In this article, we will tell you in detail about the DVI connector, which can be found in many monitors, TVs and other equipment. Let's go a little deeper into the history of this popular interface, as well as understand its types and features. And we must also compare the DVI connector with some progressive interfaces. This information will be useful to many users, as well as simplify the process of working with equipment and avoid various difficulties during work.
What is DVI Out?
The popular connector known as DVI-out (Digital Visual Interface) is intended for high-quality image (video) transmission to various digital devices. As a rule, these are projectors, monitors and televisions.
This video interface was developed by DDWG. Often on the Internet you can find the decoding of these English letters DVI in the following form - digital video interface. These words are more understandable for many users who are just beginning to learn the world of computer and other technology. This connector has a specific color and shape, making it easy to distinguish from other outputs. Connecting the device to a wide variety of equipment is quite simple, without requiring mandatory professional skills.
DVI connector history
In 1999, the Digital Display Working Group officially introduced a completely new interface standard called the Digital Visual Interface (DVI). It was developed by leading experts from IBM, Intel, Fujitsu and other well-known corporations who came to DDWG with one goal - to create a truly innovative interface for transmitting digital video signals to monitors and other means of displaying images.
The advent of DVI heralded the decline of the VGA era, which has become morally and physically obsolete in 10 years. This allowed not only to improve the quality of content, but also to significantly increase the resolution of displays. It is noteworthy that DVI-connectors are still relevant to this day, although there are already serious rivals that are gradually replacing the "veteran".
DVI Features
As for DVI, it uses a data format based on PanelLink technology. It is about the transfer of information, which occurs sequentially, as well as originally implemented by Silicon Image. Here TMDS technology is used, when signal transmission is differential, in order to minimize the differences in levels as much as possible. The involved channels, including three, transmit video signals at speeds up to 3.5 Gbps. If you use a cable up to 10 meters in length, you can transfer the picture in FHD format (1920 x 1200 pixels). When a longer connecting cable is used, then the resolution is "cut down" to HD format.
In some situations, the Display Data Channel (DDC) may be involved. With its help, it will be possible to transmit important information about the display directly to the processor itself, which is installed in the signal source. This includes all the details regarding the performance of the device. These are the brand, production date, model, size and resolution of the display. The source will take this information into account by sending a signal with the optimal settings for a particular screen. If the source does not receive the required data, then the TMDS channel may be blocked.
There is support for HDCP, which is an advanced security system. It is also implemented in the more advanced HDMI interface. You can set various levels of content security, based on your own needs. The basic principle of HDCP is that DVI-connected devices exchange passwords with each other. This is how internal encryption works.
It should be noted that the DVI connector is only capable of transmitting images. As for the sound, it is not transmitted to in this case... Therefore, you need to take care of the appropriate channels. It is noteworthy that today for certain video cards there are special adapters that make it possible to simultaneously transmit sound and picture.
Types of DVI outputs
The user may be faced with several types of outputs. Among them:
- DVI-A
- DVI-I (SingleLink)
- DVI-I (DualLink)
- DVI-D (SingleLin)
- DVI-D (DualLink)
Therefore, it is easy to guess that the outputs have certain differences. In addition to differences in design, they also have inconsistencies in features. The question is often raised about the difference between Single link and Dual link. There are many differences in them. Both options differ from each other in the number of contacts. A double link uses all twenty-four pins in operation. A single link, which translates as single, has only eighteen contacts. If the user needs more permission, then the first option is more suitable for him. A single link is suitable for devices that have a resolution of 1920 by 1080. With it, users become much less powerful.
DVI-A out
This output assumes only the possibility of analog transmission. The additional letter allows the user to guess that "A" stands for analog. A connector is a plug in a cable or adapter that allows you to connect video devices (analog) to the DVI-I type output.
DVI-I output
This connector comes in two types: Single link and Dual link. The first option is very popular and popular. The additional letter I informs the user that he is integrated. The output is quite often used for digital displays and video cards. The peculiarities of this output are that it combines two transmission channels at once. The device combines digital and analogue channels. They do not depend on each other, so they do not work at the same time. The task of the device is to solve independently, thanks to which it will function. The Dual link connector with the letter I carries an analog signal. He has two digital channels. This allows the user to achieve much better image quality and expand their capabilities.
