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What does a dvi port look like? What is a DVI connector

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From this article you will learn what a dvi connector is, types and features. You will also learn to distinguish this interface from others. This will help you replace cables if they fail, and you will also understand what equipment you can connect to each other.


Getting to know the interface

First, let's figure out what DVI is. The abbreviation hides the phrase “Digital Visual Interface”, which means “digital video interface”. Have you guessed the purpose of its use? He sends the digital recording to video equipment. Used to connect mainly plasma and LCD TVs.

Technical features

  • The data format used in this interface is based on another - PanelLink, which involves sequential transfer of information.
  • High-speed TMDS technology is used: three channels processing video streams at speeds of up to 3.4 Gbit per second for each of them.
  • The maximum cable length has not been established, since it is determined by the arrays of transmitted information. For example, a 10.5 m wire is capable of converting a picture to 1920×1200 pixels, and a 15 m wire is capable of converting a picture to 1280×1024 pixels.

  • There are two types of cable:

— Single link (single mode) involves 4 twisted pairs: 3 of them transmit RGB signals (green, red, blue) and the 4th for the synchronization signal. The wires process 24 bits per pixel. Thus, the maximum resolution is 1920x1200 (60 Hz) or 1920x1080 (75 Hz).

— In Dual (double), the parameters have increased by 2 times. Therefore, through it you can watch videos at 2560x1600 and 2048x1536 pixels.

History of appearance

The connector was released in 1999 by Digital Display Working Group. Previously, only the VGA interface was used, which provided 18-bit color and analogue conversion of information. With the increase in the diagonals of digital displays and the requirements for picture quality, naturally, VGA has become insufficient. This is how the world received DVI, which still holds its mark to this day.

Differences between DVI and VGA

What's the difference with VGA?

DVI has 17-29 pins, while its predecessor had 15.

VGA converts the signal 2 times, and DVI - 1. How is this? The image is sent to your computer by a video card, which itself is a digital device. Since the legacy interface is analog, it first converts the signal into the same type that it understands, and then outputs a number. As you understand, in the case of DVI this is not necessary.

  • Due to the lack of conversion, the new interface produces a higher-quality picture, but on a small monitor you are unlikely to see the difference.
  • DVI assumes automatic image correction with the ability to change only brightness and saturation for ease of viewing, while VGA has to be fully configured.
  • The quality of data transmission through an outdated interface may deteriorate due to external interference, which cannot be said about the new connector.

Difference between DVI and HDMI

You may have heard about another, newer, digital interface - because now it is used, perhaps, more often than DVI. So that you don’t confuse them with each other, let’s look at the main differences:

  • External design

DVI transmits only video, while HDMI also transmits 8-channel audio.

  • The first one can work with both analog and digital signals, while the second one can work exclusively with digital signals.
  • The modern interface is equipped with a built-in Ethernet channel with a speed of 100 Mbit, while DVI does not offer such a bonus.

Both connectors produce the same image quality.

Types of DVI

You already know how not to confuse this interface with others. Now let’s look at how its varieties differ from each other:

  • DVI-I. The additional letter means “integrated” (in our language - “united”). This type of connector provides analog and digital channels (Single Link version), which operate autonomously. Which one should be working at one time or another depends on the connected equipment. Dual Link mode provides 2 digital and 1 analog channels.
  • DVI-D The last letter hides the word “digital”, which in Russian means “digital”. That is, in this type of interface there is no analog channel.

This type of connector is also available in two versions.

— Single Link has only one digital channel, which limits the resolution to 1920x1200 at 60Hz. It is also impossible to connect an analog monitor through it and implement nVidia 3D Vision technology.

— Dual Link involves 2 digital channels, which increases the capabilities to 2560x1600 at 60Hz. This interface allows you to watch 3D on your monitor.

  • DVI-A. The additional letter carries the term "analog". Can you guess what this means even without translation? That's right, this is an analog interface, only in the form of DVI.

That's all.

Check out my blog more often and you will get more useful information.

