM 160GB HDD TV [courtesy of the fine folks at TAB] & iPhone

05-25-2008	#9 (permalink)
Jugger Grimrodd Personal Shopping Specialist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 286	It sounds like I should give it another look. Have you guys actually used the Hybrid with a gaming console? __________________ 24" iMac 2.4GHz C2D, 4GB RAM, 256MB VRAM, 320GB HDD 32GB iPod Touch - 160GB iPod Classic

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