DVI-D output
Here the letter "D" indicates the English word Digital, which can be translated - digital. There is no analog channel in this variant. Only digital transmission occurs with this connector. As in the previous outputs, there is a division into single and double. Single link will restrict the user a little. The resolution cannot exceed 1920 x 1200 (at 60 Hz). This option has only one digital channel. The user will not be able to connect an analog monitor, and also enjoy the technology called nVidia 3D Vision. But Dual link will help you look at the 3D monitor, increasing the user's experience. There are two digital channels here.
DVI-I and DVI-D what is the fundamental difference?
DVI-I supports both digital and analog data transmission, while DVI-D only digital.
DVI connector compatibility
DVI-A will only be compatible with DVI-A. For analog signal transmission. As for DVI-D, it only transfers digital video content. Its compatibility is only possible with DVI-D. Next, we should mention a universal solution that will suit a wide variety of devices. This is about DVI-I. In some cases, adapters can be used. But this is possible only when it is provided by the manufacturer of this or that device.
An adapter helps to solve the problem, but may affect the image quality. There are quite a few types of these devices. There are the following: DVI - HDMI, VGA - DVI and other popular devices. DVI-D and DVI-I cables can operate in dual mode (dual link). In this case, the bandwidth is doubled. For this, additional contacts are used. This solution makes it possible to transmit much more information, which is beneficially reflected in the frequency and image of the monitor, which become higher. If you need to use nVidia 3D Vision technology, then a dual link is a must. Also, be aware that large LCD monitors with high resolution are compatible with the DVI-D Dual-Link connector.
Pinout of DVI outputs
Comparison of DVI connector with HDMI and Display Port
The dominance among connectors is now at DP - at display port. He quickly replaced previous designs. It has excellent bandwidth, and the user gets a lot more new features. The device allows you not to lose in quality, and also stands out for its small size. It has already begun to gradually replace dvi and hdmi. However, not all monitors have exactly those connectors that would fit this new product.
It will take a long time for changes to take place in their production system. Most manufacturers are in no hurry to use this device for their equipment. Therefore, even in many modern and popular models, DP is still not found. Therefore, all is not lost with dvi and hdmi. The latter option does an excellent job of transferring digital video along with sound. The device can be found in popular and new models of technology. This interface will help you get high resolution. Every year, improved versions appear that not only have excellent bandwidth, but also give the user a lot more options. Sound and video quality does not degrade even with a cable length of 10 meters. The dvi connector remains well known and in demand as well. It can be found on many devices, as manufacturers prefer to give it their preference due to its versatility.
Today, you can display a video image on a monitor or TV in different ways - there are more and more options for connection ports every year, and it is not surprising to get confused in the number and difference of interfaces.
Let's look at the most popular formats and determine the cases when this or that video port standard is best suited.
VGA
The oldest PC / monitor pairing standard that still exists today. The component video interface, developed back in 1987 by IBM, uses an analog signal to transmit color information. Unlike more modern standards, VGA does not allow sound transmission - only a picture.
The VGA connector is usually blue with two screws on the sides. It has a 15-pin connector and was originally only able to work at 640 by 480 pixels using a palette of 16 colors. Later the standard evolved into the so-called Super VGA, supporting higher screen expansions and colors up to 16 million colors. And since the improved standard continued to use the old port and outwardly did not change, then they call it in the old fashioned way simply VGA.
This format is most commonly used on older hardware, but many computers still have this port. What is called - just in case.
DVI
More than ten years after the release of the VGA standard, the DVI format, a digital video interface, saw the light. Released in 1999, the interface was able to transmit video without compression in one of three modes: DVI-I (Integrated) - a combined format for digital and analog transmission, DVI-D (Digital) - support for only a digital signal, DVI-A (Analog ) - support for analog signal only.
The DVI-I and DVI-D ports can go in single or dual mode. In the second case, the bandwidth is doubled, which allows you to get a high-definition screen resolution - up to 2048 by 1536 pixels. However, for this you need to have an appropriate video card. The ports themselves differ in the number of contacts - so single mode (Single link) uses four twisted pairs of wires (maximum resolution 1920 x 1200 pixels at 60 Hz), and dual mode (Dual link), correspondingly, a larger number of contacts and wires (resolution up to 2560 at 1600 @ 60 Hz).
