[savon]

Alright, I need some help here. I'm not a big gamer nor an expert in IT knowledge but I got a free XBOX and would have thought that trying to connect an XBOX 360 with an Apple Cinema HD Display would be a lot easier than it is...

Have any of you out there done this for under $100? Or know of the best (not losing any quality) and cheapest way to do this? I have come up with (and come across) several scenarios that might work but then run into a snag with each theory (mainly audio). So would love to know your thoughts...

Cheers in advance. All ideas welcome

System specs:
MAC PRO (last gen - march of last year)
Apple Cinema HD Display (last gen, not most recent update with built in isight)
Speakers - TBD (depending on what is best for both comp and xbox)

[Scoops98]

Have you tired using the HDMI out and using HDMI to dual-link DVI adapter (

Amazon.com: IOGear HDmi To Dvi-d M/f Dual Link...
Amazon.com: IOGear HDmi To Dvi-d M/f Dual Link...

Run your sound to your sound system. The Mircosoft HDMI kit has HDMI and Digital/Analog audio out (

Amazon.com: Xbox 360 HDMI AV Cable: Video Games
Amazon.com: Xbox 360 HDMI AV Cable: Video Games

).

As for speaker, I'd recommend a surround system that supports fiber optical digital inputs. Also, I don’t know if your display would handle 1080p. The Apple Cinema HD Displays 23" & 30" both accept 1920x1200. It's hard to say without testing.

[Scoops98]

Have you had any success?

[savon]

Scoops, your the man! (if this works, that is)

I have ordered the Xbox HDMI kit (which solves my audio problem) from Ebay, for only $12 plus shipping (that and the other items should be in soon). I changed it up slightly in order to make it easier to change the DVI inputs, so let me know what you think about the below setup:

1. Mircosoft HDMI Kit = Connects audio from Xbox to speakers:

Amazon.com: Xbox 360 HDMI AV Cable: Video Games
Amazon.com: Xbox 360 HDMI AV Cable: Video Games

2. HDMI Cable = Connects Xbox to the adapter (comes in the Xbox kit above)

3. HDMI to DVI Adapter (Female / Female)= Connects Xbox to adapter & adapter to DVI Cable:

Amazon.com: HDMI Female to DVI-D Single Link...
Amazon.com: HDMI Female to DVI-D Single Link...

4. DVI Extender Cable (6ft, Male / Female) = Connects Computer to Adapter:

Amazon.com: Cables To Go - 26950 - 2M DVI-D M/F...
Amazon.com: Cables To Go - 26950 - 2M DVI-D M/F...

The reason for the extender Cable is so that I won't have to get back/behind my Mac Pro and unhook/rehook the adapter, etc each time I want to play. So the cable will go from my computer to the adapter which will be fastened in my desks Keyboard tray. All I'll have to do, is pull out the keyboard tray and switch the cable that goes into the adapter. I know I could have gotten a DVI switch but didn't feel like putting any more money into it at the moment...

I'm not sure about the 1080p question yet either (will know in a few days) but I would imagine it won't be a problem. I will prob need to get an audio to Line In adapter so that when I want to use my speakers for the computer, I can just switch those as well.

Anyway, I will let you know the verdict - thanks again for the input though.

[Scoops98]

Sweet! Do you have XBOX Live?

[savon]

No I don't... had not even taken the thing out of the box until a week ago..: )

Do you think the "HDMI to DVI Adapter" I ordered will be a problem since it is only a "single link" vs "dual link"..?

[Scoops98]

I don't know. The Apple Studio displays are a dual-link DVI connection. You might have issues.

[savon]

Alright, so I got all the pieces to the puzzle in but it is NOT working..: (

I have everything configured as mentioned in my previous post but when i try to turn on the XBOX 360, the Mac Monitor just blinks three times (the lil sleep light that is, the monitor stays black as if it were off). The blinking light indicates it is getting a signal it doesn't not recognize...

It might be the Single Link adapter VS the Dual Link, not sure but everywhere I've found online, mentions that it just doesn't work unless you get the "HD Mate" (which looks like its been replaced by the GefenTV High-Definition Scaler ) But I don't feel like paying an additional $350 bucs just to make that happen.

I don't understand why this wouldn't work as its all a digital signal but if you have any thoughts and or other suggestions, I'm all ears...

[Scoops98]

I'm guessing it has to do with the Xbox not being set at the correct resolution. It might be outputting interlaced (i) as opposed to progressive (p), and maybe @ 480 instead of 1080. You might have to hook it up to any HDTV to set it to 1080p. And again, I don't know it the monitor will display it.

[ALL DAY]

If you're using the HDMI cable, it couldn't be 480, although fixing the resolution on another TV is a good suggestion. I'd try that, but I don't know if it'll work...

[savon]

Yea, I forgot to mention that we tried every resolution setting (hooked up to tv, changed it, then brought it back to comp) with no luck. The Cinema Display is supposed to be 1080i though right?

I didn't see anywhere that you could chose to use HDMI output for video (like separate A/V settings as the PS3 has). I'm gonna pick up a Dual link adapter just in case that's the problem: http://www.1powershop.com/en/compute...-for-hdtv.html

I'm also going to put up some of our previous configurations that we came up with to see if anybody out there thinks one of them might work better (and to save someone else searching for this type of thing the headache and loss of time that I've had, haha):

::: SETUP A :::
1. HDMI Cable = Connects Xbox to Switch

2. RCA to Stereo Jack Cable = Connects Xbox to Computer (for sound):

http://www.amazon.com/3-5MM-Stereo-Male-Female-inc...
http://www.amazon.com/3-5MM-Stereo-Male-Female-inc...

3. HDMI Switch = Enables quick switching between the two feeds:

Amazon.com: IOGear 3-Port HDMI Switch with Remote...
Amazon.com: IOGear 3-Port HDMI Switch with Remote...

4. DVI Female to HDMI Male Adapter x 2 = Connects Computer to Adapter and Monitor to Adapter (and then the Adapters to the switch):

Amazon.com: Tripp Lite P132-000 DVI to HDMI Gold...
Amazon.com: Tripp Lite P132-000 DVI to HDMI Gold...

::: SETUP B :::
[This option doesn't provide audio]

1. DVI Extension Cable = Connects Monitor to Adapter:

Amazon.com: 6.5 Foot DVI D Dual Link Extension...
Amazon.com: 6.5 Foot DVI D Dual Link Extension...

2. Component to DVI Adapter (female/female):

Amazon.com: DVI-I Male to 3 RCA component Adapter...
Amazon.com: DVI-I Male to 3 RCA component Adapter...

::: SETUP C :::
[This option doesn't provide audio]

1. HDMI Cable = Connects Xbox to Switch

2. DVI to HDMI adapter x2 = Connects Monitor Cable and Computer Extension Cable to HDMI Switch:

Amazon.com: Tripp Lite P132-000 DVI to HDMI Gold...
Amazon.com: Tripp Lite P132-000 DVI to HDMI Gold...

3. DVI Extension Cable = Connects Monitor to Adapter:

Amazon.com: STARTECH.COM DVIMM6 6' Digital LCD...
Amazon.com: STARTECH.COM DVIMM6 6' Digital LCD...

4. HDMI Switch = Enables quick switching between the two feeds:

Amazon.com: 3 Port Smart HDMI Switch: Electronics
Amazon.com: 3 Port Smart HDMI Switch: Electronics

Again, you would think this would be simple or at least this knowledge would be all over the internet but unfortunately (way too much time) searching for it has revealed nothing solid as of yet.