Computer connections

[mike13]

My new Dell 9010 is only going to have VGA and Display port, "OUT" connections to a monitor. My existing 23 in. Asus monitor has VGA, DVI, and HDMI "IN" connections. Should I buy a cheap (under $30) video card that has DVI and HDMI connections out, or should I buy a cable that has Display port to either DVI or HDMI.

I am NOT into gaming etc, but just want the best quality picture. The computer has 8 Gig of memory. Thanks, Mike

[jaclaz]

It's not like a (say) 1280x1024 screen will have more (or clearer) pixels through displayport than through VGA.

Check:

http://superuser.com/questions/15884/hdmi-vs-component-vs-vga-vs-dvi-vs-displayport

There may be very rare cases in which the VGA signal may "catch" some disturbs/noise, but apart from that, there is actually no difference in the way the signal is transmitted.

Think of beer the difference from getting the SAME beer as bottled beer or canned (or directly as draught beer ) is barely noticeable (if noticeable at all).

The quality of the beer will make a difference, though .

jaclaz

[puntoMX]

The quality of the beer will make a difference, though .

I thought it was the quantity?

---

I would get a cable from Displayport to DVI, on ebay you can find solutions for under 5USD shipped like this. Should have come with the Dell... I do see a difference when I'm using a 23" screen on VGA compared with DVI/HDMI/Displayport (unlike jaclaz who must have had some beers . There are 2 types of displayports commonly found on todays computers, one is the normal displayport about the size of an USB port and there is the Mini DisplayPort (mDP) that is about half that size.

[mike13]

jaclaz---Thanks for the reply, and the link for different connections. Makes a good read. very interesting.

puntoMX----Thanks for the reply. I did not receive the Dell computer as yet. Maybe there will be that adaptor in the box. If not, I think I will pick up one of those cables either on Ebay, Newegg, or Tigerdirect. as you suggested. Thanks again to you both.....Mike

[jaclaz]

@puntoMX

Sure , and there are also Gold coated Audio cables, and coat hangers, just google for comparisons.

jaclaz

[puntoMX]

I just oxygen free copper, alu or silver, no gold.

Watch the shadow lines on the screen when you use VGA cable for 1080p screens.

[jaclaz]

Watch the shadow lines on the screen when you use VGA cable for 1080p screens.

What is a "1080p" screen?

Seriously, the quality of what you see (in my personal scale) is connected to (remember, games were excluded, thus fast changing images are not that much an issue):

• Quality of video card (and it's drivers) 40%
  
• Quality of display 50%
  
• Quality of the connecting cable 3%
  
• Type of connection (VGA/DVI/etc.) 1%
  
• Prejudices of the onlooker 6% <- and in any case beauty is in the eye of the beholder .
  

Until we are within "normal" resolutions (and in the case of a LCD display "native" resolution - a 23" is likely to be 16/10 1920 X 1080 @ 60 Hz ):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_resolution

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/66949.aspx

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10216488-1.html

The difference could be only if - for any reason - the VGA port of the monitor has "worse" circuitry than the other ports.

I.e. it is well possible that a given couple video card + Display may work sub-optimally with VGA,, but I would call that a (rare) exception.

Probably on non-native resolutions, it is more likely that a difference can be found.

jaclaz

[submix8c]

Interestingly, the SuperUser link provided says exactly this - Use Latest Technology. 1080P (also citing Wiki) exactly states the info given as to resolution -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1080p

Based on the given info, use Oxygen Free Copper (also the choice for sound engineers) Adapter (if can be found, else just high-quality/"expensive") with the DisplayPort, barring a DVI port.

P.S. y'all!

My new Dell 9010

notorious for low-quality cost-cutting parts.

Disclaimer -

Above is opinion of an opinionated person.

Edited May 10, 2013 by submix8c