Often the choice of a video card is made according to the criteria of an already purchased monitor or its desired type and image quality. For example, a digital LCD monitor requires DVI connectors. Although modern developments often offer absolutely universal solutions, it is still worth double-checking. Because for resolutions higher than 1920 by 1200 with digital image transmission, you only need a DVI Dual Link connector.

What are DVI connectors used for?

DVI connectors perform important functions of transmitting images to various types of monitors; they are divided into several types, advanced digital and analog signals. Most modern video cards are equipped with a DVI interface, which is presented mainly in two different types DVI-I and DVI-D.

What is DVI-I?

This type is considered the most common in video cards due to its versatility. "I" stands for "integrated". This interface uses two types of transmission channel, namely analog and digital. They function separately from each other, and have different modifications:

This device has 1 digital channel and 1 analogue. They absolutely do not depend on each other. Which of them will function depends on the type of connection to the video card and on the mechanism directly to which the connection is made. This type is not used in professional equipment, because eliminates the possibility of transmission to thirty-inch and LCD monitors, namely the use of wider screen resolutions (more than 1920 by 1080).


. This is an improved DVI interface, has one analog and two digital channels for data transmission. The channels also work independently of each other.
It is noted that almost all video cards have at least two DVI-I connectors.

What is DVI-D?

This interface provides exclusively digital technologies for data transmission, and can also have several channels. This type, namely DVI-D Single Link, allows feeding at a frequency 60 Hz, in resolution 1920 by 1200 dots, but this is not enough to connect to 3D monitors. In turn, there is a second type for this. Let's take a closer look at it!

D - this is “digital”, translated as “digital”, as mentioned above, it does not have an analog channel, but at the same time allows greater possibilities for transmitting digital data. Dual – means “2” channels. This advantage makes it possible to operate NVidia 3D, feeding images to a 3D monitor, because two channels allow for 120 Hz and wide resolution capabilities.

Key differences between DVI-I and DVI-D

“I” supports both digital and analogue transmission forms; in “D” only digital is possible, so if connected to an analog monitor, DVI-D will not be able to transmit the required signal. Externally, they also differ; unlike dvi-i, dvi-d does not have four holes. The “D” connector is much less common on video cards, but it guarantees the best digital image quality. Often used for professional CRT monitors. This type is mainly found in integrated video cards. When, in turn, it is dvi-i that is most common on popular consumer video cards, due to its two functionality. Considering the connection data, there is also an exclusively analog transmission form, DVI-A, which is used very rarely.

What do they have in common?

Of course, this is the versatility of DVI-I and the ability to transmit, both digital and analog signal. With the help of additional adapters and combinations, “I” efficiently carries out any form of transmission, and the use of this type for an analog screen is almost no different from “D”. In modern products, the first option is used much more often than the second and, moreover, almost always!

If you have any doubts about the alignment of the video card and screen connectors, it is recommended to immediately contact a specialist, because Most often, in case of an error, you will have to either replace one of the devices or use possible alternatives and additional cables that may distort the image. The best option is to purchase DVI-D for a digital monitor, or a universal dvi-i, which can function even when replacing an analog monitor with a digital one. For more information about which of the above connectors will provide the best quality, it is best to consult when purchasing.

For 10 years now, computers and laptops have been equipped with not one, but two or three types of connectors at the same time. The ports differ in both size and appearance. What type of monitor connection do you prefer? The article also discusses the practical usefulness of simultaneously connecting two or even three monitors.

Common but old types of connectors

VGA (Video Graphics Array): an outdated classic

The blue trapezoidal interface dominated the computer field for 25-30 years. It worked great on older CRT displays due to its analog nature. But flat LCD screens appeared - digital devices, then resolutions began to increase and the good old VGA began to lose ground.

Today it is built into video cards less and less often, but many devices (household players, projectors, TVs) are still equipped with support for the hopelessly outdated VGA. Probably, for several more years, the “old man” will remain a not very desirable, but widespread de facto standard - if you have any doubts about which cable you can use to connect the monitor in the next office, then take VGA.

DVI-I (Digital Visual Interface): another long-lived video interface

Actually, there are several of them: DVI-A, -D and -I, plus their varieties. But when we talk about the most common DVI standard, we mean the analog-to-digital DVI-I Dual Channel - it is this specification that is built into most PCs.

