HT201343: Use AirPlay to display video from your Mac on an HDTV

Learn about Use AirPlay to display video from your Mac on an HDTV
maccamokie
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Q: Can I upgrade my pre-2011 iMac so that I can use Airplay?

I have a late 2009 iMac and I want to use the Airplay feature to my Apple TV. I don't want to have to purchase a brand new Ma as this one is not quite 3 years old! Can this Mac hardware be upgraded so that the Airplay feature is compatible?  What exactly is it that prevents Airplay from working on pre-2011 models anyway?

iMac (27-inch Late 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Sep 19, 2012 11:40 PM

by maccamokie,Solvedanswer
maccamokie maccamokie
Level 1 (0 points)
A:

I talked at length with Apple support and the bottom line is the pre-2011 Intel processor video encoding does not have the technology needed to support Airplay in the way that Apple has integrated it into the OS. 

 

As for question #1, whether I can upgrade my pre-2011 iMac to support Airplay mirroring, the simple answer is no. I probably could, but to support the new processor it would need a new logic board, and maybe some other hardware upgrades, which means $$$$$$. So much so that compared to the price of a new iMac it would probably be better to go with a new iMac. That I am not willing to do at the moment. This one doesn't have enough miles on it to justify switching it out for a new one.

 

So onto question 2 which I answered above. It's due to the video encoding limitation in the pre-2011 processor.  (I'm not an Apple techie so this probably sounds a bit cheesy)

 

Question 3. As for the risk of using Air Parrot. The Apple support tech didn't know of this app. That will be another call to the developers of Air Parrot.  I do know that when I tried the trial version my iMac got ridiculously hot and the fan was whirring constantly.  I haven't made a decision on whether to spend the $10 to give it a try.

 

Question 4. It's Apple. They don't have to explain.  But the tech support guy was VERY helpful.

 

Hope this information helps someone else looking for answers about this subject.

Posted on Oct 2, 2012 5:15 PM

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maccamokie

Q: Can I upgrade my pre-2011 iMac so that I can use Airplay?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Sep 19, 2012 11:44 PM in response to maccamokie
    Level 10 (271,850 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 19, 2012 11:44 PM in response to maccamokie

    About AirPlay and Airplay Mirroring

     

    AirPlay Mirroring requires a second-generation Apple TV or later, and is supported on the following Mac models: iMac (Mid 2011 or newer), Mac mini (Mid 2011 or newer), MacBook Air (Mid 2011 or newer), and MacBook Pro (Early 2011 or newer). For non-qualifying Macs you can try using Air Parrot.

     

    Several Apple Articles Regarding AirPlay

     

    Apple TV (2nd and 3rd gen)- How to use AirPlay Mirroring

    How to set up and configure AirPort Express for AirPlay and iTunes

    About AirPlay Mirroring in OS X Mountain Lion

    iTunes 10- About playing music with AirPlay

    Troubleshooting AirPlay and AirPlay Mirroring

    Using AirPlay

  • by maccamokie,

    maccamokie maccamokie Sep 22, 2012 11:37 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2012 11:37 AM in response to Kappy

    You didn't actually answer my questions. A technical answer as to why pre-2011 iMacs cannot use Airplay. Especially curious since you say that Air Parrot can do it.  If Air Parrot can do it, then why can't Airplay?

     

    Unanswered questions:

     

    1) can a pre-2011 be upgraded to support Airplay?

    2) What exactly prevents Airplay from working on pre-2011 Macs (technical answer please).

     

    New questions:

    3) Is there a risk of damaging my iMac using Air Parrot, like overheating?

    4) Why is Apple so cagey about giving satisfactory answers to consumer questions?

     

    cag⋅ey /keɪdʒi:/

    adjective 1

    characterized by great caution and wariness • a cagey avoidance of a definite answer

    syn: cagy, chary

     

    Thank you for your help.

  • by Matthew Morgan,

    Matthew Morgan Matthew Morgan Sep 22, 2012 11:46 AM in response to maccamokie
    Level 7 (22,600 points)
    Sep 22, 2012 11:46 AM in response to maccamokie

    Here's as good an explanation as any I've seen that I think answers most all you questions.

