How to use DVI(analog) ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Len Weisberg
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L

Len Weisberg

My monitor and video card each have both DVI and VGA connectors.
First, my questions:
- Is there any advantage to DVI(analog) vs VGA ?
- Which should get the VGA end of the cable - monitor or card?

Now the details:
- I have a brand new (gorgeous, to my eye!) HP L2335 LCD, 1920x1200 23" .

- It came with three data cables:
- DVI / DVI (single-link)
- VGA / VGA
- DVI(analog) / VGA

- I have a (modestly priced) video card with Radeon 9200 SE AGP .

- I have heard that running 1920x1200 32-bit 60Hz is just on the cusp
(or maybe just over) the capability of DVI single-link, but
I first said, "go for it" anyway, and tried DVI/DVI .

It looked great for a while, but soon it started going blank for a
second or so, every few minutes. I'm not really disappointed, since
I wasn't sure it would work at all.

- Then I tried VGA/VGA, and to my untrained eye, it still looks great.
The monitor came with a test-pattern on the CD and has an auto-adjust
button, and that all seems to work fine.

- So we come to my questions:
- Is there anything to be gained by playing with the DVI(analog) cable?
- If there is, which way should work better, since I can plug the VGA
end into either the monitor or the card?

- Actually, another question: is there any hope of making DVI/DVI work?
I don't know if dual-link is an option for the monitor, but since
it came with a single-link cable, my guess would be not.

Sorry if this seems like a waste of time, since I don't really have
a problem, but if someone has any info on this, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,

-Len
 
Len Weisberg said:
It looked great for a while, but soon it started going blank for a
second or so, every few minutes. I'm not really disappointed, since
I wasn't sure it would work at all.
Click to expand...

test to play with settings (display properties - > advanced `-> Options)
"Reduce DVI frequencey.." & "Alternate DVI operational.."
when have them unchecked everything worked great with my ATI9600 and Dell 20
LCD using DVI.

Hope it will help

/martin
 
The problem is that it is beyond the capabilities of your present video card.
If you go to the ATI website and look at the specs for higher cards than yours
you should be able to find one that has that capability
I run LCD monitor and I bought it keeping the specs of my 9600 pro in mind and
it does produce a far better image in digital.
peter
 
DVI will potentially (and quite possibly actually) provide a better image.

As to your question "Which should get the VGA end of the cable - monitor
or card?"

If you are using VGA (analog), you should use a VGA to VGA cable (DB-15M
on both ends).

If you are using DVI (digital), you should use a cable with DVI
connectors on both ends.

If you have a cable with a DVI connector on one end and a VGA connector
on the other end, it's unclear what it was intended to be used with, but
the bottom line is that if it works, fine, and if it doesn't, you can
try reversing it, it will either work or it won't. However, if you are
able to get it to work, regardless of which way, you have an analog
connection with that cable.

Even if there is a substantial difference in picture quality, you may
not see it unless you put up a test pattern. The most useful pattern is
a full screen of vertical bars one single pixel wide, alternating black
and white. If you have problems with the analog connection, this will
show them up instantly.
 
Just to report back on what I have found:
The very happy result is that, despite advertised specs to the contrary,
my 9200SE card seems to be up to the task of driving my 1920x1200 60Hz
32-bit display (HP L2335) under DVI. As was suggested, I need to use the
"Reduce DVI frequency on high-resolution displays" setting and now have
it Checked (i.e ON). (Be sure to do this under Administrator, if that
is relevant to your system, or it won't "stick" between logins.)
I did not play with the other switch mentioned,
"Alernate DVI operational mode", leaving it ON.
(Note that I do not drive this rig very hard at all, as I am doing just
text work and web-browsing, with an occasional pivot, but no fancy graphics.)

Thanks much to all who helped me with this.

-Len
 
I'm back - this time back down to earth.
After a week or so, the DVI mode started getting the blanking again.
I may be imagining it, but I think the intervals may have been a bit
longer - 2 or 3 seconds rather than about 1.
I tried every combination of the two settings, and having both options
on still seemed the best - but still not quite right.
I guess this job is just sitting on the edge of what the 9200SE can do.

So I'm back to VGA mode, at least until I get around to getting a new card.
There is something nice to say about running analog: the slight smearing
of text amounts to anti-aliasing and makes many fonts look bolder and
easier to read. Looking for a silver lining I guess :-)

Thanks again,
-Len
 
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