DVI? Does it matter?

[bfonnes]

I am considering purchasing an LCD monitor, and I am wondering if I should make sure that it has a DVI connector, or if it doesn't really matter. I know you must have a vid card to support this feature, but I might want it just in case I ever get a high end vid card, but why would I care about it?

Bfonnes

 

[ChefJoe]

I'd shoot for one with it. I hear it's like the difference between using S Video connectors vs RCA/Coax stuff.

 

[flood]

it provides a digital signal to the monitor rather than an analog one.
I have both inputs on my planar 17.4 and the DVI is much sharper. I'd say that if you're going to be spending enough money to warrant a LCD purchase, make sure its got DVI. Even if you dont use it now, most new video cards have it as an option.

 

[Chad]

I think DVI also displays images directly from the framebuffer (?). Which would be an incredible difference if true.

 

[sharkeeper]

Not only is the image always pixel precise, but gone are the problems with flickering lines and alignment! Regardless of the operating mode (resolution) your image will always be centered and at a 1:1 pixel ratio!

Cheers!

 

[bfonnes]

yea, I think if it gets rid of moire, and ghosting it would be worth it Does DVI get rid of moire? I have a 15 " Sony Trinitron right now, and even it has lots of moire, but then again it was a refurbished one.

 

[sharkeeper]

You should never see moire on a TFT display unless it's quite far out of alignment. The auto setting (analog mode only) corrects this. Temperature change causes a minor drift in the electronics which makes it necessary to repeat this procedure. This in itself is quite annoying. With DVI, this is a thing of the past! Just plug it in and go! (for real)

Cheers!

 

[bfonnes]

sweet! Thanks for the information. Now the only matter is coming up with the money!

 

[Duvie]

Very informative guys...I have been wondering about this myself...My radeon 8500 card came with the dvi input so I guess I am set!!!

 

[hmsrolst]

Doing side-by-side tests with two similarly equipped computers, a Planar LCD and a KVM, I found that DVI makes a really dramatic difference when using XP with Clear Type settings. I would not want to go back to analog.

 

[JavaMomma]

What about a CRT monitors and DVI?
Like this one: NEC Multisync FP1375X 22" 0.24mm Flat-CRT 2048x1536 w/ DVI-I

 

[sharkeeper]

DVI is going to give you the sharpest image on a CRT. The only analogue interface that can come close is 13W3 which nobody uses anymore. At the highest resolutions, the difference is most noticeable.

Cheers!

 

[PlatinumGold]

DVI is going to give you the sharpest image on a CRT.

there are CRT monitors w/ DVI??

I know on my Dell 1702 i wouldn't go back to analog no matter what. the dvi is sweet.

 

[AaronP]

yes, there are CRT monitors with DVI. My Nec 1350 has one.

 

[Dug]

It really depends on the monitor. I had a Planar 19" that I tried with both analog and digital and I couldn't tell the difference.

I'm sure there are some monitors that it makes a difference on.

 

[ndee]

Aren't there different "kinds"of DVI?

 

[flood]

CRT's may have a DVI input, but they dont use the digital signal contained. if you look at the DVI cable, you'll see that the most common format is DVI-I. Look at the picture, you'll see pins on both DVI-I and DVI-D cables, but the very rightmost part is different.
DVI-D sends only the digital signal via the bank of pins on the left. DVI-I sends the same digital signal through those pins, but also sends an analog signal through the 4 pins on teh right.
Correct me if im wrong, but every CRT with DVI has used the analog signal.

Also, this is how ATI's included DVI->analog converter works. There are no active components to convert teh digital signal to analog, it just matches up the pins on one end to the appropriate pins on the other end.

 

[4fingerwu1]

Well lets see I have what I think is a hookup for DVI on my monitor
Two questions
1- Where can I buy a DVI cable as the local Best Buy doesnt have them -
2- What does the DVI port on the monitor look like -
My port looks something like the jack that you would plug headphones into a cd player
Peace
4Fingerwu

 

[Speedo]

Hmm... could it be that some CRT monitors with DVI input has a built in D/A converter? The analog signal would only travel as shortly as possible inside the monitor, instead of thru a long VGA cable. This could explain why someone here said he experienced better picture quality when using the DVI connector. Just a thought...

 

[sharkeeper]

You cannot buy these cables from your local B & M.

Instead, try here.

I'm not sure about CRT inputs. It would be of great benefit if they had their own DAC onboard though. Eliminates the "nvidia 2D issue".

Cheers!

 

[Aztech]

Is this always an extra input? Can I still count on getting an analog in on every LCD?

 

[Pink0]

Umm...you guys do know that DVI isn't just digital right? Those little square holes that you see in the connector are digital, yes, and some LCDs use them as such. The little plus sign that you see on the connector beside the digital part is analogue, just like VGA and if hooked to an LCD which only uses an analgoue connection (there are some) it will not be digital.

 

[KristopherKubicki]

Hi Everyone,

YES DVI DOES MATTER. Check out the latest article we just put up:

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.html?i=1730

The albatron L17AT had some problems with streaking, directly attributed to an analog connection. Check it out for yourself and see what you think.

Cheers,

Kristopher

 

[pm]

The NEC FP1350X and FP1375X CRT (I own a 1350X) has a real, true digital DVI input that accepts digital signals. In this mode, the monitor looks sharper, but it is limited to 1280x1024 resolution.

Here's an old thread on the subject of DVI and whether the NEC FP1350 has a digital DVI input. (note link is to a subscriber page. I can't get figure out the non-subsciber URL. Search on the HT forum for an archived message on DVI posted by me (pm) ).

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: pm


Here's an old thread . . . (note link is to a subscriber page. I can't get figure out the non-subsciber URL . . .

To do a non subscriber link, simply replace (after http://) "subscriber" with "forums" . . . however, I think it has been recently rectified by Zuni and links for non-subs automatically.