Is there some picture quality loss outputting DVI to VGA of HDTV?

[bovinda]

EDIT: Actually, now that I realize what I'm doing, I'm running the video out from my DVI output through a VGA cable via an adaptor into the VGA on the back of the TV. Do you think that's degrading picture quality at all?
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Original post below

Which should I use to connect my HTPC to my HDTV - DVI or HDMI?

Here's what I think I know: the picture quality of DVI and HDMI is identical, but HDMI would have audio included (except for the fact that this is an HTPC, so audio output will be separate in any event).

But there are two issues that complicate this, I believe:

(1) By going through my TV's DVI port, I have less options for adjusting picture quality (it seems - anyone know if that's correct with this TV?)

(2) If I go through HDMI to get more options for playing with picture (120 Hz etc), how do I hook up audio if I'm going through the TV? I'm guessing I don't, and would need a separate audio system.

Advice?

 

[haffey]

HDMI is an all-in-one connector, and includes both audio and video. You don't need a seperate audio system as the sound will play through your TV. I recommend HDMI because it is often required to play copy-protected media or something like that...someone else here should be able to tell you more.

 

[bovinda]

Yeah, but I'm realizing HDMI from my PC would go out through the DVI output on my video card, which wouldn't have the audio component. So I couldn't hook-up DVI anyway. Oh well...

Actually, now that I realize what I'm doing, I'm running the video out from my DVI output through a VGA cable via an adaptor into the VGA on the back of the TV. Do you think that's degrading picture quality at all?

 

[krotchy]

The DVI port natively has 3 output connections, 2 DVI(Single Link using one Dual Link DVI using both) as well as VGA. The adapter just makes your video card output analog from the card directly as if it were a VGA output. Single link DVI is essentially identical to HDMI for most purposes. If I were you I would buy a DVI->HDMI cable from monoprice for 10 bucks and continue running audio separately since it sounds like your video card cant do HDMI audio out. Still if your TV can take 1920x1080p via VGA you are already at 95+% quality I would bet.

 

[bovinda]

Thanks dude...Yeah, my video card has DVI out, but no HDMI out, and I'm assuming DVI never has an audio component? I went ahead and ordered this cable. Hopefully it will do the trick, and I'll just run the audio separate.

 

[coldmeat]

My tv is only 720p, but I didn't notice a difference between dvi -> vga or dvi -> hdmi. With the hdmi cable though, it unlocked some picture options that for some reason are locked when you use VGA. At least with my tv.

 

[Soundmanred]

Originally posted by: coldmeat
My tv is only 720p, but I didn't notice a difference between dvi -> vga or dvi -> hdmi. With the hdmi cable though, it unlocked some picture options that for some reason are locked when you use VGA. At least with my tv.

My HDTV would only do 1024x768 via VGA. I have a DVI->HDMI adapter and that allows me to do the full 1080.

 

[rdp6]

I have last year's 1080p samsung (lnt5271f). Before my DVI->HMDI adaptor and HDMI cables arrived from monoprice, I used a DVI to VGA adaptor (provided by Apple) to a VGA cable (came with a Dell LCD) to the TV. The VGA cable is pretty high gauge (skinny) compared to the VGA cables on my CRT monitors. Result: high resolution possible but noisy (blurry) picture. Sound was (still is) passed by stereo cable with male 1/8" connectors.

With the DVI->HDMI adaptor and HDMI cable 1920x1080 @ 60hz is perfectly clear. My macbook pro doesn't pass audio through DVI (I think audio over DVI is rare) so it continues to be passed through the stereo cable. I'll look into using the optical digital output when I set up a home theater.

I don't know if it is mentioned in your TV manual, but for mine it is important to use HDMI1 input and in the setup menu on the TV "name" it PC, otherwise the colors are all wrong and text looks bad.

 

[bovinda]

Thanks rdp6, I have the cables on order and am looking forward to trying them out all the more now. I'll make sure to rename the HDMI input I use just in case, and will double check which one I should use in the manual. Appreciate the tips!

 

[Elcs]

Depending on what Graphics Card you have, ones such as my ATI HD4870 will actually pass audio out of its DVI ports, into an ATI DVI->HDMI adapter then down the HDMI cable to the output (TV).

I have tested this solution and it works. I do not use it however as my TV speakers are of a lower quality than my current set. If you have a card like the HD4870 and an appropriate receiver setup, you can get some of the new HD Sound played through the aforementioned cabling.

 

[bovinda]

Good to know...I will make sure to look for a graphics card that includes audio out as part of its HDMI/DVI component next time. I'm guessing the one I have right now won't (MSI 8600 something).

 

[haffey]

Originally posted by: bovinda
Good to know...I will make sure to look for a graphics card that includes audio out as part of its HDMI/DVI component next time. I'm guessing the one I have right now won't (MSI 8600 something).

I doubt it does, but I know the HD 4870 does.