At one time, DVI came to replace VGA, which was rapidly becoming obsolete in the mid-2000s. The ability to transmit both analog and digital signals, support for large (in that era) resolutions and high frequencies, the absence of inexpensive competitors: DVI continues to serve as a standard today. But it is unlikely that his active “life” will continue for more than another 3-4 years.

Resolutions higher than the minimum comfortable FullHD today are increasingly found even in inexpensive computer systems. With the growth of megapixels, the once serious capabilities of DVI are ending. Without going into technical details, we note that the peak capabilities of DVI will not allow displaying an image with a resolution of over 2560 x 1600 at an acceptable frequency (above 60 Hz).

Modern video interfaces

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) – the king of multimedia

The abbreviation “HD-IM-AI”, once awkward for Russian ears, is increasingly entering our lives. Why has HDMI become so popular? It's simple:

  • arbitrarily long wires (okay, to be honest - up to 25-30 meters);
  • transmission of sound (even multi-channel!) along with video - goodbye to the need to buy separate speakers for TV;
  • convenient small connectors;
  • support everywhere - players, zombie boxes, projectors, video recorders, game consoles - it’s hard to immediately think of equipment that doesn’t have an HDMI connector;
  • ultra-high resolutions;
  • 3D picture. And yes, it is possible along with ultra-high resolutions (HDMI 4b and 2.0 versions).

The prospects for HDMI are the most promising - development continues; in 2013, version 2.0 specifications were adopted: this standard is compatible with old wire connectors, but supports increasingly impressive resolutions and other “tasty” features.

DisplayPort (DP): A Connector That's Just Becoming Ubiquitous

And DisplayPort is stunningly beautiful in appearance...

For many years, computers were rarely equipped with this direct competitor to HDMI. And - despite the fact that DisplayPort was good for everyone: and support for very high resolutions along with a stereo signal; and audio transmission; and an impressive length of wire. It is even more profitable for manufacturers than licensed HDMI: there is no need to pay the developers of the standard the 15-25 cents that HDMI owners are entitled to.

The DP connector simply had bad luck in its early years. However, computers are increasingly equipped with a pair of Display Ports of the modern version 1.4 standard. And on its basis, another popular standard with enormous prospects was “born”: the “little brother” of the Display Port...

Mini DP (Mini DisplayPort)

Together with HDMI and the completely outdated VGA, the Mini DisplayPort connector is built into almost every computer and laptop. It has all the advantages of its “big brother”, plus its miniature size – an ideal solution for ever-thinner laptops, ultrabooks, and even smartphones and tablets.

Transmitting an audio signal so as not to buy separate speakers for the monitor? Please - how many channels do you need? Stereoscopy even in 4K? Yes, even though the interface will have to flex all its electronic muscles. Compatibility? There are a wide variety of adapters on the market, for almost any other connector. Future? The Mini DP standard is alive and well.

Thunderbolt: exotic monitor connection options

There are others like that. For a year now, Apple, together with Intel developers, have been promoting the fast, universal, but insanely expensive Thunderbolt interface.

Why do monitors also need Thunderbolt? The question remains for years without a clear answer.

In practice, monitors with its support are not so common, and there are serious doubts about the justification of Thunderbolt for video signal transmission. Is it the fashion for everything “Apple”...

Unfortunately, beyond the scope of this article there remains the most interesting opportunity to connect screens to a computer (and even supply power to them!) using the USB 3.0 interface (or, even more interesting, 3.1). This technology has many prospects, and there are also advantages. However, this is a topic for a separate review – and for the near future!

How to connect a new monitor to an old computer?

An “old computer” most often means a PC with a single port – VGA or DVI. If a new monitor (or TV) absolutely does not want to be friends with such a port, then you should purchase a relatively inexpensive adapter - from VGA to HDMI, from Mini DP to DVI, etc. – there are many options.

When using adapters, some inconveniences are possible (for example, there is no way to transmit sound or images with a particularly high resolution via VGA), but such a scheme will work properly and reliably.

