View Full Version : DVI vs VGA
fudgam
2 Nov 2003, 11:50pm
Should I buy a monitor with DVI or VGA inputs? Cause there are not many DVI's out there to choose from(or maybe I somehow missed them all). When comparing a DVI montor to a VGA monitor side-by-side, would there be a considerable difference between the 2? I know all the newer video cards support DVI so theres no point in wasting a feature you payed top dollar for.
MediaMan
3 Nov 2003, 12:04am
DVI is more expensive. It really depends on what you are after in the end result. CRT offers bigger screen for the buck and is better in most situations unless you are going for high end DFP (Digital Flat Panel) with DVI which is big bucks.
It's that simple.
fudgam
3 Nov 2003, 12:06am
I just want to game on it.
Spinner
3 Nov 2003, 12:10am
You try and get DVI if you can, it's the interface of the future, RGB is on its way out. As far as quality is concerned, presuming you understand the fundemental differences between the way the two interfaces work, there isn't much! Except in my experience a TFT monitor using a direct digital connection from the graphics card, requires very little configuring and looks great, out the box. Where as the a TFT, which is obviously digital, using a RGB link to the graphics card, sometimes requires a bit more fiddling before the colours etc etc are the way you want it. But the bottom line is... digital is better than analogue! and it you should be thinking about what the monitor is going to be doing a few years down the line, when DVI is the more dominant standard. Eitherway all TFT's to my knowledge still come with a RGB input, regardless of whether it has a DVI input aswell. So if you can afford it, get one with DVI. Simple as that.
Lammypie
3 Nov 2003, 12:15am
I've never been able to understand why manufacturers sell DVI screens for me - just fing stupid.
A LCD screen with anormal 15pin connector. Has to have built circuitry to convert the analogue signal bak to digital to display.
(also the graphics card needs the same circuitry (except wired backwards haha) to convert the digital image to analogue for transmission down the wire!
VERY EXPENSIVE
On a pure digital system, the graphics card doesn't need all of that sh##, and guess what neither does the lcd screen! (so why do they charge more?)
WEIRDOs
Spinner
3 Nov 2003, 12:28am
Lammypie had this to say
I've never been able to understand why manufacturers sell DVI screens for me - just fing stupid.
A LCD screen with anormal 15pin connector. Has to have built circuitry to convert the analogue signal bak to digital to display.
(also the graphics card needs the same circuitry (except wired backwards haha) to convert the digital image to analogue for transmission down the wire!
VERY EXPENSIVE
On a pure digital system, the graphics card doesn't need all of that sh##, and guess what neither does the lcd screen! (so why do they charge more?)
WEIRDOs
Compatibilty. Sad, but true.
SimGuy
3 Nov 2003, 12:29am
AFAIK, true Digital DVI-I connections are limited to a maximum resolution of 1280x1024, while Analogue DVI-I connections can go higher.
If you are going for a high-end CRT, there's nothing better than the Analogue DVI-I -to- 5-Port BNC connector for superb image quality and true-to-life color. There is a very easily noticed image quality difference between standard VGA and Analogue DVI-I to BNC.
Samsung's SyncMaster 1200 and the upper echelon of CRT's designed for professional use support BNC connectors.
fudgam
3 Nov 2003, 12:58am
I dont want to get an LCD monitor. If the only CRTs that support DVI are the professional ones that cost $600+, then Its out of the question.
Templar
3 Nov 2003, 1:06am
You can just buy a small VGA -> DVI converter if you have a DVI only card (The AIW series). My 9700 Pro came with a RGB -> DVI converter. Here's an example (Actually took me TWO google queries to find one easily. I'm getting rusty)
http://store.kayye.com/kayye/dviplugtovga.html
AFAIK, there are no CRT's that have DVI-I input support.
ViewSonic's top-of-the-line P225FB doesn't.
NEC's top-of-the-line MultiSync FP2141SB doesn't.
And those monitors are more than $1,000 CDN a piece.
wait on the lcd and get a great crt ...ask nightshade he and I did some thorough searching and found an absolute awesome crt in 19" if I recall. Iiyama I think if I remember correctly ...I can find out if you like.
csimon, what was the montior you thought was great?
csimon had this to say
wait on the lcd and get a great crt ...ask nightshade he and I did some thorough searching and found an absolute awesome crt in 19" if I recall. Iiyama I think if I remember correctly ...I can find out if you like.
Definately agree. LCD's are over-rated and aren't worth the insanely high price IMHO.
However, if you are going to invest in a nice CRT monitor, choose very carefully. Try to stick with NEC/Mitsubishi's & Sony's Aperature-Grille CRT-technology, which offer superb color representation and a whole host of customization features (especially custom convergence controls) among other things. Many OEM's (all the way from Dell, HP, Compaq) and retail vendors such as Samsung, Sony, NEC, Mitsubishi, etc.. all carry Aperature-Grille CRT monitors.
Simguy, what about viewsonic? I thought they were suppost to be really good?
Well, it depends on how much you wish to spend.
Viewsonic's professional "P Series" monitors all utilize Sony's Aperature Grille tubes (except the P90F), but they are rather pricey.
For a 19", look no further than the Viewsonic P95F+.
http://www.viewsonic.com/products/crt_p95fplusb.htm
0.25ag DP, 1600x1200 @ 87Hz, max res of 2048x1536 @ 68 Hz, available in black & beige and impressive convergence & customization controls.
