Is there a difference between DVI and VGA?

I never used DVI before I've always had my monitor hooked up from VGA, and I was wondering is there a difference between those two?

Yeah... DVI is better.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface) is digital video, whereas VGA (Video Graphics Array) is analog video. Digital video will give you a little better picture quality compared to analog video.

DVI is digital and is compatible with HDMI

VGA is analog and old tech.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface) is digital video, whereas VGA (Video Graphics Array) is analog video. Digital video will give you a little better picture quality compared to analog video.

shred

[QUOTE="shred"]

DVI (Digital Visual Interface) is digital video, whereas VGA (Video Graphics Array) is analog video. Digital video will give you a little better picture quality compared to analog video.

BlackDevil99

Well I'll use DVI cause my monitor doesn't have HDMI, but it will when I get my new graphics card.

DVI is similar to HDMI, except that HDMI carries sound as well.CrystalNox

[QUOTE="shred"]

DVI (Digital Visual Interface) is digital video, whereas VGA (Video Graphics Array) is analog video. Digital video will give you a little better picture quality compared to analog video.

BlackDevil99

Why would I use HDMI over DVI? There's no advantage for picture quality, and my sound is routed elsewhere through my soundcard. I actually like the fact that DVI cables screw into my GPU and monitor securely, whereas HDMI can get pulled out more easily.

[QUOTE="BlackDevil99"]

[QUOTE="shred"]

DVI (Digital Visual Interface) is digital video, whereas VGA (Video Graphics Array) is analog video. Digital video will give you a little better picture quality compared to analog video.

hartsickdiscipl

Why would I use HDMI over DVI? There's no advantage for picture quality, and my sound is routed elsewhere through my soundcard. I actually like the fact that DVI cables screw into my GPU and monitor securely, whereas HDMI can get pulled out more easily.

How is the picture quality better? I'm using a DVI to VGA adapter (DVI part hooks to video card, other end hooks to a cable which then goes to the monitor). Am I losing image quality because of this?

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

[QUOTE="BlackDevil99"]

^This

go DVI if u have the choice between DVI and VGA
and if u have HDMI, use that above all others.

Gambler_3

Why would I use HDMI over DVI? There's no advantage for picture quality, and my sound is routed elsewhere through my soundcard. I actually like the fact that DVI cables screw into my GPU and monitor securely, whereas HDMI can get pulled out more easily.

To each his own. I prefer DVI because it screws into place.

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

Why would I use HDMI over DVI? There's no advantage for picture quality, and my sound is routed elsewhere through my soundcard. I actually like the fact that DVI cables screw into my GPU and monitor securely, whereas HDMI can get pulled out more easily.

hartsickdiscipl

To each his own. I prefer DVI because it screws into place.

How is the picture quality better? I'm using a DVI to VGA adapter (DVI part hooks to video card, other end hooks to a cable which then goes to the monitor). Am I losing image quality because of this?hoola

Slightly. You are converting a digital signal to analog. You are always better off not converting the original signal if at all possible. If you don't have a DVI capable monitor, you don't have much choice.

And no, the difference won't be easily noticeable.

I still like hdmi better just because is cheaper, easier to unplug on the go, and everything besides monitor uses it.

I still like hdmi better just because is cheaper, easier to unplug on the go, and everything besides monitor uses it.

Bikouchu35

There is a slight, but noticeable improvement in image quality.

I got my parents a cheap 19" DVI monitor recently (the cheapest I could find), and it looks noticeably better than my 22" VGA only monitor which cost nearly twice as much. It looks sharper. The contrast is better.

It depends on the resolution. Back when we had CRT monitors, resolutions were much more dynamic. I used to play around with my resolution and found that while the image quality was slightly worse @1280x1024 it was preferable to 1024x768. However, when I cranked it up to 1600x1200, the image quality was total crap and it was pointless to go at that resolution.

I currently have 2 monitors a 1920x1080 23" monitor connected through HDMI and a 17" 1280x1024 monitor connected through DVI, the image quality between the 2 is negligible and can be attributed to the 17" being much older. However at one point I had the 23" connected via DVI and the 17" connected through VGA and the 23" looked exactly the same as it looks now and the 17" looks better. The reason I switched is because I got a free HDMI cable and decided to go all digital instead of 1 digital and 1 analog.

[QUOTE="Bikouchu35"]

I still like hdmi better just because is cheaper, easier to unplug on the go, and everything besides monitor uses it.

BlackDevil99

There are negatives to everything.

It depends on the resolution. Back when we had CRT monitors, resolutions were much more dynamic. I used to play around with my resolution and found that while the image quality was slightly worse @1280x1024 it was preferable to 1024x768. However, when I cranked it up to 1600x1200, the image quality was total crap and it was pointless to go at that resolution.

GummiRaccoon

[QUOTE="GummiRaccoon"]

It depends on the resolution. Back when we had CRT monitors, resolutions were much more dynamic. I used to play around with my resolution and found that while the image quality was slightly worse @1280x1024 it was preferable to 1024x768. However, when I cranked it up to 1600x1200, the image quality was total crap and it was pointless to go at that resolution.