It is important to remember that the analog version of DVI-A does not support monitors of the DVI-D standard, and a video card with DVI-I can be connected to a DVI-D monitor using a cable with two DVI-D connectors. By analogy with VGA, this standard also transmits only video images without sound to the screen. However, since 2008, video card manufacturers have made sound transmission possible - for this you need to use a DVI-D to HDMI cable.
You can also find on the market and the mini-DVI format, invented by Apple, which tends to reduce everything and everyone. However, the mini-standard only works in single mode, and therefore does not support expansion higher than 1920 x 1200 pixels.
HDMI
The High Definition Multimedia Interface allows you to transmit digital video and audio signals, and even with copy protection. HDMI is smaller than its predecessors in size, operates at a higher speed, and most importantly, it transmits sound, which made it possible to retire the old SCART and RCA ("tulip") standards for connecting video devices to televisions.
The HDMI 1.0 specification appeared at the end of 2002 and had a maximum bandwidth of 4.9 Gb / s, support for 8-channel audio and video up to 165 MPix / s (that is, FullHD at 60 Hz). Since then, the standard has constantly evolved, and in 2013 the HDMI 2.0 specification was released with a bandwidth of up to 18 Gbps, support for 4K resolution (3840 by 2160 pixels at 60 Hz) and 32-channel audio.
Today, the HDMI standard is used not only by computers, but also by digital TVs, DVD and Blu-ray players, game consoles and many other devices. If desired, you can use adapters from HDMI to DVI and vice versa.
The number of contacts on HDMI ports starts at 19, and the connectors themselves are available in several form factors, the most common of which are HDMI (Type-A), mini-HDMI (Type-C), micro-HDMI (Type D). In addition, there are HDMI ports for signal reception (HDMI-In) and for transmission (HDMI-Out). Outwardly, they are practically indistinguishable, but if, say, your candy bar has both ports, then when you try to display a picture on a second monitor, you can use only one of them, namely the HDMI-Out.
DisplayPort
In 2006, another video standard for digital monitors was adopted. DisplayPort, like HDMI, transmits not only video, but also audio, and serves to connect a computer with a display or home theater. DisplayPort has a higher data transfer rate, support for resolutions up to 8K (7680 by 4320 pixels at 60 Hz) in version 1.4, released in March 2016, and the picture through the port can be displayed on multiple monitors (from two to four, depending on from permission).
DisplayPort was specially designed for displaying pictures from computers to monitors, while HDMI was more intended for connecting various devices to a TV. However, these ports can be used together using a Dual-Mode DisplayPort adapter.
There are also variations of Mini DisplayPort used primarily in laptops. In particular, the smaller format is loved by Apple.
Thunderbolt
Finally, a standard from Intel (when working with Apple) for connecting peripheral devices to a computer. It was Apple that was the first to release a device with this interface in 2011 - the MacBook Pro laptop.
The maximum data transfer rate is 20 Gbps when using fiber for version 2, while version 3 of the interface is capable of operating at speeds up to 40 Gbps. Thunderbolt combines not only the DisplayPort interface, but also PCI-Express, which means you can connect almost anything to it. In particular, up to six devices can be connected to a single port, which reduces the need for a huge number of different ports on a device.
The Thunderbolt connector itself is smaller than that of the mini-DisplayPort, and its third version is actually a USB 3.1 compatible port, that is, it is made with a USB Type-C connector.
Universal USB
If you are suddenly worried that soon you will have to update all home appliances due to changes in standards, then do not rush. Manufacturers aim to simplify the story with multiple interfaces and provide support for legacy devices through adapters. In particular, for HDMI devices it will be necessary to use only the appropriate adapter in order to be able to connect to the modern USB Type-C port.
By analogy with the fact that previously each mobile phone manufacturer had its own charging connector, and now the majority uses a micro-USB port, the video standard is also striving for unification. And the unifying form factor should be the latest generation USB port, through which both monitors and ordinary headphones and headsets will be connected.
Hello dear readers! Today I would like to talk about how to connect a monitor to a video card - about video card connectors. Modern video cards have not one, but several ports for connection at once, so that it is possible to connect more than one monitor at the same time. These ports include both obsolete and now rarely used, and modern ones.
VGA stands for video graphics array or video graphics adapter. Appeared back in 1987, 15-pin and, as a rule, blue, is designed to output a strictly analog signal, the quality of which, as you know, can be influenced by many different factors (wire length, for example), including on the video card itself, therefore, the picture quality through this port may differ slightly on different video cards.
