CRT computer monitor for Mac Mini/ non-Apple game console display

I first discovered ping problem when upgrading from a 2002 "bubble iMac" to a 2007 Flat imac. On a Flssh version of Press Your Luck, there were millions of players, and I was in the top 100 before when I had a CRT Bubble iMac. on the Flat imac, I noticed that I was way slow. I could still win, just not in the top 100.


I just assumed it was age slowing reflexes.


TThen in 2012 when I got my Playstation 3D TV, almost exclusively for 3D Blu Rays, i noticed a lot of other games I'm hitting a wall.


Then I read about any non-CRT display adding delay, or I'll use the word "ping", and the Sony was according to Displaylag.com the in a 4 out of 5 star category considering today's standards. meaning you have to play a twitchy game to notice the delay. Bit Trip Runner, and Super Meat Boy are two games that I was making progress in, and suddenly hit a wall. My last acheivement was in December of 2012, before I made the HD switch.


So i did an Experiment, I plugged in my old bubble iMac, and surely enough, once I found that flash game, I was going back to Larson like scores.($100K)


It's got to be the Tube, man!


So I saved my CRTs, and even bought one for a future Twitch project. The problem is Anything after the Wii U MUST be played on an HDMI TV,. And as far as I know, there are no widescreen HDMI input CRT TVs.


I'll say that my complete computer experience was Apple IIe, Atari 800, and then The iMac DVD ediiton. in 1999, and all macs ever since, except an Andrroid phone, because the cheapest iPhone for cash was $500 at the Sprint Store.


There are a few things that can cause ping, like resolution and frame rate translations, and TV tech draw times.


First about Apple monitors. How low ping are the 2007 iMac and 2013 iMac montiors? Should I assume Apple monitors are only built for pretty 2D digtial pictures, not 3D nor instant ping time? If so, then i guess a Mac Mini would be the cheapest computer that can send a second signal to a CRT.


I know if there's one screen, and it's external, it matches the ratio and resolution and Hz rate of the TV plugged in. I COULD plug it intro a CRT TV, but the Mac's resolution, especially on older OSes..drops down to the TV's limit. The only experience I had with it is with OS 10.9.


The Mac Mini I'm getting goes to 10.13, and is a 2011 model.


If I use dual screen mode, can I use the 3D TV on 1080p and be the main Mac dektop and have the game picture be a lower resoultion without affecting the Twtichcast resolution?


Even if they are both 1080p, will both montiors display as soon as possible at the risk of being de-synched, or will the CRT be slowed down to match the 3D TV's delay? I prefer the first if it's stable. Otherwise there's no point.


There are articles on using your old imac as a second montior for a newer Mac, but the earliest it talks of is 2006. If I desire to have the CRT BECASUE of the low ping, is there any thing I need to buy to make it a quick ping display for my video game or Mac mini?


I understand with a maximum 1 ms input delay on my Hauppauge Rocket, I know gun games will be out of sync causing misaims. Even a VCR between a game and a SDTV cause enough ping to throw off your aim a decent number of pixels. I got a gun/Sega Scope 3D-specific TV.


So considering I'm on a budget, and I want to able to move the moniior by myself, what should I look for in the Ebay descriptions to help me find a good VGA monitor. If you can find a good used Aple CRT brand than comparibly priced, I'll prefer that if you say it meets my needs.

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What kind out output does a 2011 mac Mini have for VGA output, with I assume gives me the highest quality CRT in terms of going from 240p/480i to 1080p, ( and maybe I'll think ahead about 2160p if it's right.) and is the only way to do HDMI based games.


I have never seen one designed for a PS4, Xbox or Nintendo Switch., let alone a PC and or Mac that is HDMI input, has 1080p, and is 16x9.


If people want to hear, why I think modern CRTs are good environmentally and economically, and can come back due to ping complaints.


PS nothing matched even a pre-2012 computer, so I selected mac Mini, and am making a note it's 2011 using OS 10.13

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Jan 1, 2020 12:25 PM

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7 replies

Jan 4, 2020 2:32 PM in response to QuickPost

Okay, because shipping's costs are high, my first choice was to use an existing CRT.


It's probably not worth cannibalizing an iMac CRT and turn it into an independent CRT. A lot more resale value in an intact CRT.


However none of the game console companies give help on this topic, and now pretty much every electronics shop or computer ship has ZERO CRTs, plus without knowledge, I would be unable to tell which CRTs will do what, especially considering eBay is LITERALLY the only place to find CRT TVs.


Probably the quickest way to get HDMI to VGA is using a Hauppauge Rocket ( naximum 1ms ping time added... suggestions for better HDMI capture cards anyone?) use special Hauppauge compatible Mac software, and send into VGA output.


Remember the main reason I want a CRT is that even a "gamer monitor" is too slow, based on the Press Your Luck test. even with 1ms g2g time. It's the draw time that adds 8 Ms, or half a 60 hz frame.


I google and see no info about a CRT buyer's guide for Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo.


I went from Apple IIe to Atari 800 and never had a computer until 1999, when the Internet was becoming something. Since then we bought all iMacs, and iMac monitors are not built for low ping time, ( at least by my high standards)


Any advice, hopefully a link if someone already did the work?

Jan 4, 2020 5:12 PM in response to QuickPost

Well I Don't need sub microsecond speed needed foe light gun games. So if I can cut the 8ms of draw time. 2ms will most likely be acceptable.


I heard I need a CRT VGA monitor. A few questions:


1 what kind of connector do I need to hook up a 2011 Mac Mini with OS 10.13 with USB (I assume 3.0) a FireWire something, and I can't tell if it's a Thunderbolt or Lightning connection?


2. Is it true that all VGA monitors can do all previous standards? Considering that, what type of _VGA can handle all retro resolutions from 1080p/60hz to 240p/60 hz and 480i/30 hz?


3. I noticed display settings on older iMacs. Should I assume the Mac Mini has similar settings.


4. Also I only want to deal with 16x 9 and 4x3 resolutions exclusively. Assuming 16x9 and 4x3 VGA monitors are both equally available as CRT VGAs, which is better for low ping Xbox One to Atari 2600.


5. Someone told me OS 10.10 and beyond have ways to fix the ratio of the display, and can letterbox it so none of the picture is cut off. Instruction link?


6. Will dual monitor mode work if one monitor is 16x9 and the other is 4x3? Anything special I should know about that?

Jan 2, 2020 9:11 PM in response to QuickPost

May you tell me, if you know, what kind of adapter I need to use a CRT bubble iMac as the output for a 2011 Mac Mini, and how would I go about doing it?


The article I saw only deals with flat screens from 2006 onward.


I understand an answer might take more research. Hence more time


I,'ll wait.


Also, no one is giving me some helpful advice about what variety of VGA monitor do the various "fixed resolutions"well enough on a variable resolution monitor, like a VGA?


xan monitor do everything from 240p/480i to either 2080p or 2160p?


I want some info before I buy, and us the bubble iMac good enough for 1080i/1080p?



Jan 3, 2020 3:29 PM in response to QuickPost

A possible workaround? I know you can update OSes. And some can carry dual OSes withholding a key plus power on let's you switch between OSes.


Maybe there can be a PIPE TUBE OS, that senses when a TV INPUT is plugged in, with all possible TV input to be plugged in via USB, from RF NTSC for Atari 2600 and their I'll, to 4K HDMI, and VGA, and be a zero delay input for CRTs.


Why recycle a CRT when we can make a "blank OS" with one command: 10 my display USB input to screen.......",

20 goto 10, run

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CRT computer monitor for Mac Mini/ non-Apple game console display

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