Analog versus DVI connection on LCD monitors

[BonzaiDuck]

"Great experts" like me -- humor me -- have holes in their understanding. This technology is difficult to keep up with.

I jumped into the LCD monitor option late. Remember that 8 or 10 years ago, these things cost a fortune! I've been using Viewsonic CRT-type monitors with my (old, Belkin, 4-port) KVM switch. [And THAT's an ancient artifact: I bought two of these suckers for $200 each in 1995 -- still usin' 'em.]

You may see in another post about my Viewsonic VX2235 (and some other odd problems) that my LCD is not "integrated" with my KVM connections. I've been manually switching the DVI cable between two computers.

Now that I've rearranged my UPS batteries to allow reliable simultaneous usage of all three computers, I'm thinking I'd best integrate either one -- or both -- of the new machines with the KVM.

If I use the analog, 15-pin VGA plugs to connect to my KVM switch (and my VX2235 has an optional analog port) -- what differences can I expect to find in performance or quality? Or generally -- what implications will this have, what can I expect -- if anything?

I'm almost willing to suspect that there won't be any. But I don't know, and I have too much on my plate right now to devote a lot of time to catching up on this issue -- except by posting my question here.

 

[SergeC]

As the resolution increases, the improvement from a digital (DVI) connection increases greatly. It will be slightly more than normal in your case because of the KVM attenuating the analog signal slightly.

At least that's how I understand it. I know I see a big difference at 1600x1200.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Serge? Or anyone?

Do you know of a KVM switch which accommodates both DVI and analog input? I haven't seen anything like that . . . . maybe I didn't look hard enough . . .

EDIT: did a web-search, and there are plenty of DVI-ready KVM switches. But -- like my old 15-year-old Belkin 4-port models, they are just as pricey. I seem them for above and below $200. P-I-T-A. There was a time in the '60s when I hitched to San Francisco for "the summer of Love," and some hippie-chick told me that "Everything should be FREEEE!!" Oh-- - I wish . . . .

 

[Rike]

She might have been free, but tech just how you want it usually isn't.

I say just hook it up using VGA. If after you have the whole thing hooked up you and you decide the pic quality is worth the money to improve, then you spend it. I haven't used a KMV for it, but I've run my 24" LCD at 1920x1200 with both VGA and DVI and the DVI is a little clearer. Enough that I feel good about my $12 shipped DVI cable from monoprice.

Speaking of monoprice, I just found this 4 port DVI KMV for $63. Text
And 3 port DVI with USB and audio with all cables for $98.67. Text

That's not $200. Maybe useful? I still say hook it all up first and then see if you can live with the quality.

 

[RanDum72]

That DVI KVM for $63 is a good deal, except for one thing:

"Resolution: 1280x1023 (max) DDC2"

So that means any 1080P resolution monitors are out of the question.