Gambler_3

disregard the complicated tech stuff here. DVI>VGA almost every application. use it if u have it. HDMI is irellivant in this disccussion and techinically was inferior before HDMI 1.4 came about

I'm using a DVI to VGA adapter, just 'cos my brothers using my DVI cable and I use VGA on an older computer at times aswell(just unplug from the adapter and into the other comp), and I can see no difference between the adapter & just straight out DVI. Unless you see a difference in the quality theres no point switching over tbh(like you borrow a friends dvi cable to check quality and it's the same why bother buying a new cable?).

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

[QUOTE="GummiRaccoon"]

It depends on the resolution. Back when we had CRT monitors, resolutions were much more dynamic. I used to play around with my resolution and found that while the image quality was slightly worse @1280x1024 it was preferable to 1024x768. However, when I cranked it up to 1600x1200, the image quality was total crap and it was pointless to go at that resolution.

kungfool69

disregard the complicated tech stuff here. DVI>VGA almost every application. use it if u have it. HDMI is irellivant in this disccussion and techinically was inferior before HDMI 1.4 came about

The only limitation with VGA is that it doesnt auto fill the screen.

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

[QUOTE="GummiRaccoon"]

It depends on the resolution. Back when we had CRT monitors, resolutions were much more dynamic. I used to play around with my resolution and found that while the image quality was slightly worse @1280x1024 it was preferable to 1024x768. However, when I cranked it up to 1600x1200, the image quality was total crap and it was pointless to go at that resolution.

kungfool69

disregard the complicated tech stuff here. DVI>VGA almost every application. use it if u have it. HDMI is irellivant in this disccussion and techinically was inferior before HDMI 1.4 came about

Quick side question to kungfool69. I'm using hdmi 1.3 on all my dvds and sat conections into my new Denon amp. Would I be better with 1.4 cables? I noticed it requires 1.4a for 3D but my BR and TV are not 3D. Just curious.

[QUOTE="kungfool69"]

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]????????? :?

Gambler_3

disregard the complicated tech stuff here. DVI>VGA almost every application. use it if u have it. HDMI is irellivant in this disccussion and techinically was inferior before HDMI 1.4 came about

The only limitation with VGA is that it doesnt auto fill the screen.

Ya CRT produces true black. They have their fair share of limitations but burn in was never really a big issue with CRT's, you'd be very unlucky for your CRT to burn in.

1.3--->1.4 wil not enhance quality, it only adds features like ethernet and 2k resolutions. So unless u havea 2k display then it doesn t matter but most cables do not come in a 1.3 anymore anyway so if urs fall apart ( i hada cheapy that did) then buy a new one and chances are it'l be 1.4

oh and PS: the difference between VGA and DVI is MUCH less on a standard LCD. the difference was much more noticeable on a CRT monitor

1.3--->1.4 wil not enhance quality, it only adds features like ethernet and 2k resolutions. So unless u havea 2k display then it doesn t matter but most cables do not come in a 1.3 anymore anyway so if urs fall apart ( i hada cheapy that did) then buy a new one and chances are it'l be 1.4

oh and PS: the difference between VGA and DVI is MUCH less on a standard LCD. the difference was much more noticeable on a CRT monitor

kungfool69

[QUOTE="GummiRaccoon"]

It depends on the resolution. Back when we had CRT monitors, resolutions were much more dynamic. I used to play around with my resolution and found that while the image quality was slightly worse @1280x1024 it was preferable to 1024x768. However, when I cranked it up to 1600x1200, the image quality was total crap and it was pointless to go at that resolution.

Gambler_3

The higher the resolution VGA is the shorter the cable needs to be, bra. Otherwise you get mad image distortion. The VGA cables that come with monitors are pretty trashy so they experience loss at higher resolutions more often. You can buy better cables, but they can be expensive.

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

[QUOTE="GummiRaccoon"]

It depends on the resolution. Back when we had CRT monitors, resolutions were much more dynamic. I used to play around with my resolution and found that while the image quality was slightly worse @1280x1024 it was preferable to 1024x768. However, when I cranked it up to 1600x1200, the image quality was total crap and it was pointless to go at that resolution.

GummiRaccoon

The higher the resolution VGA is the shorter the cable needs to be, bra. Otherwise you get mad image distortion. The VGA cables that come with monitors are pretty trashy so they experience loss at higher resolutions more often. You can buy better cables, but they can be expensive.

Maybe your CRT just didnt have a good enough refresh rate at higher resolutions? That can significantly effect image quality as everything becomes less smoother the higher the resolution. But that doesnt have anything to do with VGA cables.

This thread has made me nostalgic for my old CRT monitors... :cry:

I wish that they still produced new high-quality CRT monitors. I'm willing to pay a premium just like I did for my Unicomp Model M keyboard!

This thread has made me nostalgic for my old CRT monitors... :cry:

I wish that they still produced new high-quality CRT monitors. I'm willing to pay a premium just like I did for my Unicomp Model M keyboard!

Tezcatlipoca666

Hopefully OLED will come soon.

[QUOTE="kungfool69"]

1.3--->1.4 wil not enhance quality, it only adds features like ethernet and 2k resolutions. So unless u havea 2k display then it doesn t matter but most cables do not come in a 1.3 anymore anyway so if urs fall apart ( i hada cheapy that did) then buy a new one and chances are it'l be 1.4

oh and PS: the difference between VGA and DVI is MUCH less on a standard LCD. the difference was much more noticeable on a CRT monitor

grf7291

the last version of 1.3 does, so yes 1.4 does indeed plus all the extras i mentioned.