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Why is everyone so nuts about DVI ?

M

MDesigner

Platinum Member
Just about every post for an LCD deal on Fatwallet is met with responses like "No DVI... deal killer for me." Could someone please tell me what's so cool about DVI? Does it make the LCD look like HDTV or something?? I found an article that states:

Is DVI better? It depends. If you use an analog connection (DVI-A or DVI-I) there is no benefit to using digital hardware. If you use a digital connection (DVI-D or DVI-I) you should be able to extend the distance between the monitor and the computer and are less susceptible to neighboring electrical interference. However in practice it is very difficult for the average user to tell the difference between the video quality provided by the two interfaces. This, along with the added cost of replacing your video cards and driver software, may be reason enough to stick to the standard VGA interface.
Click to expand...

So what the heck is the fuss over DVI? Clue me in.. 🙂
 
DVI avoids the digital->analog and analog->digital conversion required if you use an LCD display with a VGA cable. In *theory*, this will improve signal quality, though most VGA cables have plenty of bandwidth for even high-resolution displays, and so the conversion often does not cause any issues. It also means there are no geometry adjustments to be made when using DVI, since you're always sending a 'perfect' digital signal.

A bigger advantage (in some environments) is that, since DVI uses digital signalling, it is *far* more resistant to electrical noise and interference, and you can run the cables significantly further without signal degradation.

For a short cable run in a non-noisy environment, with a good quality video card and VGA cables, you probably wouldn't see much (if any) difference between them.
 
Most lcd's have an auto-adjust feature that adjusts color, sharpness, and geometry sort of negating that advatage of DVI. I have used samsung and hitachi lcd's and the results of the auto-adjust is perfect in my experience.
 
I have a Hitachi 17" w/ both vga or dvi selection. The picture is clearly crisper with the dvi connection. Could just be this particular LCD, but the difference is there. I have an NEC 1530V w/ vga only, and the picture is very clear, but it does not have a dvi connection for comparison. Unfortunately the monitors are 30 miles apart for a side-by-side comparison, but I would say that either monitor is not unpleasing in it's current configuation.
 
It's like getting the newest pair of running shoes when your 5 years old. You think it makes you run faster. I've heard that the differences are really minor. The geometry feature sounds nice, but that depends if you do more with a new monitor than plug it in turn it on.
 
Since you have to ask this question, you've never seen the difference DVI makes, which therefore disqualifies you from commenting on its usefulness.

Thread over.

- M4H
 
What M99 said. DVI avoids two potentially IQ-lowering conversion steps, thus it has a greater potential to provide a pristine signal. This probably won't be too noticable at 10x7, but it should be at higher resolutions. If you have a video card with excellent analog output, then switching to digital DVI probably won't be startling. If, though, you're suffering the substandard analog output of all integrated solutions and quite a few cheaper discrete cards, you'll want to add a little extra onto the cost of a LCD (consider it a luxury tax 😉) to see the most benefit from the switch.

Please provide a link to the article next time.
 
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Since you have to ask this question, you've never seen the difference DVI makes, which therefore disqualifies you from commenting on its usefulness.

Thread over.

- M4H
Click to expand...

Well, almost over, anyway. There's just one thing to add:

YOU'RE A PRICK, M4H.

 
Yeah, what the hell is M4H's problem? He didn't comment on the usefulness of DVI, he asked, and isn't that that sorta the point of this forum, to discuss things like this? Just because you have 20,000 posts and considerable knowledge, you don't have the right to be a jerk. I've noticed that alot of his posts are rather elitist and condescending. He seems to think he is amusing with his witty little comments. Sometimes they are in good taste, sometimes not. Think before you speak M4H.
 
Thanks for backing me up, guys... I was actually about to post & defend myself. M4H, I wasn't commenting on the usefulness (or lack thereof).. it's not like I posted "DVI is pointless!!!" I'm just asking what the advantages are, because I've seen a lot of people turn down good LCD deals due to lack of DVI. If you can't handle that, then don't f'ing post in my thread.
 
Text looks better and sharper on DVI, IMO.

At work we had several PC's running dual Dell 1703FP's, one on DVI and one on VGA, and the DVI one was clearer and sharper, and blacks looked a tad blacker too.

Text was absolutely razor sharp on the DVI, while they were a tiny bit blurrier on the VGA screen (although still better than CRT, IMO).
 
Originally posted by: Rio Rebel and EvanB
Wah wah wah
Click to expand...