Before the widespread distribution of LCD monitors, this connector was almost the only possible option for connecting a monitor to a computer. It is used to this day, but only in budget models of low-resolution monitors, as well as in projectors and some game consoles, for example, in the latest generation xbox consoles from Microsoft. It is not recommended to connect a Full HD monitor through it, as the picture will be blurry and indistinct. Maximum VGA cable length at 1600 x 1200 resolution is 5 meters.
DVI (variations: DVI-I, DVI-A and DVI-D)
Used for digital signal transmission, replaced VGA. It is used to connect high-definition monitors, TVs, as well as modern digital projectors and plasma panels. The maximum cable length is 10 meters.
The higher the resolution of the picture, the shorter the distance it can be transmitted without loss of quality (without the use of special equipment).
There are three types of DVI ports: DVI-D (digital), DVI-A (analog) and DVI-I (combo):
For digital data transmission, either the Single-Link or Dual-Link format is used. Single-Link DVI uses one TMDS transmitter, while Dual-Link doubles the bandwidth and allows screen resolutions higher than 1920 x 1200, such as 2560 x 1600. Therefore, for large monitors with a high resolution, or intended for outputting stereo images, you definitely need at least DVI Dual-Link, or HDMI version 1.3 (more on that below).
HDMI
Also digital output. Its main difference from DVI is that HDMI, in addition to transmitting a video signal, is capable of transmitting a multi-channel digital audio signal. Audio and visual information is transmitted over one cable at the same time. It was originally developed for television and film, and later gained widespread popularity among PC users. Backward compatible with DVI through a dedicated adapter. The maximum length of a regular HDMI cable is up to 5 meters.
HDMI is yet another attempt to standardize universal connectivity for digital audio and video applications, so it immediately received strong support from the electronics giants (with contributions from Sony, Hitachi, Panasonic, Toshiba, Thomson, Philips), and as a result, most modern devices for high definition image output have at least one HDMI output.
Among other things, HDMI, like DVI, allows you to transmit copy-protected sound and image in digital form over a single cable using HDCP. True, for the implementation of this technology, you will need a video card and a monitor, attention! - supporting this technology, about how. Again, there are several versions of HDMI at the moment, here are a few words about them:
DisplayPort
It appeared in addition to DVI and HDMI, since Single-Link DVI can transmit a signal with a resolution of up to 1920 × 1080, and Dual-Link up to a maximum of 2560 × 1600, then a resolution of 3840 × 2400 is not available for DVI. The maximum resolution capabilities of DisplayPort do not differ much from the same HDMI - 3840 x 2160, however, it still has non-obvious advantages. One of these is, for example, the fact that companies do not have to pay tax for using DisplayPort in their devices - which, by the way, is mandatory when it comes to HDMI.
In the photo, red arrows mark the latches that do not allow the connector to accidentally fall out of the connector. In HDMI, even version 2.0, there are no clamps.
As you can imagine, the main competitor to DisplayPort is HDMI. DisplayPort has an alternative technology for protecting transmitted data from theft, only it is called a little differently - DPCP (DisplayPort Content Protection). DisplayPort, like HDMI, has support for 3D images and audio content transmission. However, DisplayPort audio transmission is only available one-way. And Ethernet data transmission via DisplayPort is generally impossible.
In favor of DisplayPort is the fact that it has adapters for all popular outputs, such as: DVI, HDMI, VGA (which is important). For example, with HDMI, there is only one adapter - to DVI. That is, having only one DisplayPort on the video card, you can connect an old monitor with only one VGA input.
By the way, this is what happens - now more and more video cards are produced without a VGA output at all. The maximum length of a conventional DisplayPort cable can be up to 15 meters. But DisplayPort can transmit its maximum resolution at a distance of no more than 3 meters - often enough to connect a monitor and a video card.
S-Video (TV / OUT)
Older video cards sometimes have an S-Video connector, or, as it is also called, S-VHS. It is usually used to output an analog signal to older televisions, however, it is inferior in image quality to the more common VGA. When using a high-quality cable via S-Video, the image is transmitted without interference at a distance of up to 20 meters. Currently, it is extremely rare (on video cards).
DVI connector types and specifications
Many people have the problem of correctly determining and choosing the necessary adapter for a video card or monitor. To facilitate this task, we present to your attention a table of differences indicating the type of DVI connectors, as well as information about their technical characteristics.
