PC Video connectors tutorial - VGA, DVI, HDMI, etc

o_someoldguy · 02-13-2007, 04:19 PM

I know there are geeks and geek wannabes here, but for those who may be a bit needy on the techie side and may have an interest in such things, here is a pretty nice and simple explanation of the various video card connectors and which you could/should use with your video card and display(s), including the up-and-coming connection formats:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2094291,00.asp

o_zippy · 02-13-2007, 04:21 PM

are you bored ?

o_|404|innoc-tpf- · 02-13-2007, 04:29 PM

The last column in the March 2007 PCWorld talked about the challenges in making HDTV work in the real world. I thought it was interesting but funny. HD is worse than PC's when it comes to keeping on top of and matching up the versions of equipment with which you're working.

o_someoldguy · 02-13-2007, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy

are you bored ?

Nah, just given some of the questions that pop up now and then here on "what/how/why" I thought this might give some guidance when buying a new vid card and matching it up to either a new monitor or an existing one. When I see things that I think are of use, I post 'em. You can read or ignore ... your choice.

FWIW, I can delete/lock this thread if y'all think it's too simplistic and of no use.

p.s. Innoc, I read that article and yup, the latest in HDTV hookups can leave one mystified as to what works and doesn't. Throw the new DRM crap into the mix and it becomes a potential nightmare, especially if you are going to be using Vista as a media center.

o_jinx · 02-13-2007, 05:18 PM

gotta love the whole "I bought a $3000 HDTV before they finalized the HDMI spec, and now it won't work because of the DRM" scenario.

o_loader · 02-13-2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jinx

gotta love the whole "I bought a $3000 HDTV before they finalized the HDMI spec, and now it won't work because of the DRM" scenario.

The BBC and the BBQ with the AOL? Gotta be careful of the DVLA though.

o_jinx · 02-13-2007, 05:44 PM

Display Port looks confusingly similar to USB.

o_sta_sirtiger · 02-13-2007, 05:45 PM

Actually, both are fairly easy to understand Jynx...

o_jinx · 02-13-2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STA_SirTiger

Actually, both are fairly easy to understand Jynx...

I'm not talking about ME getting them mixed up, I'm talking about the people who used to come into MicroCenter and ask for a "UBS cable".

And it's Jinx, I don't use 1337speak in my name

o_skanky butterpuss · 02-14-2007, 04:35 PM

so then whats the deal on s-video?

and why when i hook my laptop up to my dads 55-inch hdtv through the s-video port it looks like total blurry shit?

o_sta_sirtiger · 02-14-2007, 04:42 PM

Yea, that's expected through S-video. Get a card that supports DVI/to/HDMI imput, then connect that cable to your HDTV

o_heed · 02-14-2007, 05:09 PM

I thought it was a good article, well worth posting.

o_nodnarb · 02-14-2007, 07:36 PM

question...If I have a regular tv, and hook it up to my comp via s-vid cabel will it look ok?

o_pixel · 02-14-2007, 07:40 PM

whats so hard? Two main sections... VGA (analog) and DVI (Digital). If you buy a video card with only DVI inputs it'll give you a converter.

Its like ps/2 and usb keyboards/mouses.

o_|404|innoc-tpf- · 02-14-2007, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pixel

whats so hard? Two main sections... VGA (analog) and DVI (Digital). If you buy a video card with only DVI inputs it'll give you a converter.

Its like ps/2 and usb keyboards/mouses.

For someone not as familiar with this it can be daunting regardless of simple it is for you. Why is it generations of people had VCR's that flashed 12:00 for as long as they owned it? Because they either didn't care or the concept of on screen programming was daunting...again...regardless of how simple it is for you.

o_jinx · 02-14-2007, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nodnarb

question...If I have a regular tv, and hook it up to my comp via s-vid cabel will it look ok?

I use s-video tv-out as a secondary display. I have it set so that when I play video, it will show up full-screen on the TV, ie for watching Divx stuff and playing game emulators.

Using a TV as you *only* monitor I wouldn't recommend. The screen just isn't crisp enough to be practical. I had an old PC I used just for emulators, and at 800x600 with large icons and fonts I could see the desktop well enough to start the games... but ffs you'd never want to work like that.

