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Is a LCD monitor useless without a DVI cable?
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:47 pm
by impulse()
I can see a 19" LCD for a good price but it says "No DVI-Cable included". The PC it would be attached to only has a standard VGA connector anyway. Would that monitor attach to the PC without display problems?
Stephen,
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:04 pm
by Luke
I've connected plenty of LCD monitors with standard vga adapter... I guess you would just need to see if it has that kind of connection as well or if it is just dvi. I may be mistaken, but I believe there are now dvi/vga adapters.
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:32 pm
by Jenk
It will be fine, just remember to use the native resolution and you may have to fiddle with the positioning for a while to get it just right.
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:31 pm
by Zoxive
You most likely wont notice a difference, but the difference is with VGA there is a Digital to analog conversion, and with DVI there is not. So it does not hurt to have VGA, but DVI you have best quality.
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:10 pm
by feyd
DVI is only really highly beneficial at the higher resolutions, so if you're only going to run a fairly basic resolution it should be fine.
Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 10:33 pm
by AKA Panama Jack
Actually you should notice a difference. When you are using DVI the display will be pixel for pixel exact. If you are using the Analog D input then there are approximations and things tend to look a little on the fuzzy side.
If you have a choice get the DVI monitor. You will definitely appreciate the extra quality.
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 2:17 am
by Zoxive
AKA Panama Jack wrote:Actually you should notice a difference. When you are using DVI the display will be pixel for pixel exact. If you are using the Analog D input then there are approximations and things tend to look a little on the fuzzy side.
If you have a choice get the DVI monitor. You will definitely appreciate the extra quality.
You won't see a difference unless you have 2 monitors of the same kind, side by side one with DVI and one with VGA, and you are looking for differences. I have a 24" dell with dvi, and a 19" with vga right next to it. It looks fine.
If you can get DVI go for it, if you can't don't fret.
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 2:20 am
by Chris Corbyn
Get a DVI and if you only have a VGA card just get a DVI-VGA converter. They're tiny little plug-on adapaters and if ever you get a new graphics card you can just switch to DVI
Most monitors actually have both DVI and VGA on them anyway...
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 2:45 am
by AKA Panama Jack
Zoxive wrote:AKA Panama Jack wrote:Actually you should notice a difference. When you are using DVI the display will be pixel for pixel exact. If you are using the Analog D input then there are approximations and things tend to look a little on the fuzzy side.
If you have a choice get the DVI monitor. You will definitely appreciate the extra quality.
You won't see a difference unless you have 2 monitors of the same kind, side by side one with DVI and one with VGA, and you are looking for differences. I have a 24" dell with dvi, and a 19" with vga right next to it. It looks fine.
If you can get DVI go for it, if you can't don't fret.
Actually I can easily tell the difference on the same monitor. I tried it both ways Analog and DVI. The DVI just blew the crap out of the ANALOG. Then I got another LCD from a different manufacturer and the exact same thing. The Analog was fuzzy compared to the DVI. There is a world of difference.
DVI LCD is like watching a Blu-Ray DVD on a Hi-Definition LCD TV.
Analog LCD is like watching a normal DVD on an old picture tube TV.
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 2:48 am
by Chris Corbyn
I agree that there's a noticeable difference. I have two 19" LCDs on my desk at work connected through VGA. There's a lot of electrical stuff behind my desk and the screens are fuzzy when you focus on text. I mean fuzzy in an interference type of way, not out of focus. The right hand screen actually seems to get interference from the left screen simply being close to it too.
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:17 am
by Jenk
*cough* he doesn't have a choice of DVI or VGA, he only has a VGA output on his PC/graphics card.
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:14 am
by feyd
Time to upgrade the card.

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 12:56 pm
by AKA Panama Jack
feyd wrote:Time to upgrade the card.

I agree.
Most cards have both connectors on them anymore. He should get a monitor that supports both DVI and Analog. This way he can use the cleaner DVI when he has the money to buy a newer graphics card.
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:11 pm
by Zoxive
AKA Panama Jack wrote:
I agree.
Most cards have both connectors on them anymore. He should get a monitor that supports both DVI and Analog. This way he can use the cleaner DVI when he has the money to buy a newer graphics card.
Or just make sure the card has DVI, most cards come with a small DVI to VGA converter, my card has 2 DVI ports, and came with 2 converters/adapters.
Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:28 pm
by AKA Panama Jack
Zoxive wrote:AKA Panama Jack wrote:
I agree.
Most cards have both connectors on them anymore. He should get a monitor that supports both DVI and Analog. This way he can use the cleaner DVI when he has the money to buy a newer graphics card.
Or just make sure the card has DVI, most cards come with a small DVI to VGA converter, my card has 2 DVI ports, and came with 2 converters/adapters.
No, that is just as bad. You DO NOT want to go from a DVI on the card to Analog on the monitor. The picture quality will still be just as fuzzy/low. Just stay away from any LCD monitor that has only an ANALOG input. If you are going to buy an LCD monitor buy one that has both. There is usually no difference in price.