Types of DVI
DVI-A - Analog transmission only.
DVI-I - analog and digital transmission.
DVI-D is digital transmission only.
DVI-A video cards do not support DVI-D standard monitors.
A video card with DVI-I can be connected to a DVI-D monitor (with a cable with two DVI-D connectors).
A DVI-I to VGA adapter exists.
There is no DVI-D to VGA adapter with video transmission function, only special converters that have a high price (from $ 35). There are DVI-VGA technological adapters on sale, which serve for other purposes and are not suitable for converting video signals.
Specifications
The data format used in DVI is based on PanelLink, a serial data format developed by Silicon Image. Uses the technology of high-speed transmission of digital streams TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling, differential signal transmission with minimization of level drops) - three channels transmitting video and additional data streams with a bandwidth of up to 3.4 Gbps per channel.
The maximum cable length is not listed in the DVI specification because it depends on the amount of information transmitted. The 10.5 meter cable can be used to transfer images up to 1920 x 1200 dots. It will be possible to transmit an image with a resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels in normal quality via a 15-meter cable. To amplify the signal when transmitting over a long cable, special devices are used. When using them, the cable length can be increased up to 61 meters (in the case of using an amplifier with its own power supply).
Varieties of DVI connectors
Single link DVI uses four twisted pairs of wires (red, green, blue, and clock) to provide 24 bits per pixel. It can achieve the maximum possible resolution of 1920x1200 (60Hz) or 1920x1080 (75Hz).
Dual link DVI doubles the bandwidth for 2560x1600 and 2048x1536 screen resolutions. Therefore, for the largest LCD monitors with a high resolution, such as the 30 "model, you definitely need a video card with a dual-link DVI-D Dual-Link output. This cable is intended for monitors with higher resolution.
The source of information -
Probably, every user of a personal computer or laptop was faced with the issues of connecting a monitor or TV to it, as well as the state of the quality of the resulting image. And if earlier it was quite problematic to get a high-quality picture on the screen, today this problem does not exist at all. Of course, if your device has a DVI connector. We will talk about it, as well as consider other existing interfaces for displaying an image on the screen.
Types of connectors for displaying images on a computer monitor or screen
Until recently, all personal computers had an exclusively analog connection to the monitor. To transfer the image to it, the VGA (Video Graphics Adapter) interface with a D-Sub 15 connector was used. Experienced users still remember the blue plug and the 15-pin socket. But, besides him, video cards had other connectors designed to display images on a TV screen or other video device:
- RCA (Radio Corporation of America) - in our way "tulip". An analog connector designed to connect a video card to a TV, video player or VCR using a coaxial cable. Has the worst transmission characteristics and low resolution.
- S-Video (S-VHS) is a type of analog connector for transmitting a video signal to a TV, VCR or projector, dividing data into three channels responsible for a separate base color. The signal transmission quality is not much better than the "tulip".
- Component Connector - Three separate tulip outputs used to output images to a projector.
All of these connectors were in widespread use until the late 1990s. Of course, there could be no question of any quality of speech, since both televisions and monitors at that time had a very low resolution. Now we cannot imagine how it was possible to play computer games while looking at a TV screen with a cathode ray tube.
With the turn of the century, with the introduction of digital technology in the development of video devices, RCA, S-VHS and component output have become less common. The VGA interface lasted a little longer.
A bit of history
The principle of operation of a conventional video card was that the digital image at the output from it had to be converted into an analog signal by means of a RAMDAC device - a digital-to-analog converter. Naturally, such conversion degraded the image quality at the initial stage.
With the advent of digital screens, it became necessary to convert the analog signal at the output. Now the monitors are equipped with a special converter, which again could not but affect the image quality.
And here, in 1999, seemingly out of nowhere, DVI appeared - the newest digital video interface, thanks to which we can enjoy the perfect picture on the screen today.
This interface was developed by an entire group of companies, which included Silicon Image, the Digital Display Working Group, and even Intel. The developers came to the conclusion that there is no need to convert a digital signal to analog, and then vice versa. It is enough to create a unified interface, and the image in its original form will be displayed on the screen. And without the slightest loss of quality.
What is DVI
DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface. The essence of its work lies in the fact that a special coding protocol TMDS is used for data transmission, which is also a development of Silicon Image. The method of signal transmission through a digital video interface is based on the sequential sending of information, previously implemented by the protocol, with constant backward compatibility with the analog VGA channel.