Wireless video signal (WiDi)!

There are such interfaces, even several. Intel Wireless Display (aka WiDi, or “Wi-Dai,” no matter how strange it may sound to a Russian-speaking reader): an adapter that costs about $30 connects to the USB connector of a TV or monitor (if the technology is supported by the manufacturer).

The signal is sent via Wi-Fi, and a video image is displayed on the screen. But this is only in theory, and in practice, significant obstacles are the distance and the presence of walls between the receiver and transmitter. The technology is interesting, it has prospects - but nothing more for now.

Another wireless video interface is AirPlay from Apple. The essence and practical application are the same as WiDI from Intel. A little expensive, not very reliable, far from practical.

A more interesting solution, but still not widespread, is Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDi). It's not exactly Wi-Fi, although it's a very similar wireless technology. A key feature is a proprietary method of protection against interference, delay and distortion.

Connecting multiple monitors at the same time

Even a novice user can cope with the task of attaching a main or additional screen: connecting a monitor to a PC or laptop is no more difficult than a flash drive. Connecting a monitor to a computer is only possible in the correct way: the connector simply will not fit into a connector that is not intended for it.

An excellent feature of modern video cards and operating systems is the ability to connect several monitors to one signal source (PC, laptop). The practical benefits are enormous, and in two different versions.

1. Image clone mode

The main computer screen operates normally. But at the same time, the image is completely duplicated on a large-diagonal TV and/or projector. You just need to connect the video cable to both the large screen and the projector. Sound is transmitted along with the image if you use modern connectors (HDMI, Mini DP).

2. Multi-screen mode

The resolution of monitors is constantly growing - but there will always be tasks for which I would like to have a wider screen. Calculations in a large Excel spreadsheet, or working with a couple of browsers at once; design tasks and video editing. Even typing is more convenient when there is also an additional display next to the main one. “Gap” - the frames of the screens in practice interfere no more than the frames of glasses - after a few minutes you simply don’t notice them. Gamers also like to use several monitors at once - immersion in the gameplay with such a scheme is much more exciting. By the way, some AMD video cards support up to 6 monitors simultaneously (Eyefinity technology made a lot of noise in the IT community 5 years ago).

Picture: this is how you can call up the settings for connecting a second or third monitor: click on “Graphics Settings” from Intel or Nvidia.

How to connect a 2nd monitor to a computer? Insert the cable connector - most likely, the image will be instantly “picked up” by the second screen. If this does not happen, or additional settings / another mode are required - a minute of work in the graphics driver of the video card. To get to this program, just right-click on the Intel, Nvidia or AMD video driver icon - depending on which video adapter is installed in the PC, and select “Settings”. The video adapter icon is always present in the Control Panel, and in almost all cases - in the Windows tray, around the clock.

Today you can display a video image on a monitor or TV in different ways - there are more and more options for connection ports every year, and it’s not surprising to get confused in the number and difference of interfaces.

Let's look at the most popular formats and determine cases when one or another video port standard is best suited.

VGA

The oldest standard for pairing a PC and a monitor, which still exists today. Developed back in 1987 by IBM, the component video interface uses an analog signal to transmit color information. Unlike more modern standards, VGA does not allow sound transmission - only pictures.

The VGA connector is usually blue with two screws on the sides. It has a 15-pin connector and initially could only work at a resolution of 640 by 480 pixels, using a palette of 16 colors. The standard later evolved into the so-called Super VGA, supporting higher screen extensions and up to 16 million colors. And since the improved standard continued to use the old port and did not change in appearance, it is simply called VGA in the old fashioned way.

This format is most often used on older hardware, but many computers still have this port. What is called - just in case.

DVI

More than ten years after the release of the VGA standard, the DVI format, a digital video interface, saw the light of day. Released in 1999, the interface was capable of transmitting video without compression in one of three modes: DVI-I (Integrated) - a combined digital and analogue transmission format, DVI-D (Digital) - supporting only a digital signal, DVI-A (Analog ) – supports only analog signal.

