Connecting Wii (RCA) to the 27" iMac

Am I going to need only the adapters?

Yes

And what adapters should they be?

RCA to Mini DisplayPort....and it's doubtful anyone makes such as an adapter.

but that's a very cool idea!

I'm trying to do this too and am fine having to rig up a few things to make this work... Would Firewire and USB be able to input both video and audio also? Not that a Mini DisplayPort to Firewire or USB exists either...

I'm just trying to think what could be the in-between component to make this work.

All I've been able to find is EyeTV that would accomplish this.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TR373LL/A

Would be nice to find something under $100. 😉

Thoughts?

I have an Elgato 250 Plus that I am using with my 27-inch i5 iMac.

I wouldn't say the results are great, but they are OK. The game mode gets rid of most of the lag, and the image is stable and in widescreen (that took some tinkering - you need to set the Wii to widescreen, then set EyeTV to 4:3, then make it stretch the picture to fill the entire screen. If you don't turn on stretch, then everything will look a bit tall and skinny).

The two downsides are that it only works in the lowest resolution (so it looks like you have it plugged into a cheap CRT TV), and because I have multiple EyeTV tuners plugged in to my iMac (three), I have to hunt through them to find the 250 Plus, then switch it to analogue input - there is no easy "switch to Wii channel" button on EyeTV.

I've used the EyeTV Hybrid. It's works. But it's isn't worthy of the delicious screen.

I'm wondering if there is away to do it over Firewire.

It's not as cheap but it's not as expensive as the HDMI converters as they have been around for a while.
I'm doing more research in to it. I'm looking at around £130 maybe for a decent image. Almost as much as the Wii!

I agree - the picture through one of these video capture devices looks like what you could get from a cheap CRT TV. Certainly not as good as plugging it directly into my LCD TV.

I'm not sure using Firewire would make any difference. It isn't a limitation of the USB port that makes the picture look very ordinary. USB has more than enough bandwidth to cope with high definition TV (1080p), so 480p should be no problem. It is the quality of the analogue to digital converter that is the issue.

OK.

So the money would be better spent on a higher quality USB capture card?

If so, any mid range models you could recommend.

I know the Wii hasn't got a lot to offer but I'd like to give it full run of the 27 inch iMac and see what it can do.

I suspct that if you want something right now, then you are going to have to put up with VHS quality, since most analogue video capture devices are targeted at digitizing analogue tapes.

It is only a matter of time before third party vendors start coming out with all sorts of invetive mini displayport adaptors...

Awwwww. I hate not being able to fix problems.

You know that wonderful feeling when you spent more time than is proper. It took you ages ad you wasted a fair amount of money and time. But you did it. Ahh. Love it. Oh well.

I'll just have to wait. Boring.

But thanks a lot. If I find anything I'll le you guys know.

Still nothing, folks?

I've heard something about an adaptor for Playstation (different output - not RCA), but nothing about Wii and RCA.

I'd love to play my Wii on my cool 27" Mac.

I have a plan.


It looks like it is going to cost about £200 (About $250 with out our UK VAT TAX)

And involves a couple of convertors.

First to go from the Wii Component to HDMI and upscaling it to 720P
http://hdcompany.co.uk/productinfo.php?productsid=100

Then to go from 720p HDMI to Mini-Display port.
http://www.futureshop.co.uk/atlona-hdmi-to-mini-displayport-converter-with-usbpo wered-p-3280.html


I'm still shopping around, but I think this bundle would work.

I'm just waiting for speed bump/upgrade to the iMac line and then I'm going to buy the lot and let you know how it goes... If anybody else wants to try before I do, I wouldn't mind the reassurance....

Nice,

That seems like a good solution. There's also the Kanex XD
http://www.kanexlive.com/products/item.aspx?id=3662

bit nicer looking but you're also not hindered a pre-connected cable.

Any ideas where one might find a 480 - 720 HDMI upscaller in the US?