The DVI specification provides for a single TMDS connection at up to 165 MHz and a transfer rate of 1.65 Gbps. This makes it possible to get the output image with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 with a maximum frequency of 60 Hz. But here it is possible to simultaneously use a second TMDS connection with the same frequency, which allows you to achieve a throughput of 2Gbps.
With such indicators, DVI left far behind other developments in this direction and began to be used on all digital devices without exception.
DVI for the general user
If you do not delve into the jungle of electronics, the digital video interface is just a special encoding device that has a corresponding connector on the video card. But how do you know if a computer or laptop has digital output?
Everything is very simple. Connectors for video cards with a digital interface cannot be confused with others. They have a specific look and shape that differs from other nests. Besides, the DVI connector is always white, which makes it stand out from the rest.
In order to connect a monitor, TV or projector to a video card, you just need to plug in the plug of the required wire and fix it with special hand-screwed screws.
Resolution and scaling
However, neither digital coding nor special video card connectors have completely solved the problem of computer compatibility with the monitor. There was a question about image scaling.
The fact is that all monitors, screens and TVs that already have a DVI connector are not capable of outputting a higher resolution than is provided for by their design. Therefore, it often happened that the video card produced a super-quality picture, and the monitor showed it to us only in a quality limited by its capabilities.
Developers caught on in time and began to equip all modern digital panels with special scaling devices.
Now, when we connect the DVI connector on the monitor to the corresponding output on the video card, the device instantly adjusts itself, choosing the optimal operating mode. We usually do not pay any attention to this process and do not try to control it.
Video cards and DVI support
The first NVIDIA GeForce2 GTS series graphics cards already had built-in TMDS transmitters. They are still widely used today in Titanium cards as they are integrated into renderers. The disadvantage of the built-in transmitters is their low clock frequency, which does not allow achieving high resolution. In other words, TMDS is not using its advertised 165 MHz bandwidth to its maximum. Therefore, we can say with confidence that NVIDIA at the initial stage failed to adequately implement the DVI standard in its video cards.
When video adapters began to be equipped with an external TMDS operating in parallel with the built-in one, the DVI interface was able to deliver a resolution of 1920x1440, which exceeded all expectations of the company's developers.
In the Titanium GeForce GTX series, there were no problems at all. They effortlessly provide an image with a resolution of 1600x1024.
ATI took a completely different path. All its video cards with DVI-outputs also work from integrated transmitters, but they are supplied complete with special adapters such as DVI - VGA, connecting 5 analog DVI pins to VGA.
Maxtor specialists decided not to bother at all and came up with their own way out of the situation. The G550 series graphics cards are the only ones with a dual DVI cable instead of two signal transmitters. This decision allowed the company to achieve a resolution of 1280x1024 pixels.
DVI connector: types
It is important to know that not all digital connectors are the same. They have different specifications and designs. In our everyday life, the following types of DVI connectors are most often found:
- DVI-I SingleLink;
- DVI-I DualLink;
- DVI-D SingleLink;
- DVI-D DualLink;
- DVI-A.
DVI-I SingleLink connector
This connector is the most popular and demanded one. It is used in all modern video cards and digital monitors. The letter I in the name means “integrated”. This DVI connector is special in its own way. The fact is that it has two combined transmission channels: digital and analog. In other words, it is a DVI + VGA connector. It has 24 digital pins and 5 analog pins.
Considering that these channels are independent of each other and cannot be used simultaneously, the device independently chooses which of them to work with.
By the way, the first such integrated interfaces had separate DVI and VGA connectors.
DVI-I DualLink connector
DVI-I DualLink is also capable of carrying an analog signal, but unlike SingleLink it has two digital channels. Why is this needed? Firstly, to improve the bandwidth, and secondly, everything again comes down to resolution, which is directly proportional to the image quality. This option allows you to expand it to 1920x1080.
