DVI-I Dual Link VS. VGA

[lakeober]

Quick question for you guys:

I just purchased a EVGA GeForce 9400GT 1GB graphics card, because I wanted to replace my graphics card with one that has dual monitor capability. The EVGA card I bought, has 2 outputs, both of which are DVI-I dual link outputs. Both of my monitors have DVI-I and VGA ports. So, I was looking on eBay for cables (as I have no DVI ones), and I found that a DVI-I dual link to VGA adapter is only about $3... and an actual DVI-I -DVI-I cable is about $10-$12. So, is the quality of the DVI-I dual link really much better then that of a VGA? I mean, I only paid $26 for the whole graphics card (used on eBay)... so I only wanna spend $20 on the cables if the image quality would be significantly better. What do you guys think? Should I just go with DVI-I to VGA adapters (and just use 2 of my 20+ VGA cables), or spend the $15 extra for the actual DVI-I cables? Thanks for the input!

 

[lakeober]

I just double-checked the inputs on my monitors, and noticed that they are both actually DVI-D dual link's. Could I simply buy a DVI-D dual link to DVI-D dual link cable and connect it from my monitor to my graphics card? I know that my new graphics card has a DVI-I output, but a DVI-D will still fit it right? Man, this DVI stuff is confusing... to many different variations of one connector!

 

[Cerb]

SL-DVI: missing middle pins.
DL-DVI: has those middle pins.
DVI-D: digital only.
DVI-I: analog and digital iintegrated.
DVI-A: analog only (why?).

DVI-I to VGA cables have less wires inside of them, hence being cheaper.

Yes, you can use DVI-D cables. They should have never allowed the spec to prevent cables from functioning, as would be the case with DVI-I or DVI-A cables to DVI-D connectors (color code them based on NC pins, FI, or have male on the device sides and female on the cables, with a single cable pinout).

 

[sm625]

I have like half a dozen DVI to VGA adapters laying around. You might want to check the local thrift store junk electronics bin before spending even $3 on one. Can probably find a cable there too.

 

[tynopik]

(nevermind)

 

[_Rick_]

Personally, even at 1280x1024, I much prefer the increased clarity of the DVI signal.
Especially on budget cards, the VGA signal quality is often quite poor.
You don't necessarily need dual-link cables, unless the resolution you run doesn't fit a single link.
Not sure though if there actually are single link cables.
Might want to ask around and see if you can get cables cheaper. Some people connecting their screens via HDMI might have DVI cables left over, for example.

 

[lakeober]

Ok, sounds great, thanks for all the help everyone!

So, let me just get this straight, will a DVI-D (dual link) cable fit into the DVI-I (dual link) output on the graphics card?

 

[KentState]

DVI cables are pretty cheap on Amazon or Monoprice:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10209&cs_id=1020902&p_id=2408&seq=1&format=2

http://www.amazon.com/Cables-To-Go-2...9690322&sr=8-4

 

[mfenn]

Ok, sounds great, thanks for all the help everyone!

So, let me just get this straight, will a DVI-D (dual link) cable fit into the DVI-I (dual link) output on the graphics card?

If your monitors are less than 1920x1200 in resolution (they probably are), shelling out extra money for a dual link cable doesn't get you anything. Not saying that dual-link cable wouldn't work, but if you see some single-link ones for cheaper, go for it.

 

[serpretetsky]

Ok, sounds great, thanks for all the help everyone!

So, let me just get this straight, will a DVI-D (dual link) cable fit into the DVI-I (dual link) output on the graphics card?

yes. DVI-I really means DVI-A+D (both)

if you have a DVI-I output it means it outputs both the digital AND analog signal (and has the appropriate holes for both cables)

dual link only refers to the digital portion, and it means it can support higher than 1920x1200 @ 60hz bandwidth.

here's a wikilink to the pinout that may give you a better idea
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...r_Types.svg/181px-DVI_Connector_Types.svg.png
as you can see, a female dvi-i dual link port has holes for any type of standard dvi cable you can imagine.

SL-DVI: missing middle pins.
DL-DVI: has those middle pins.
DVI-D: digital only.
DVI-I: analog and digital iintegrated.
DVI-A: analog only (why?).

DVI-A is often used on the male side (the cable/connector), specifically on the dvi to vga adapters, since they have no reason to include any of the other pins.
you're right, in the female side it is weird, i have never personallly seen DVI-A on the female side.

the dvi cables are always male (the cables have the pins) the ports on the monitor and video card are always female (they have the holes for the pins)

 

[lakeober]

yes. DVI-I really means DVI-A+D (both)

if you have a DVI-I output it means it outputs both the digital AND analog signal (and has the appropriate holes for both cables)

dual link only refers to the digital portion, and it means it can support higher than 1920x1200 @ 60hz bandwidth.

here's a wikilink to the pinout that may give you a better idea
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...r_Types.svg/181px-DVI_Connector_Types.svg.png
as you can see, a female dvi-i dual link port has holes for any type of standard dvi cable you can imagine.


DVI-A is often used on the male side (the cable/connector), specifically on the dvi to vga adapters, since they have no reason to include any of the other pins.
you're right, in the female side it is weird, i have never personallly seen DVI-A on the female side.

the dvi cables are always male (the cables have the pins) the ports on the monitor and video card are always female (they have the holes for the pins)

Great! This is the answer I was looking for

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If your monitors are 1920x1080 or smaller, you can get DVI-D single link cables and they will work fine.

You're looking at $4-6 each + S&H if you buy new. The picture quality is better, imo. (Color consistency is better between displays, less prone to interference from power cables in the rat's nest behind my computer, etc.)

That said, if you have the cabling for VGA already, it's a back-burner kind of thing. You can buy the cables later, get free shipping when you're ordering something else anyway, or hunt around thrift stores and/or the junk bin at work until you can get something for free or close to it.