Are BNC cables worth it??

[TumBO]

I have a Samsung 950p that has the BNC connectors in the back. I'm running 1280x1024@85. Is there any benefit to switching to a BNC cable and is there a difference in cable quality? Thanks.

 

[pidge]

I can't tell any difference personally and I don't know anyone who does as well.

 

[sohcrates]

my monitor has BNC inputs also, but i have yet to be able to justify the cost of a converter cable just on the hunch that it might help..although i do know at least ONE person who claims there's a quality difference...

truth is, i instead see having two inputs as a cool way to use two computers, but run them both through one monitor. (i.e one with a 15 pin and other with a BNC connector)..seems reasonable, and easy way to switch back and forth...but now i'm getting off track!

 

[Hawk]

Heh, I do that too, but I don't really see any difference either.

 

[jeremy806]

I thought that the text appeared slightly crisper when I switched to a BNC cable. The difference is not that huge. At the time, I had a Voodoo2 and bought the crossover to avoid the loop cable.

jeremy806

 

[Intergalactic]

The part of having two inputs comes in real handy somtimes, and I think that the text is only slightly sharper, but I run it anyway, just cause I can

 

[Mooncalf]

Came across this article/review that may interest you.

Link

 

[TumBO]

Thanks for the link Mooncalf! I've read pretty much the same thing everywhere else. And now I'm wondering how much better/worse the $12 cables offered by that company are compaired to the more expensive ones.

 

[sohcrates]

i dunno if it was worth it, but i read that speedy3d article from the above link and decided to order up one of the 11.95 bnc cables. i mean, it's only 12 bucks.

so i'm not sure how they're shipping it or when i'll get it , but if this thread's still alive i'll post MY reaction to the change from 15 pin vga to 5 bnc

 

[Mooncalf]

Please do sohcrates as I would appreciate your opinion. I doubt this will still be active when you get the cable but if you think of it please post.

 

[hazzagazza]

I ordered a BNC cable from Symmic.com after reading the Speedy 3D article. For $16 if figured I would give it a try. The cable was delivered in about two days and seems to be of very high quality. I have a Sony G500 that I just bought from ubid ($479 + shipping) so I was anxious to see if it made any difference. Although I didn't do any direct comparison, I so think that text is a little bit sharper with the BNC. Also, the colors appear a little more vibrant and the screen geometry was better ( I had a little bowing of the edges with the 15 pin that I couldn't get rid of thats gone now). All in all, I am happy with my $16 investment although the differences aren't earth shattering.

One more thought. With the BNC cable you need to download and install the CPD G500 monitor drivers from Sony, whereas with the 15pin you use the Windows P&P drivers. Maybe the more specific sony drivers are responsible for the slight improvement in text and picture quality?

 

[Mooncalf]

Yeah, the drivers could be responsible for that or at atleast contribute to the quality difference. If your monitor has drivers you should atleast try them as they often make a difference in my experience. Though the differences you experienced are also mentioned in the Speedy 3D review so who knows.

 

[sohcrates]

Wow, so i ordered that BNC cable from that Speedy3d article thursday night and it already arrived saturday morning! and only 11 bucks....so i'm gonna grab lunch then throw that cable onto my monitor and report back to ya'll about the results (hopefully positive ones)...of course, i'm worried that with this new cable i'll lose plug and play support, but i think my monitor has drivers somewhere...so i'll report back soon

 

[sohcrates]

OK. cable is in place and i'm running off it now....wanna know the truth? i don't see a difference...i always liked the way my screen looked before, and i still like the way it looks now. I WILL go on a limb and say that the colors might look richer, but i don't have any real proof of that!

so all i can say is that for 11.95, i can now brag about using the BNC connectors on my monitor!

 

[Dan]

I too was curious to see if switching to BNC cables would improve my display quality. I ran across some for $14 at a computer show last weekend; for $14 I figured I could afford to satisfy my curiousity. Like the majority of you, I don't see any great benefits from them. (Although double inputs does have possibilities.)

 

[duragezic]

You have to install Sony drivers because when using BNC cables you don't have the DDC support (plug and play basically).