Thursday, August 14, 2008

DVI Cables: How To Identify One

When you are in the need for a DVI cable but are not familiar with the technology, finding the appropriate cable can be an arduous task. A DVI cable is best identified by what connector is on the end of it. Varying factors in identifying the DVI connector involve the make up the connector pins.

To identify an analog or digital cable such as a DVI-I or DVI-A is by a flat pin with four adjacent pins. With a DVI-D a flat pin

For other forms of DVI cables such as single-link and dual link and cables have different pinsets on their connectors as well. A single link cable contains two nine pin sets that are separate from one another within the connector. A dual link cable has a solid 24-pin set.

From there you have to pick the one that will actually be needed for whatever you’re trying to do. For example depending on the source of the connection you need and what type of monitor connection port you have will determine what choice of cable is the one you’ll actually need. These cables are available at any department store, computer specialty shop, or high box electronics store. Again, if DVI cable technology isn’t your sort of thing then relax we have you completely covered.

Below are the listings for what DVI cable you are going to need in order to get things up and running for your video operating needs read below, we break things down by source, monitor type and the actual cable or equipment that’s necessary.

For VGA sources:

  • DVI-I monitors require a DVI to VGA cable
  • VGA monitors can not use DVI cables they will use a VGA cable
  • DVI-A monitors will use a DVI to VGA cable
  • DVDI-D monitors need a VGA to DVI-D convertor

For DVI-D sources:

  • DVI-D monitors will require a DVI-D cable
  • DVI-A monitors will use a DVI-D to VGA converter
  • HDMI monitors will use a DVI-D to HDMI cable
  • VGA monitors will use a DVI-D to VGA converter
  • DVI-I will use a DVI-D cable

For DVI-A sources:

  • VGA monitors will use a DVI to VGA cable
  • DVI-I monitors will use a DVI-A cable
  • DVI-D monitors will use a VGA to DVI-D converter
  • DVI-A monitors will use a DVI-A cable

For DVI-I sources:

  • DVI-I monitors will use a DVI-I cable
  • HDMI monitors will use a DVI-D to HDMI cable
  • VGA monitors will use a DVI to VGA cable
  • DVI-I monitors will use a DVI-I cable
  • DVI-D monitors will use a DVI-D cable

For HDMI sources:

  • HDMI monitors will use an HDMI cable
  • DVI-I sources will use an HDMI to DVI-D cable
  • DVI-D sauces will use an HDMI to DVI-D cable

Well there you have it, not only did we provide some info on how to identify what a DVI cable is, we also broke down which are the ones you’d have to use for your monitor. Definitely a two for the price of one sort of mentality we’re going with her, and the best part is we didn’t even charge you for this information. Now go out there find the right DVI cable and enjoy the beautiful picture that will appear before you as a result!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

DVI Cables: What Are They?


What is the best way to define what DVI cables are? Well, the answer to that is to explain what the technology of DVI is in the first place. DVI stands for Digital visual interface. With us so far? Good. Now let’s go ahead with defining the various aspects of this technology and then explain the rest of its varying wonders.

The Digital Visual Interface, which from here on out will be labeled as DVI for purposes of simplicity is a video standard that is intended to get the most out of a display device’s video quality. Such equipment that DVI cables connect to are digital projectors and flat screen monitors probably the hardware that we best know DVI cables for working with.

DVI cable technology was first developed by an organization called the Digital Display Working Group. Its original use was intended for the display of uncompressed digital video data. It shares a limited compatibility with High-Definition Multimedia Interface (a technology found in many of today’s television sets) via the DVI digital mode (DVI-D).

Knowing what sort of DVI cable you need depends greatly on your connections that you will be working on. Fear not though dear reader, we have answers to any questions you have or may have in the future. So let’s take a moment to list each cable and give a very brief description of their use.

  • DVI-D Cables – Used if you have one or both connections are digital.
  • DVI-A Cables – Used if one of both connections are analog.
  • DVI to VGI cable or DVI/VGA adaptor – intended for connections that have DVI analog compatibility and if one connection on one end if DVI and the other is VGA.
  • DVI Cable – This is for integrated connections.
  • TIP: In the instance of one connection being analog and the other being digital, you can’t connect the both of them with one cable. A converter box will need to be purchased. The converter box is available in either an analog to digital DVI or digital DVI to analog VGA.

That runs the gamut on what cables you will need. Another important thing though is to be able to identify a DVI cable when you see one. Since there are different versions of the cable there are little things that will set one apart from the other. Depending on what your requirements and equipment are you may need a DVI cable that’s different from what the other guy might need.

Using the list above you have a good idea where to start but keep in mind that you have to know what architecture your equipment uses before you go and purchase a DVI cable. After all you want to be able to enjoy the full use of your computer monitor even though many of today’s models look beautiful enough without even displaying a picture! Be that as it may it’s still important to make sure you know full well what a DVI cable is and how they work and which one you’ll require.

Hopefully we’ve got you ready to run out the starting gate with the knowledge of what you’re going to need in order to get that true to life high quality display that only a DVI signal can put out.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

DVI Cables: How They Work


We love Digital Visual Interface cables…or better yet DVI to save on the amount of writing we’d have to do to identify! These cables make DVI technology possible and in today’s day and age of computer technology we have DVI tech to thank for the awesome visual quality we enjoy on our computer screens. Whether we are playing computer games, watching streaming video or doubling up our computers as a DVD entertainment system for movie viewing we can thank this experience being possible because of DVI.

The cables for the DVI interface of course are the necessary element to enjoy smooth DVI quality display on your computer. Without the cable you’ll just have a blank screen that will not be showing you the visual beauty that DVI delivers.

Now how does the DVI cable interface work? Well we’re glad that in your mind you’re asking this same question because by sheer coincidence we have your answers that you need. DVI cables use a digital based procedure in which the needed or wanted use of pixels is transferred via the binary system.

With native resolution the binary system carries out this pixel transfer When the display is driven at its native resolution, each binary number is read and then set to the pixels suitable level of brightness.

This allows, each pixel in the display device’s output buffer to work one for one with each pixel. This applies only to digital interfaces. Analog symbols go about things a different way in their function. In an analog signal pixel output and appearance can be potentially be altered by outside factors like electrical noise and other disruptions.

Analog technology like VGA that were made for CRT based monitors and other related devices don’t use such methods as discrete time display addressing. Power output is changed consistently for the adequate level of brightness to result in analog signals. With a CRT device this method is utilized to set a changing level of intensity as screen activity occurs. DVI cable technology is quite a departure from this method.

DVI cables are practically error free cables in terms of connectivity. Their design is made in a means that there’s no possibility of putting the cable into your computer’s graphics port in the wrong way. A DVI’s cable connector is availed in five different versions. These assortments vary in the management of digital or analog signals.

With a digital transfer only one or two channels are involved. Any graphics cards that are digital only can not be attached to an analog connection. Although there is equipment that can be used on devices that support both analog and digital signals. DVI also allows for display data channels and extended display identification data allowing computers the chance to interact with other varieties of monitor extensions.

If one or two channels exist in a digital transfer. Graphics cards that are only digital are not compatible with analog and can’t be connected to analog as a result. However, equipment that can handle both digital and analog signals can be connected. DVI also supports such standards as Display Data Channel and Extended Display Identification Data. These technologies allow for computers to operate with different monitor types