Any benefit to using DVI output with CRT?

[Megatomic]

I have an ATI Radeon 9800 (np) with DVI output. The card currently outputs to a Samsung 955DF (19" flat CRT) via the VGA output. The card came with a DVI -> VGA adapter. I was wondering if there would be any benefit to using the DVI output and the DVI -> VGA adapter with the 955DF monitor? I currently get a slight flickering on the far right of the screen when explorer or IE pages are up (bright white). I don't see it during games or when the primary image being displayed is darker than the white background of IE/explorer.

I half suspect the CRT of being at fault here. I used a display testing program a few months ago and it seems that the monitor has a hard time with bright images (the picture gets a tiny bit smaller when the image being displayed is bright). The program said that there was a problem with the power circuit in the monitor if this occurs. But I only really see it when I use Radeon cards. GF4 and GF FX cards didn't cause this to happen. Do Radeon cards send that much more a powerful signal to the monitor that I would notice it with a Radeon and not a GF?

Thanks for any and all opinions.

 

[AllDressedUp]

When you use the VGA adapter on the DVI-I port, you're only using the analog part of DVI signal, so there shouldn't really be much/any difference between it and the straight up VGA output. Both deliver analog RGB.

Having said that though, it probably wouldn't hurt nothin to give it a try and see if you notice any difference. I'm not that familiar with the guts of these cards, but maybe it's possible the VGA port uses a different DAC than the DVI-I port for it's analog output.

 

[fell8]

I would tend to think the VGA would be better as it is optimized for analog whrer as with DVI it is merely a legacy feature. I could be wrong though.

 

[eklass]

as far as the flickering you notice on white screen.. that's probably because your refresh rate is too low

default is 60Hz, but I can't stand anythign below 72Hz

how can you trully tell? stick your head to the side of you moniter about 12 inches away. look at the moniter through the side of your eye (that is, look straight forward but observe what your eye sees on te moniter). if you see flickering, the refresh rate is too low

the reason for that test is because the edge of your eyes are more sensitive to light the the middle

anyways, up it if it's too low. 75Hz or better is what you really want

 

[Megatomic]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'm going to give this a try, it won't hurt anything and I'll probably be able to answer my own question when I do. I was at work when I posted the question so I wasn't able to play around at that time...

eklass, the refresh rate is 85Hz currently. And I can only see the flickering at the very far right of the monitor, like the right-most 2" of the screen. The rest of the screen is just fine.

 

[mooncancook]

I connect a CRT to my 9500Pro's DVI as the secondary monitor before, and no matter what refresh rate I changed for that monitor the monitor appears to be at 60Hz all the time. don't know if that's a software problem, or if it's because the DVI can't output high refresh rate signal, anyway i guess it wouldn't be better to use DVI with CRT.

 

[jjyiz28]

megatomic: connecting a video cards dvi with a crt monitor to dvi is best. what you are doing it using th convertor which doesn't use the digital interface at all. actually, you would be better if NOT using the adapter, and connecting using vga if your crt does not have a dvi connection.

monncancook: its a software problem. i had this same prob with my radeon card. i set my refresh rate at like 85-100hz, on my 19in trinitron, but my eyes are telling me its still at 60hz. you need to download the ati control panel. and hard code it what you want each resolution to have which refresh rate.