DVI input on a Trinitron - better quality than analog?

[tk149]

I have a IBM P260 monitor (Trinitron flatscreen) that has two video inputs:

1. a standard 15-pin (HD-15?)
2. a DVI (it looks like 24 + 4 pins???)

If I get a new video card with DVI output, will I actually see a quality difference? Or is the quality difference only for LCD screens?

And if DVI would give a better picture, what's a good CHEAP ($30-$40) video card to get? Mostly just for web-surfing/email.

 

[Schadenfroh]

wth? crts have DVI?

 

[Boogak]

I've got that IBM P260 and yes, it has both DVI and analog input. I've tried it with both and honestly, I can't tell a difference. So I recommend saving your dough and keeping the card you got now.

 

[FacelessNobody]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
wth? crts have DVI?

Some do, yeah. The discontinued NEC FP1375X had it. For TK149, ask yourself this: Why in the hell would I want to hook an analog device up to a digital signal anyway? Also, I remember the NEC being limited to displaying 1600x1200 when using the DVI connection, but with the analog connection it could display 2048x1536. DVI, in my opinion, is taylor-made for displays with a fixed number of pixels.

 

[Peter]

The potential gain is that there is no signal quality loss in the path from the graphics memory right up into the CRT's video-in circuitry. With analog VGA cabling, the loss starts as soon as the signal leaves the card's RAMDAC.

 

[jjyiz28]

if a crt has a dvi option, dvi is always better visual quality than a hd15.

 

[Jadow]

my NEC FP1350X has DVI, and I LOVE IT!

I have tried but DVI and analog, and DVI really is better!

 

[tk149]

Any other comments? BTW, I'm replacing a Matrox Millenium (4MB) PCI video card. Hopefully with something with 32 MB.

 

[Peter]

Do you need PCI or AGP? Anyhow, there are Radeon-7000 and maybe still 7500(LE) cards that have VGA, DVI and TV outputs (dual screen capable) for either. They should have come down to your price range by now.

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: Peter
Do you need PCI or AGP? Anyhow, there are Radeon-7000 and maybe still 7500(LE) cards that have VGA, DVI and TV outputs (dual screen capable) for either. They should have come down to your price range by now.

Sorry, I meant to say I want an AGP card.

 

[beatle]

It is true that the signal would stay digital until it gets to the monitor, you'd also be banking on the DAC in the monitor to be superior to that on your card. I wouldn't imagine it to increase quality very much.

 

[zsouthboy]

Originally posted by: tk149

Originally posted by: Peter
Do you need PCI or AGP? Anyhow, there are Radeon-7000 and maybe still 7500(LE) cards that have VGA, DVI and TV outputs (dual screen capable) for either. They should have come down to your price range by now.

Sorry, I meant to say I want an AGP card.

Those are available in AGP formfactor... check pricewatch..