Primary use of tv-out is for watching full-screen video, like I said. And for *that*, it looks excellent. But I would only ever use it for that, and only as a secondary display.

**mervaka** · 02-15-2007, 01:08 AM

s-video is shit, but not as shit as composite.if you have a TFT then ou may as well use a digital connection like DVI. relying on an analogue connection to link digital devices is always dodgy imo.

o_pixel · 02-15-2007, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by |404|Innoc-TPF-

For someone not as familiar with this it can be daunting regardless of simple it is for you. Why is it generations of people had VCR's that flashed 12:00 for as long as they owned it? Because they either didn't care or the concept of on screen programming was daunting...again...regardless of how simple it is for you.

Whats hard about plugging in 1 extra converter?

o_|404|innoc-tpf- · 02-15-2007, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pixel

Whats hard about plugging in 1 extra converter?

It's apparently as hard for those that would struggle with it as you seem to have trouble understanding WHY they do. Live a little and you'll see. Some people do not like dipping their toes into technology at all and find it all bewildering.

o_psycnet · 02-15-2007, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mervaka

s-video is shit, but not as shit as composite.if you have a TFT then ou may as well use a digital connection like DVI. relying on an analogue connection to link digital devices is always dodgy imo.

Component may be fairly old hat nowadays, but it is still miles ahead of S-video, and don't kid yourself on that.

Agree on TFT displays (or anything that accepts a digital input), the difference of my monitor in Analog and Digital modes is night and day, as well as my TV when running component VS DVI to HDMI

02-13-2007, 04:19 PM	#1
o_someoldguy Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Just east of the jug handle Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	PC Video connectors tutorial - VGA, DVI, HDMI, etc I know there are geeks and geek wannabes here, but for those who may be a bit needy on the techie side and may have an interest in such things, here is a pretty nice and simple explanation of the various video card connectors and which you could/should use with your video card and display(s), including the up-and-coming connection formats: http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2094291,00.asp

02-15-2007, 01:08 AM	#17
mervaka A Very Sound Guy! Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: May 2005 Location: UK Posts Rated Helpful 15 Times	s-video is shit, but not as shit as composite.if you have a TFT then ou may as well use a digital connection like DVI. relying on an analogue connection to link digital devices is always dodgy imo. __________________ Support FF:

02-13-2007, 04:21 PM	#2
o_zippy Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cumbria,UK Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	are you bored ?

02-13-2007, 04:29 PM	#3
o_\|404\|innoc-tpf- Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Midtown Express Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	The last column in the March 2007 PCWorld talked about the challenges in making HDTV work in the real world. I thought it was interesting but funny. HD is worse than PC's when it comes to keeping on top of and matching up the versions of equipment with which you're working.

02-13-2007, 05:18 PM	#5
o_jinx Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ohio Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	gotta love the whole "I bought a $3000 HDTV before they finalized the HDMI spec, and now it won't work because of the DRM" scenario.

02-13-2007, 05:44 PM	#7
o_jinx Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ohio Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Display Port looks confusingly similar to USB.

02-13-2007, 05:45 PM	#8
o_sta_sirtiger Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas, THE USA!!! Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Actually, both are fairly easy to understand Jynx...

02-14-2007, 04:35 PM	#10
o_skanky butterpuss Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tampon, FL Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	so then whats the deal on s-video? and why when i hook my laptop up to my dads 55-inch hdtv through the s-video port it looks like total blurry shit?

02-14-2007, 04:42 PM	#11
o_sta_sirtiger Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas, THE USA!!! Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Yea, that's expected through S-video. Get a card that supports DVI/to/HDMI imput, then connect that cable to your HDTV

02-14-2007, 05:09 PM	#12
o_heed Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	I thought it was a good article, well worth posting.

02-14-2007, 07:36 PM	#13
o_nodnarb Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Austin, Texas Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	question...If I have a regular tv, and hook it up to my comp via s-vid cabel will it look ok?

02-14-2007, 07:40 PM	#14
o_pixel Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	whats so hard? Two main sections... VGA (analog) and DVI (Digital). If you buy a video card with only DVI inputs it'll give you a converter. Its like ps/2 and usb keyboards/mouses.

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