Is DVI worth it?

[matt2000]

Hi, I need some advice here.

In the last few weeks I've been using my Samsung SyncMaster 940MW as a main PC monitor. It's usually in my room connected to my 360 but it's much better than my 17" CRT.

I've been using it so much I'm considering buying a DVI dual link cable for HDCP. The monitor/TV is HDCP compliant so it will work, but I'm not sure if it will be worth the £30 I'll be paying. As far as I can tell, I'm not getting HD through VGA (is there a definitive way of testing this?) and since it's the only HD in my house, I would like to have HD on my PC.

The cable I will most likely be buying is a dual link by PureAV.

Thanks for any advice, I appreciate it.

Matt

[ESPNSTI]

For one, I think that that cable is insanely expensive.
This is more what I'd expect to pay for a cable like that: http://monoprice.com/products/subdep...02&cp_id=10209
Now I don't know if there is a monoprice equivalent in the UK, but I'd be surprised if there isn't anything cheaper.

Since your monitor's max res is 1440x900, that in itself isn't "full" HD (1920x1080), but is should be able to do 720p (1280x720).

Some monitors have a button that will show an on screen display that might show you what resolution you are in.
If it shows 1280x720, then you're essentially 720p/HD.

Aside from any HDCP problems that I'm not sure about, I don't know why the VGA connector couldn't do those resolutions (for the PC at least, don't know about the 360).

[matt2000]

Thanks for the reply

The TV can handle a compressed version of 1080i from my 360, and there isn't much difference between 720p and 1080i through component.

The on screen menu shows the resolution, in pixels for VGA and I'm assuming it will be the same for DVI (or showing 720p/1080i).

I admit that the cable is fairly expensive, and I only picked that one because it has gold connectors and I don't have to order it online. Overclockers UK sell the cable for £20, but bang on a steep postage charge. There are some cheaper ones, especially on ebay.

[MadCow809]

you dont really need a gold plated DVI cable, it doesnt make much of a difference between a normal one and an expensive DVI cable. Just make sure the media file that you are playing is in HD format and you should be set.

Any ordinary DVI cable will do the job fine. you should be able to find them for less than 10 pounds.

[db2450]

For digital cables, like DVI and HDMI, the only real difference you will ever notice between the cables is if the rubber around the wires is too thin on cheaper cables, which can possibly, but not probably cause problems.

When I switched my PS3 from component to DVI on my TV (only 1080i), I did notice a difference and the samething happened when I connected my PC monitor with DVI instead of VGA. There is a noticble difference, but I don't think it is worth 30 or 20 pounds.
I only switched on my PS3 because Blu-Ray needed a digital connection and only swtched on my PC, because the monitor came with a DVI cable.

[matt2000]

Well, I went to my local computer store to get a DVI cable today. I did pay £20, but only because I'm too lazy and impatient to get one from the interweb. I'm quite pleased I didn't just order one too...

When I've got it out of the bag and go to plug it in, I find that Samsung, in its infinite wisdom, decided they would blank off some of the pins in the DVI socket on my monitor... DVI plug won't fit.

So I took it back and got a full refund (which was nice of them, since it was my mistake) and the guy at the shop is going to see if he can get the right cable for me.

[Buba]

Don't know what the rest suggested, but below full HD you can get VGA for cheap... I've been impressing people with a VGA powered HD ready display for 2 years now. A VGA cable is "3 whatever currency" and on WXGA its still ok.

Anything more and DVI = winner... though

[ESPNSTI]

Originally Posted by matt2000

When I've got it out of the bag and go to plug it in, I find that Samsung, in its infinite wisdom, decided they would blank off some of the pins in the DVI socket on my monitor... DVI plug won't fit.

DVI is notorious for causing confusion because of its different types, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVI

Samsung possibly blanked off those pins to prevent people from hooking up the wrong cable and then bitching to them that it doesn't work.

[matt2000]

Thanks, that page clears it up. I need DVI-D, and I bought a DVI-I cable. Silly old me, I had no idea, and neither did the guy a the shop. I'll phone him up tomorrow and let him know that's the type of cable I need.

[otispunkmeyer]

lol you paid £20 for a DVI cable.

long as you dont need dual link ( i think you need the right cables as well as the right DVI ports for dual link though im not sure) you can get perfectly servicable 2m long DVI cables off of ebay for a couple of quid tops.

think i paid £4 for mine all in.

DVI-I cables have all the pins because they carry Analogue signals as well as the digital ones. hence why you can simply plug in a DVI-VGA converter in the back of your video card.... it just splits off the VGA.

bit strange that samsung have it blanked off for DVI-D only if it was a DVI-I port i dont think it would of mattered which cable you bought so long as all you wanted was the digital connection

[matt2000]

Originally Posted by otispunkmeyer

bit strange that samsung have it blanked off for DVI-D only if it was a DVI-I port i dont think it would of mattered which cable you bought so long as all you wanted was the digital connection

Yeah, Samsung being clever again and making things complicated, although this is not a special cable, just another version for digital only.

long as you dont need dual link

I do. There's my problem, and I want to make sure it works, so no Interweb bargains this time for me.

Cheers!

Matt

[Adunaphel]

You'll be needing a DVI-D cable, not a DVI-I cable. Most LCD monitors have the analog pins blanked out. See img below for the different kinds of plugs.

[Cobol74]

Wish I had a thread like this 6 months ago - would have saved me lots of grief.

[Manimillion]

I am running a 32" Sony Bravia HDTV as my computer monitor. It serves as a dedicated monitor and nothing else, no TV or game consoles hooked up to it. It is the best thing ever, since I do post processing of my photographs on the main computer, I've had it hooked up to both VGA and HDMI inputs, there is not any visible difference to my eye.

THe only difference is that, when hooked up from VGA the TV will actually go into auto-standby mode if it is left on for more then the specified time, but when its hooked up to HDMI, it will not go on standby.

[matt2000]

I'm currently running the monitor through VGA, and it's clear that it isn't running full HD. Just to test that I hooked the component output from my graphics card up to the component in on the TV, and watched the first part of Knight Rider (the HDTV version).

I've been experimenting with different programs though, and PowerDVD causes the screen to reload. When I look in the menu the resolution is blahx480. But 480 isn't HD, is it? Just standard definition?

Anyhoo I called up the store a few minutes ago to tell them I need a DVI-D cable, and the guy there is going to see what he can do.

[db2450]

Originally Posted by matt2000

I'm currently running the monitor through VGA, and it's clear that it isn't running full HD. Just to test that I hooked the component output from my graphics card up to the component in on the TV, and watched the first part of Knight Rider (the HDTV version).

I've been experimenting with different programs though, and PowerDVD causes the screen to reload. When I look in the menu the resolution is blahx480. But 480 isn't HD, is it? Just standard definition?

Anyhoo I called up the store a few minutes ago to tell them I need a DVI-D cable, and the guy there is going to see what he can do.

I *think* Power DVD is automatically defaluated to 480. (480p is sometimes considered HD, but it really isn't)
It might be forced to 480 because of its programming.

It could also be because you need HDCP (DVI or HDMI) for protected movies. I know my PS3 will only output movies over 480p with HDMI.