Does DVI make a difference?

[Bat123Man]

I just purchased a new widescreen LCD panel. My GF3-128 card has both DVI out and analog out. Unfortunately, the LCD panel only came with an analog d-sub cable. The image quality is great, but I was wondering if it would be even better with DVI. I know there is a digital to analog conversion done on the computer, and then another one on the LCD panel side, if I use the analog cable. If I go DVI, then it will be 100% digital. But is there enough of a difference to notice?

If I had a DVI cable, I would just try it out. But I was somewhat shocked to find that a 6 foot DVI to DVI cable costs 40-50 bucks.

Thanks,
BM

 

[videopho]

DVI = HOT
VGA = dinosaur

Cheap and great DVI cable for a fraction of $$

 

[Auric]

Does DVI make a difference? No, DVI is neutral. VGA makes a difference via aforementioned DAC + ADC, thus degrading the quality. It's all aboot perspective

Other advantages are no image adjustment required and the ability to use driver scaling options which are particularly useful when non-existant on the display.

$40-50 on a cable... lemme guess: national big box electronics retailer which must remain competitive in the cut-throat low-margin hardware bidness and thus rely upon dim consumers to fall for obscene markups on accessories and extended warranties?

 

[Bat123Man]

Originally posted by: Auric

$40-50 on a cable... lemme guess: national big box electronics retailer which must remain competitive in the cut-throat low-margin hardware bidness and thus rely upon dim consumers to fall for obscene markups on accessories and extended warranties?

Hahahaha! OK, thanks. That was good for a laugh. My friendly neighbourhood chinese computer shop has a male to male 10 foot DVI cable for 17 bucks.

BM

 

[Midwayman]

Most LCD reviews found that DVI input results in a sharper image and less ghosting. YMMV

 

[Bat123Man]

Thanks for all the replies. I bought a DVI cable, and hooked up my LG L194WTX 19 inch widescreen LCD panel. The result? It's looks great! But can I tell the difference between the new DVI cable and the analog d-sub cable I had before?

No. Both look great. But perhaps over time I will see the difference. At any rate, the 20 bucks I blew on the cable was worth it for the psychological advantage of knowing I am not doing any DAC-->ADC any longer. When I check the monitor properties, where it used to list (Analog) in brackets, it now lists (Digital).

Cheers,
BM

 

[clickynext]

Originally posted by: Bat123Man
Thanks for all the replies. I bought a DVI cable, and hooked up my LG L194WTX 19 inch widescreen LCD panel. The result? It's looks great! But can I tell the difference between the new DVI cable and the analog d-sub cable I had before?

No. Both look great. But perhaps over time I will see the difference. At any rate, the 20 bucks I blew on the cable was worth it for the psychological advantage of knowing I am not doing any DAC-->ADC any longer. When I check the monitor properties, where it used to list (Analog) in brackets, it now lists (Digital).

Cheers,
BM

lol yeah, sometimes with these things it ends up being more of a psychological satisfaction than a real difference. I had the same thing going from S-video to Component on my PS2.

 

[n7]

I really do not believe you see much difference between the two at lower resolutions.

But as soon as you are around the 1600x1200/1680x1050+ range, you should start to see better quality using DVI.

 

[INM8]

I have found that text is a lot sharper using DVI then it is using the VGA output. Another good thing about DVI is that your screen is always aligned properly, unlike VGA where you have to do it manually.

 

[BladeVenom]

I have LCDs with both and don't notice a difference. How is text sharper with DVI? I can look at it pixel by pixel and it's exactly the same. The white pixels are white, and the black pixels are black. None of them are blury with the VGA connector.

Maybe there's a difference with fast moving pictures, but it's a small one.

 

[cdmccool]

It varies between monitors. Some, you will notice a big difference between DVI/VGA. Others, not so much.

 

[Conky]

I can't tell the difference between the DVI and the analog cable and I have above average eyesight.

And shop around... those cables can be found much cheaper online.

 

[Bat123Man]

Originally posted by: INM8
I have found that text is a lot sharper using DVI then it is using the VGA output. Another good thing about DVI is that your screen is always aligned properly, unlike VGA where you have to do it manually.

Hi,

I had never really noticed this point before, but you are correct. When I had my LCD panel set up via the analog d-sub plug, I noticed that Doom3 (which does not have a native widescreen resolution setting) was slightly off. The "Loading..." at the beginning of each level was cut off at the top of the screen. When I changed to a DVI cable, it is now correct.

With games like Far Cry, which natively support widescreen resolutions (1440*900), I didn't have this problem. Interesting. That in itself is worth the 20 bucks for the cable.

Thanks,
BM

 

[drum]

i've had analog and DVI setup side by side and i could easily tell a difference.
the monitor using analog was not of good quality itself... but that being said i could tell.