VGA Out vs DVI out

  • Thread starter Thread starter george.e.sullivan
  • Start date Start date
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george.e.sullivan

Hi all,
I just got a PowerColor X700 and it has the standard VGA, the S-Video,
and a DVI out. It came with a DVI to 15 Pin VGA adapter. Is there an
display or performance improvement if I use the adapter and connect my
monitor to the DVI as opposed to the VGA? I haven't installed the card
yet, but was hoping get some input for use when I get home this
evening.
Are there any negatives to using the DVI adapter?


Thanks to all.
 
Hi all,
I just got a PowerColor X700 and it has the standard VGA, the S-Video,
and a DVI out. It came with a DVI to 15 Pin VGA adapter. Is there an
display or performance improvement if I use the adapter and connect my
monitor to the DVI as opposed to the VGA? I haven't installed the card
yet, but was hoping get some input for use when I get home this
evening.
Are there any negatives to using the DVI adapter?
Click to expand...

If your monitor has a digital input you definitely should use the
DVI output on the card. Otherwise it doesn't matter which one
you use; as a matter of fact the VGA will probably give you a
better image with an analog monitor as the signal won't have to
go through a converter.
 
Using a DVI to DVI connection removes two signal translations from the video
and allows a sharper crisper image. VGA is analog; your monitor is digital.
Use the digital DVI output of the video card.
 
George mentions an adapter from the monitor to the DVI output of
his card. That means his monitor is analog not digital.
 
The reason they include the DVI to 15 pin adapter is so you can run dual
non-DVI displays. If you just have one monitor then plug it into the
regular vga. Or do whatever, it makes very little difference.
 
Thanks all, this is very useful. I did hook it up to the DVI port via
the adapter last night to test it. I have a standard Dell monitor that
is not a flat panel or flat screen, just the a regular ole display. My
son did not know I put a new card in the system and today he said "Dad,
for some reason everything is shiny and clear like the other computer."
:) He plays City of Heros Online. So already I guess we can say
there is a definite improvement.

Again thanks to all for you insight and knowledge.

George
 
Hi all,
I just got a PowerColor X700 and it has the standard VGA, the S-Video,
and a DVI out. It came with a DVI to 15 Pin VGA adapter. Is there an
display or performance improvement if I use the adapter and connect my
monitor to the DVI as opposed to the VGA? I haven't installed the card
yet, but was hoping get some input for use when I get home this
evening.
Are there any negatives to using the DVI adapter?
Click to expand...

I have a FX5200 card that does not always display in DOS mode after a
reset when connected through DVI. My 9200SE card does DVI correctly in
DOS mode but not under X on Linux. The cause of this could also be my
monitor, but I don't think that is likely. Standard VGA connection
gives no problems at all with either card.

My estimation is that DVI could theoretically be a faster connection
than VGA, but the bottleneck will probably the speed of GPU on the
videocard anyway, so I don't think that it makes much practical
difference. VGA connection also gives more options for screen control
in Windows (and on my monitor).
 
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