Sony LCD monitor

[redvette]

Hi Gang

My friend has a fairly new Sony LCD monitor he just got off some one. He is telling me it has Digital/analog connections on the back. Can some one explain how this works, so I can explain it to him in an easy to understand way. I have never had a monitor with these type connections. He has a good video card, with possibly the ability to connect this kind of device, I think.

Thanks.........Gunny

[RJ]

Hi,

the analog (VGA) connection is just there for backwards compatibility with older video cards. Its picture quality is not the best, so it shouldn't be used unless you have to.
How it works: The graphic chips creates a picture digitally, converts it to analog, sends it to the monitor. The monitor converts it back to digital and displays it (the two digital/analog conversions make no sense and degrade the image quality).

The digital (DVI) connection is the real connection for an LCD monitor. With it, everything remains digital (the graphic chip creates a picture digitally, sends it to the monitor, and the monitor displays it). No quality loss at all.

As DVI has been standard on graphic cards for the last years, it is the preferred connection for an LCD monitor. That is the one he should use to get the best out of the monitor.

RJ

[redvette]

Hi RJ

Thanks for the explanation. I will explain this to him. I guess he has to pick up a proper cord, expensive.???? Are there different types.?

Thanks........Gunny

[Mr.Ferrari]

RJ could probably better answer this, but my opinion is that since it is a digital signal, unless your running very long lengths of cord, getting a very expensive cable is unnecessary.

[redvette]

Hi Mr. Ferrari

I would say his monitor and PC are with in 6' at the most. What is considered long.? So say a cord 6' about $10.????? I am buying it for him any way just curious. Are there different types of AVI cords/connections.?

Thanks.......Gunny

[Hi Ho]

HERE is a 6ft DVI cable. If you buy from a brick and mortor store you are likely to pay at least double that.

[RJ]

Yeah, there are two different types of DVI plugs, DVI-I and DVI-D.

You should know that the digital part is always the same, no matter if it's DVI-I or DVI-D.
The only difference between both is that DVI-I has a few pins more for analog signal transmission. That way it is backwards compatible with analog devices and you can use a DVI/VGA adapter on it. So in short: DVI-D is digital only, DVI-I is a hybrid (it's DVI-D + additional pins for analog).
As a DVI-I cable has more pins, it won't fit in a DVI-D plug.

Therefore, make sure that the DVI cable you get is DVI-D (not DVI-I), then you'll have no problems.
But most DVI cables should be DVI-D anyway.

RJ