Cheapest I can find it for @ PCCanada.com is $365.00 CDN (~$275.00 USD).
NewEgg (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=P95F%2BB) carries it for $279.00 USD
Stay away from their E series. They are cheap, Shadow Mask monitors with very low refresh rates.
I recomend this 19" crt ...HM903DT Vision Master Pro 454 (http://www.iiyama.com/default.asp) $395 shipped ...the specs speak for themselves ...now if you can find a video card to put it to it's full potential is another question! lol
Good article at Tom's Hardware (http://www6.tomshardware.com/display/20020319/index.html) may help you decide.
Also ...if you see an HM903DTA get this one instead ...it's the newer revision "A".
widgetsinc has them for $359
Enverex
3 Nov 2003, 7:38am
This was the monitor -
http://www.ukcomputerparts.com/en-gb/dept_70.html
IIYAMA 19" VISION MASTER PRO 454 / 0.25DP / HIGH BRIGHTNESS DTRON / 1800 X 1440 / 130 KHz / DVI + USB+ AUDIO
2048 x 1536 @ 80Hz
1800 x 1440 @ 85Hz
1600 x 1200 @ 100Hz
1280 x 1024 @ 120Hz
1024 x 768 @ 160Hz
NS
Nightshade, did you actually buy the monitor?
Enverex
3 Nov 2003, 8:19pm
Not yet, the attic isn't completed yet. But I will be buying it soon..........
NS
In the specs where it says input connector, it says it has D-sub 15 pin x 2. Isnt that VGA?
Enverex
3 Nov 2003, 8:30pm
Yeah, 2 VGA inputs with a button on the front to switch between the two.
NS
Why does it say DVI then? Dirty English lol
Enverex
3 Nov 2003, 8:36pm
Dual Video Inputs? Could be a dangerous misuse of acrynoms....
NS
Enverex
3 Nov 2003, 8:39pm
Yeah, it is Dual Video Inputs. Damn asshats :rolleyes2
Someone should give them a slap for that, could give people the complete wrong idea...
NS
Its too expensive for me anyway. Ill go for that viewsonic SIMGUY mentioned.
Simguy, I'm assuming you bought this or have a friend who did. Alot of the reviews on newegg are negative. They complain about blurry text and seeing lines on the screen(I guess they are shadows) What are your opinions on this?
Yes, I am a previous owner of the Viewsonic P95+F. Those lines they see on the screen are the aperature grille stabilization lines. There are 2 horizontal lines that run about 1/4 of the way from the top of screen and 1/4 from the bottom of the screen which stabilize the image showing grid on the back of the CRT. While not usually noticable, you will see them on bright colored images (white). They don't bother me the slightest, but it does take a little getting used to.
As for the blurry text, I was wrong in stating that the P95+F was a completely flat CRT monitor. It uses a "PerfectFlat" CRT, where the outside of the CRT is completely flat, but the inside of the picture tube has a very slight curve to it. With a 0.25 dot pitch at the centre, text is fine, but moving towards the corners, the dot pitch lowers to 0.27, making things slighly blurry.
How much do you have to spend fudgam? It looks like Viewsonic's website lied about using only "pure flat aperature grille CRT's." Would you consider a 20/21"?
I dont want to go over $350. Of course I've considered a 20/21", but they are too expensive.
Gimme a couple minutes to dig something up for ~$350.00 USD. :)
SimGuy, ur the man :thumbsup:
What resolution do you plan on running a 19" Trinitron babe at? 1600x1200 or 1280x1024?
I just want to play games on it. So I want the highest resolutions available. 1600 by 1200 if thats what I have to choose from.
NEC MultiSync FP912SB 19" Black DiamondTron Flat CRT
$299.00 USD @ NewEgg.com (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=FP912SB) (they don't have stock right now). :D
Mitsubishi DiamondTron Aperture Grille CRT (100% flat)
0.24 grille pitch @ all areas of the screen
Maximum Resolution of 1920x1440 @ 73 Hz
Recommended Resolution of 1280x1024 @ 85 Hz
Includes geometry & convergence controls
15 Sub-D (VGA) Input
This monitor is a rebadged version of Mitsubishi's high-end professional monitor, the Mitsubishi DP930SB. It's NEC's highest-quality 19" monitor and one of the highest-quality 19" DiamondTron CRT's available.
Its pretty flashy looking too. It would look nice sitting on my desk. :) So am I to understand that it is the same monitor as the high-end mitsubishis? It has the same specs, but cheaper because im not paying for the Mitsubishi name?
Identical.
Mitsubishi makes the DiamondTron tubes, identical to the Sony Trinitron tubes and sells them to other companies to integrate into their monitors.
NEC/Mitsubishi are one company, offering 2 lines of monitors. The Mitsubishi DP930SB & NEC FP912SB are identical, right down to the external chassis. You pay for the Mitsubishi name and badge. :)
Nice. Thanks for the help everybody, expecially SimGuy :)
Mitsubishi? LOL ...I've had this 20" model 6945h now for 10+ years I guess ...I can't kill it but if someone makes me an offer!!! Hehe
I payed $1875 for it 10+ years ago and it's still doing the job.
Anyway my point is that NEC/Mitsubishi have been around the CAD labs for a very long time.
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