A postfull of C&P'ed information showing evidence of zero Googling beyond manufacturer FUD doesn't exactly motivate me to put my best foot forward. One has to see DVI in real life to appreciate the crispy text goodness and slight but noticeable improvement in colour reproduction and responsiveness. There's really nothing that can be said to convince someone of that other that "Go see it for yourself."

In conclusion, (A) grow a thicker skin, (B) buy a sense of humour from OT, and until you've accomplished both (A) and (B), (C) cram it.

Love,

- M4H

PS: Sorry to clutter up your thread, OP. Go see a DVI LCD at a store, preferably right beside a VGA one, and see the difference for yourself. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: MDesigner
Just about every post for an LCD deal on Fatwallet is met with responses like "No DVI... deal killer for me." Could someone please tell me what's so cool about DVI? Does it make the LCD look like HDTV or something?? I found an article that states:

Is DVI better? It depends. If you use an analog connection (DVI-A or DVI-I) there is no benefit to using digital hardware. If you use a digital connection (DVI-D or DVI-I) you should be able to extend the distance between the monitor and the computer and are less susceptible to neighboring electrical interference. However in practice it is very difficult for the average user to tell the difference between the video quality provided by the two interfaces. This, along with the added cost of replacing your video cards and driver software, may be reason enough to stick to the standard VGA interface.
Click to expand...

So what the heck is the fuss over DVI? Clue me in.. 🙂
Click to expand...

Maybe you should use google and try getting your information from more than one source?
 
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Rio Rebel and EvanB
Wah wah wah
Click to expand...

A postfull of C&P'ed information showing evidence of zero Googling beyond manufacturer FUD doesn't exactly motivate me to put my best foot forward. One has to see DVI in real life to appreciate the crispy text goodness and slight but noticeable improvement in colour reproduction and responsiveness. There's really nothing that can be said to convince someone of that other that "Go see it for yourself."

In conclusion, (A) grow a thicker skin, (B) buy a sense of humour from OT, and until you've accomplished both (A) and (B), (C) cram it.

Love,

- M4H

PS: Sorry to clutter up your thread, OP. Go see a DVI LCD at a store, preferably right beside a VGA one, and see the difference for yourself. 🙂
Click to expand...

OK, there's a response I can respect. I'll have to hit Fry's or Circuit City or somewhere to check it out in person. Though I must say, I'm pretty happy with my analog 17" LCD. No fuzziness, no out of focus, nothing.. totally crisp, bright display.
 
There you go M4H, another condescending post. Woudn't it be easier to just shut the hell up and click the back button than posting this garbage? There are obviously some people who don't mind telling him why they think DVI is better. Perhaps you should just "cram it". You are fighting an uphill battle.
 
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Since you have to ask this question, you've never seen the difference DVI makes, which therefore disqualifies you from commenting on its usefulness.

Thread over.

- M4H
Click to expand...

Very worthwhile.
 
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Since you have to ask this question, you've never seen the difference DVI makes, which therefore disqualifies you from commenting on its usefulness.

Thread over.

- M4H
Click to expand...


dick
 
2 things i'd like to reiterate.

1) Auto focus is retarded. Yes it works, sometimes. Ive had instances where it loses its "focus" i wind up pressing that button for 5 minutes hoping it locks onto a good picture. This happens frequently on my inlaws computer, esp after shut down/sleep cycle.

2) At higher resolutions and bigger screen sizes dvi is a must. The delta between vga and dvi is much greater on a 1600x1200 on a dell 2001.

So for 15 incher, i dont think its a deal breaker, except the auto foucs losing focus rigamorole.
At 17 its a tossup. If you game on it, you'll want dvi. Take a look at the subjective comments on anands reviews, ghosting appears to be more of an issue with vga input that dvi.
at 18 and above, unless you really dont give a crap except getting a cheap slim screen, i think not getting dvi is rather silly.

my 2cents.
K
 
How about the importance of an LCD panel including *both* DVI-I/D, and analog VGA or DVI-A? (Well, a DVI-I that includes both D and A signals would suffice as well.)

I was just thinking of the possibility of hooking your PC up to it via the DVI, and your console game system, via a "VGA box", up to the VGA analog port. Crisp, clear, console goodness. 🙂
 
If you can't find a LCD hooked up via a DVI conxn (as quite a few will be connected via analog DB15 to cheapo PCs or KVMs), just look at a laptop.
 
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