Downsides or limitations of single-link DVI connections on GPUs?

[yacoub]

I've noticed recent GPUs have cheaped out on the DVI outputs, reducing one to a single-link variant, rather than both being dual-link DVI outputs.

Can someone explain what limitations or issues this might pose?

iirc, it has to do with the bandwidth of the link, such that resolutions over 1080i or 1080p cannot be done over single-link, which is why monitors with high resolution require dual-link DVI connections.

Is there any reason why in an age where people are buying higher-resolution displays GPU manufacturers have started cheaping out on the outputs?

Is this just a symptom on lower-end cards or are they all this way now? I'm looking at various 7950 and 7970 branded cards and they're mostly doing the single-link DVI output thing on one of the two DVI connectors.

 

[Stuka87]

Very few cards have two dual-link DVI ports. Its not recent, been that way since day one.

The only advantage to a dual-link DVI is being able to run 1600P or 2400P (4K) displays. But 4K displays will most likely all be DP anyway, not DVI.

 

[jackstar7]

Another reason to make sure you get a dual-link DVI is running 1440p at up to or beyond 120Hz on capable monitors.

 

[PrincessFrosty]

Dual Link DVI just has twice the bandwidth, the downside of single link is that it cannot drive a monitor which requires a lot of bandwidth.

Bandwidth required goes up as the resolution goes up, and also as the refresh rate goes up, some examples of monitors that require DL-DVI are high refresh rate monitors such as 1920x1080 @ 120Hz, and high resolution monitors such as 2560x1600 @ 60hz

I'm pretty sure that Nvidia have had 2x DL-DVI standard for the last 4 generations (at least since the 480 range), but from what I can see AMD even up to their 7xxx range support only 1x DL-DVI.

 

[Cerb]

HDMI and Displayport offer high bandwidth, and it's not hard to find monitors supporting them. They've replaced having multiple DL-DVI ports on the cards.

 

[bystander36]

HDMI and Displayport offer high bandwidth, and it's not hard to find monitors supporting them. They've replaced having multiple DL-DVI ports on the cards.

HDMI does not support 120hz yet, though the spec is there, nothing supports 1.4b yet.

I'm guessing AMD is pushing their displayport connection more than Dual Link DVI, which is why they only offer 1 on most their cards.

 

[yacoub]

Very few cards have two dual-link DVI ports. Its not recent, been that way since day one.

Odd, both of my HD6950s have two dual-DVI outputs in addition to other outputs like dp or hdmi. One is Sapphire and one is either MSI or Gigabyte, I don't recall.

I'm wondering why they dropped that spec on the 7950 and 7970 lines.

 

[jackstar7]

One point, Displayport is an open tech. No fees and AMD doesn't own it or anything, just seems to support it much more aggressively. It's actually what has kept me buying AMD cards because multi-monitor remains easiest for me with their cards.

The only thing I'm missing at this point is a 1440p 120Hz capable monitor that uses DP instead of DVI for the greater bandwidth/simpler connection.

 

[Final8ty]

Very few cards have two dual-link DVI ports. Its not recent, been that way since day one.

My HD5970, 2 dual-DVI outputs
My HD 5850, 2 dual-DVI outputs
My HD 3870, 2 dual-DVI outputs
MY X1900xt, 2 dual-DVI outputs
MY X1800xt, 2 dual-DVI outputs

 

[blackened23]

EDIT: dp

 

[Anarchist420]

Single link DVI sucks because it's not displayport. display port is better because it has the potential for direct drive monitor and it has more bandwidth than even double link dvi.

 

[yacoub]

Sure but even Dual-link DVI is better than single-link DVI that I haven't seen on a GPU in years, now suddenly it's on the 7900 series. Lame.

p.s., I enjoyed the links in your sig.

 

[RussianSensation]

Many HD7900 cards already come with a DVI adapter. You just plug that into the DP port / HDMI port.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sapphire/HD_7950_Flex/2.html

The biggest problem of AMD cards is not lack of DL-DVI but the fact that when they run 2 or more monitors, the GPU clocks are much higher which means way higher power consumption and operating temps in multi-monitor mode than NV cards. With prices of HD7970GE and GTX770 so close, if you won't play across multiple monitors, but want to run 2x2560, just grab the 770.

 

[3DVagabond]

AMD considers DVI legacy now, which is why they don't offer more support for it.

 

[zephyrprime]

Odd, both of my HD6950s have two dual-DVI outputs in addition to other outputs like dp or hdmi. One is Sapphire and one is either MSI or Gigabyte, I don't recall.

I'm wondering why they dropped that spec on the 7950 and 7970 lines.

No they don't. Both ports are dual link but only one can be used as dual link at a time. The other will become single link. I had to switch from ati to nvidia to get dual dual link to run high res monitors.

 

[Barfo]

AMD considers DVI legacy now, which is why they don't offer more support for it.

Your mom's ports are legacy, but I still use them.