DVI-D SingleLink connector
DVI-D SingleLink connectors do not have any analog channels. Letter D informs the user that this is a purely digital interface. It has one transmission channel and is also limited to a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
DVI-D DualLink connector
This connector has two data channels. Their simultaneous use makes it possible to obtain 2560x1600 pixels at a frequency of only 60 Hz. In addition, this solution allows some modern video cards, such as, for example, nVidia 3D Vision, to reproduce a three-dimensional image on a monitor screen with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
DVI-A connector
In some sources, the concept of DVI-A is sometimes encountered - a digital connector for transmitting an exclusively analog signal. In order not to mislead you, let us immediately indicate that in fact such an interface does not exist. DVI-A is just a special plug in cables and special adapters for connecting analog video devices to the DVI-I connector.
Digital connector: pinout
All of the listed connectors differ from each other in the location and number of contacts:
- DVI-I SingleLink - has 18 pins for digital and 5 for analog;
- DVI-I DualLink - 24 digital pins, 4 analog, 1 - ground;
- DVI-D SingleLink - 18 digital, 1 ground
- DVI-D DualLink - 24 digital, 1 ground
The DVI-A connector also has its own unique pin assignment. Its pinout consists of only 17 pins, including the ground.
HDMI connector
The modern digital video interface also has other types of interconnecting communications. For example, the HDMI DVI connector is in no way inferior in popularity to the listed models. On the contrary, thanks to its compactness and the ability to transmit an audio signal along with digital video, it has become a must-have accessory for all new TVs and monitors.
HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface, which stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. It appeared for the first time in 2003 and has not lost its relevance since then. Every year there are new modifications of it with improved resolution and bandwidth.
Today, for example, HDMI makes it possible to transmit video and audio signals without loss of quality over cables up to 10 meters long. The bandwidth is up to 10.2 Gb / s. Just a few years ago, this figure did not exceed 5 Gb / s.
This standard is supported and developed by the world's leading radio electronics companies: Toshiba, Panasonic, Sony, Philips, etc. Almost all video devices manufactured by these manufacturers today necessarily have at least one HDMI connector.
DP connector
DP (DisplayPort) is the latest connector to replace the HDMI multimedia interface. With high bandwidth, minimal loss of quality during data transfer and compactness, it was intended to completely replace the DVI standard. But it turned out that not everything is so simple. Most modern monitors do not have appropriate connectors, and changing their production system in a short time is an impossible task. In addition, not all manufacturers are particularly keen on this, which is why most video equipment is not equipped with the DisplayPort standard.
Mini connectors
Today, when more mobile devices are used instead of computers: laptops, tablets and smartphones, it becomes not very convenient to use ordinary connectors. Therefore, manufacturers such as Apple, for example, began to replace them with smaller counterparts. First VGA became mini-VGA, then DVI became micro-DVI, and DisplayPort became mini-DisplayPort.
DVI adapters
But what if, for example, you need to connect a laptop to an analog monitor or other device that has a DVI connector to a digital panel with HDMI, DisplayPort? This will help special adapters, which today can be purchased at any electronics store.
Let's consider their main types:
- VGA - DVI;
- DVI - VGA;
- DVI - HDMI;
- HDMI - DVI;
- HDMI - DisplayPort;
- DisplayPort - HDMI.
In addition to these basic adapters, there are also varieties of them that provide connection to other interfaces, such as USB.
Of course, with such a connection, there is a loss in image quality, even between the same type of devices that support the DVI standard. An adapter connector, no matter how high-quality it is, cannot solve this problem.
How to connect a TV to a computer
It's easy to connect a TV to a computer or laptop, but you need to determine which interface is equipped with both devices. Most modern television receivers have built-in connectors that support DVI. It can be either HDMI or DisplayPort. If the computer or laptop has the same connector as the TV, it is enough to use the cable that usually comes with the latter. If the wire was not included, you can freely buy it in the store.
The operating system of the computer will independently determine the connection of the second screen and offer one of the options for its use:
- as the main monitor;
- in clone mode (the image will be displayed on both screens);
- as an additional monitor to the main one.
But do not forget that with such a connection, the image resolution will remain the same as provided by the screen design.
Does cable length affect signal quality?
The length of the cable connecting the device and the screen affects not only the signal quality, but also the data transfer rate. Taking into account the modern characteristics of connecting wires for various digital interfaces, their length should not exceed the established indicators:
- for VGA - no more than 3 m;
- for HDMI - no more than 5 m;
- for DVI - no more than 10 m;
- for DisplayPort - no more than 10 m.
If you need to connect a computer or laptop with a screen located at a distance exceeding the recommended one, you must use a special amplifier - repeater (signal repeater), which can also distribute the channel to several monitors.