     

    http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/07/mountain-lion-airplay-mirroring-v-airparrot -fight/

     

    Matt

  • by jrgrana,

    jrgrana jrgrana Oct 2, 2012 1:25 PM in response to maccamokie
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 2, 2012 1:25 PM in response to maccamokie

    I will not work on a later macbook pro either
    see the note i just worte to apple:

    After a frustrating 2 hour call on why airplay in Mountain Lion did not work properly  - see transcript of case # 356682008 - i was told to connect via ethernet cable to identify the issue. Ethernet Cable - in my household they went the way of dinosaurs as the one feature that made me upgrade to mountain lion was the ability to use airplay wirelessly - without having to connect the $60 Apple cable to my HDTV anymore. I do not even know the last time I had an ethernet cabe in my hands.

     

    The fact that nowhere in your literature as of this morning requested an ethernet cable as part of the specification for use of the features of Mountain Lion basically equates to false advertising - either that or the MacBook Pro you sold me lack some of the functions that you were supposed to provide - I would like to know how are you going to fix this situation that does not require me to waste any more of my billable time with you.

  • by Radiation Mac,

    Radiation Mac Radiation Mac Oct 2, 2012 1:36 PM in response to maccamokie
    Level 5 (4,656 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 2, 2012 1:36 PM in response to maccamokie

    In order of appearance:

     

       Your Question #1:  No.

     

       Your Question #2 and #4:  You do not appear to understand that no one from Apple reads or responds to questions in these Forums.  We are Not the engineers who built this.  We are just fellow Users like yourself who volunteer our time to help each other,  Does it make any sense to to ask us "TECHNICALLY WHY" it can't work the way you want?  Well, "Because it doesn't."

     

     

    Hope this helps

  • by maccamokie,Solvedanswer

    maccamokie maccamokie Oct 2, 2012 5:15 PM in response to maccamokie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2012 5:15 PM in response to maccamokie

    I talked at length with Apple support and the bottom line is the pre-2011 Intel processor video encoding does not have the technology needed to support Airplay in the way that Apple has integrated it into the OS. 

     

    As for question #1, whether I can upgrade my pre-2011 iMac to support Airplay mirroring, the simple answer is no. I probably could, but to support the new processor it would need a new logic board, and maybe some other hardware upgrades, which means $$$$$$. So much so that compared to the price of a new iMac it would probably be better to go with a new iMac. That I am not willing to do at the moment. This one doesn't have enough miles on it to justify switching it out for a new one.

     

    So onto question 2 which I answered above. It's due to the video encoding limitation in the pre-2011 processor.  (I'm not an Apple techie so this probably sounds a bit cheesy)

     

    Question 3. As for the risk of using Air Parrot. The Apple support tech didn't know of this app. That will be another call to the developers of Air Parrot.  I do know that when I tried the trial version my iMac got ridiculously hot and the fan was whirring constantly.  I haven't made a decision on whether to spend the $10 to give it a try.

     

    Question 4. It's Apple. They don't have to explain.  But the tech support guy was VERY helpful.

     

    Hope this information helps someone else looking for answers about this subject.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Oct 2, 2012 5:55 PM in response to maccamokie
    Level 7 (32,357 points)
    iPad
    Oct 2, 2012 5:55 PM in response to maccamokie

    As an additional thought: IMHO, I would keep an ethernet cable around; large downloads such as the OS (at 4.37 GB or thereabouts) encounter much fewer problems than trying to do that wirelessly. And, a wired connecttion/download is much more reliable in general.

  • by stevenfrombrownsburg,

    stevenfrombrownsburg stevenfrombrownsburg Oct 2, 2012 5:56 PM in response to maccamokie
    Level 2 (340 points)
    Oct 2, 2012 5:56 PM in response to maccamokie

    As for Question 3:  The reason for the heat and probably 100% CPU utilization is that using AirParrot, the processor is not only handling the normal processing duties, but it is also handling 100% of the display duties as well.  Your GPU is likely idle, because when you mirror to an external display, your GPU is completely bypassed.

     

    The AirPlay Mirroring feature utilizes the graphic subprocessor that is integrated into the Core i5/i7 processor (listed on "About this Mac" as Intel HD Graphics 3000/4000).