Stupid question on DVI cable

[Matmi]

My monitor is currently linked to my PC with a VGA cable, as my PC does not have a DVI port.

I'm about to change my PC and the new will have a DVI port (actually, 2 of them) but I realized that I lost the DVI cable that came with my Dell monitor...

I need to buy a new cable but I don't know if it should be DVI male to DVI male or DVI male to DVI female (and I can't check, since I don't have my PC yet...).

Thanks !

 

[rbV5]

Male to Male.

 

[Matmi]

Thanks.

 

[Peter]

To be precise, what you need is male to male, DVI-D, single-link. Dual-link cables would also do, but it's wasted money.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Yup, male to male is what you need. 99% of what stores carry should be male-to-male anyways, and if you say "I need a DVI cable" at a computer shop or whereever, they will know what you mean 🙂 .

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Re: Peter's comments: LCD monitors with a resolution of 1920X1200 or less are single-link, above that (such as the 30" Dells and Apples) need a dual-link cable, which has extra connectors.

I wouldn't call a dual-link cable necessarily a waste, because many can be had for <$20, and they tend to make dual link cables to be quite sturdy and good quality, while the cheapest single-link DVI cables are sometimes of poor quality. But I'd agree, don't pay a lot more to get a dual link cable.

To the OP: if this "dual link vs single link" discussion is confusing, check out this Explanation of DVI. Scroll down to the pictures to see exactly what the difference is between a dual link and single link cable (dual link is double the bandwidth so it has more connector pins).