Simple Question regarding Monitor cables.

[DragonQ0105]

Which of these would give me better picture?

a) VGA-Out -> VGA/DVI Adapter -> DVI Cable -> LCD Panel
b) VGA-Out -> VGA Cable -> LCD Panel

I'm unsure because (b) involves no conversion which is always good, but (a) means after the initial conversion, the signal quality does not drop along the cable...hmmm...

Which would be best?

 

[garebo]

I stand to be corrected, but i do believe both the dvi and lcd panel are both newer technology compared to vga and crt and so they would give you a better picture. Course it depends on what one means by a better picture, but usually it means what the eye can see. That being the case, go with the dvi and lcd.
The only drawback with the lcd panel monitors has been their inability to refresh fast enough for some top-drawer games, but i hear that issue is being resolved with newer lcd monitors. So it depends on how much top-drawer, competitive gaming you do. If you dont, then go with the dvi and the lcd.
Hope that helps.



Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[sct77]

also the DVI and LCD combo will be easier on your eyes. I have a Hyundai L90D+ lcd monitor with a 8ms response time, it works great with all games, it has the dvi input and my video card has a dvi output

 

[felixc]

I would go the "b" route. The LCD monitor with an analog input contains its own VGA to digital converter, which is optimized to the LCD screen that is inside of it. With a separate VGA to DVI adapter, there is no guarantee that the converted DVI output will be properly accepted by the LCD with the DVI input.

DVI is better, only when the signal path is digital from end to end.

To get an uprade path to the future, get an LCD panel that has both DVI and analog VGA.

Is the cable length a concern? If everything is on the same desk, don't bother.

 

[cdogg]

felixc is very close.

First of all, he's right in saying that it does you no good to convert from analog (VGA out) to digital (DVI Adapter) and then to the LCD panel. In fact, this can cause problems depending on the quality of the adapter as felix said.

However, he didn't notice (or at least it seems to me) that your LCD panel has both inputs - DVI and VGA. If that's correct, then the suggestion should be to get a video card that has a DVI output.

It is debateable as to whether DVI (digital) is much better than VGA (analog). Because the signal is digital with DVI, it is less prone to interference and the video itself doesn't have to go through two conversions like it does with VGA:
[tab]"digital from PC" - "to VGA output on card" -> "back to digital for the LCD panel"

I usually tell most people that if their video card has a DVI output, spend the extra money and get a DVI cable - why not? But if you're video card doesn't have one, it's totally up to you whether or not you want to spend the $ to get one that does. Only some people actually see a difference. It mostly depends on what type of graphics you plan on displaying.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[jlshelton]

Note that there are several versions of DVI, and most common is the kind that supports BOTH analog and digital. The inexpensive (<$100) "converter" cables merely change the pins from VGA to DVI, using the DVI analog pins. They don't actually convert to a digital signal. Check carefully in your particular arrangement.

I'm running a 20 inch LCD at 1600 x 1200 pixels, and I've tried both analog and digital connections. The analog connection, routed through a KVM, is still top-notch. I doubt you will see much of a difference in your two choices, since both are really sending analog to the LCD panel.

 

[DragonQ0105]

If that's correct, then the suggestion should be to get a video card that has a DVI output."

I will, but I'm buying the Monitor first, then the Video Card later, so I will have to use VGA-Out for now.

I will use (b) as per your advise, thankyou.

 

[cdogg]

jlshelton,
I see where you're getting at, but the adapter must be doing some kind of conversion in the signal because a DVI input on the monitor only accepts incoming digital signals. In order for the monitor to display a picture, it needs to either convert it from analog to digital (VGA), or just accept the incoming digital signal (DVI). The DVI input on the LCD doesn't have any filters to convert from analog to digital (and it shouldn't because it's already expecting digital).

Therefore if what you're saying is true, that it's only changing the pin configuration to match, then the picture would not display on the monitor since there is no analog to digital filter on that input.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884