VGI or DVI connection?

Question

I have  a Dell Optiplex 360 desktop wihich is about 16 months old.   It came with only VGI connection (no DVI slot).   I recently bought a Dell wide screen LCD monitor which came with both VGI and DVI cables.  Currently, the computer is connected by VGI cable.  My question is whether I should use DVI cable (using VGI to DVI conversion adaptor).     What is your advise?    I also would like to know what the advantage of DVI connection is over VGI connection.    Thank you.   hummer

hummer7 · Answer

Thank you Mary.   My  question is what the advantage of having DVI over VGI connection is before upgrading a video card.  There got to be some which I would like to learn.  hummer

Mary G · Answer

You should match the ports--VGA to VGA or DVI to DVI. Don't use converters. Keep it connected as you have it now. If you want to upgrade the video card, you can use the DVI port, but I don't think it's necessary if you are satisfied with the video.  M

RoHe · Answer

You can read  DVI interface (DVi) and Video Graphics Array (VGA) to see the differences. They are a bit geeky. :emotion-5: Ron.

Jeff Hoffman · Answer

Every five minutes?????????????????? That's a little optimistic don't you think??:emotion-2: Jeff

Alexandra_P · Answer

My 2c to add:

Analog (VGA) and Digital (DVI) are two different animals. A simple plastic plug can't convert analog to digital - the actual signal has to be converted. Don't bother buying a so-called "VGA to DVI" plug, if you can find one - they won't work. REAL analog-to-digital converters cost $100 or more.

That said, there are various versions of DVI. DVI-D is digital only. which is what most monitors with DVI connections require. However, DVI-I is combination digital/analog - many video cards OUT from the PC use this standard, which means it can output either a VGA or DVI signal. In that case, a simple DVI to VGA adapter plug WILL work, because the adapter plug simply uses only the analog pins.

In other words, unless your monitor is DVI-I, not DVI-D, you have to get a video card with DVI outputs to get DVI out from your PC.

Confused yet? Me too - until I understood that OUT and IN on PC's and monitors (and printers, and speakers, etc.) are NOT 2-way streets - your PC's hardware really ultimately controls what you can and cannot do.

Here's a thread asking about the difference between HDMI and VGA - with screenshots so you can see the difference. HDMI is basically "DVI + sound" with a different plug and different electronics. But as the thread shows, what's better or worse is in the eye of the beholder...

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3515/p/19332576/19697665.aspx#19697665

Are you confused even more? So am I. Welcome to the world of modern technology that changes every 5 minutes. :emotion-4:

Locked Topics – Desktops General

VGI or DVI connection?

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