DVI-I and DVI-D ports can be used in single or dual mode. In the second case, the bandwidth is doubled, which allows you to obtain a high-definition screen resolution - up to 2048 by 1536 pixels. However, for this you need to have an appropriate video card. The ports themselves differ in the number of contacts - so the Single link mode uses four twisted pairs of wires (maximum resolution 1920 by 1200 pixels at 60 Hz), and the Dual link mode, a corresponding larger number of contacts and wires (resolution up to 2560 by 1600 at 60 Hz).

It is important to remember that the analog version of DVI-A does not support DVI-D monitors, and a video card with DVI-I can be connected to a DVI-D monitor using a cable with two DVI-D-male connectors. By analogy with VGA, this standard also transmits only video images to the screen without sound. However, since 2008, video card manufacturers have made audio transmission possible - for this you need to use a DVI-D - HDMI cable.

You can also find on the market the mini-DVI format, invented by Apple, which is inclined to make everything smaller. However, the mini-standard only works in single mode, which means it does not support resolutions higher than 1920 by 1200 pixels.

HDMI

High Definition Multimedia Interface or high-definition multimedia interface allows you to transmit digital video and audio signals, and even with the possibility of copy protection. HDMI is smaller in size than its predecessors, operates at a higher speed, and most importantly, transmits sound, which made it possible to retire the previous SCART and RCA (“tulips”) standards for connecting video devices to TVs.

The HDMI 1.0 specification appeared at the end of 2002 and had a maximum bandwidth of 4.9 Gb/s, support for 8-channel audio and video up to 165 MPix/sec (that is, FullHD at 60 Hz). Since then, the standard has been constantly evolving, and in 2013 the HDMI 2.0 specification was released with a bandwidth of up to 18 Gbps, support for 4K resolution (3840 by 2160 pixels at 60 Hz) and 32-channel audio.

Today, the HDMI standard is used not only by computers, but also by digital TVs, DVD and Blu-ray players, game consoles and many other devices. If desired, you can use adapters from HDMI to DVI and vice versa.

The number of pins on HDMI ports starts from 19, and the connectors themselves are available in several form factors, the most common of which are HDMI (Type-A), mini-HDMI (Type-C), micro-HDMI (Type D). In addition, there are HDMI ports for signal reception (HDMI-In) and transmission (HDMI-Out). Outwardly, they are practically indistinguishable, but if, say, your monoblock has both ports, then when you try to display a picture on a second monitor, you can only use one of them, namely the HDMI-Out one.

DisplayPort

In 2006, another video standard for digital monitors was adopted. DisplayPort, like HDMI, transmits not only video, but also audio, and is used to connect a computer with a display or home theater. DisplayPort has a higher data transfer rate, support for resolutions up to 8K (7680 by 4320 pixels at 60 Hz) in version 1.4, released in March 2016, and the image through the port can be displayed on multiple monitors (from two to four, depending from permission).

DisplayPort was specifically designed to output images from computers to monitors, while HDMI was more intended for connecting various devices to a TV. However, these ports can be used together using a Dual-Mode DisplayPort adapter.

There are also variations of Mini DisplayPort, used primarily in laptops. In particular, the smaller format is loved by Apple.

Thunderbolt

Finally, a standard from Intel (in collaboration with Apple) for connecting peripheral devices to a computer. It was Apple that was the first to release a device with this interface in 2011 – the MacBook Pro laptop.

The maximum data transfer speed is 20 Gbit/s when using optical fiber for version 2, while the 3rd version of the interface is capable of operating at speeds up to 40 Gbit/s. Thunderbolt combines not only the DisplayPort interface, but also PCI-Express, which means you can connect almost anything to it. In particular, up to six devices can be connected to one port, which reduces the need to have a huge number of different ports on a device.

The Thunderbolt connector itself is smaller than the mini-DisplayPort, and its third version is a port compatible with USB 3.1, that is, it is made with a USB Type-C connector.

Universal USB

If you are suddenly worried that you will soon have to update all your home appliances due to changing standards, then do not rush. Manufacturers are striving to simplify the story with numerous interfaces and provide support for older devices through adapters. In particular, for HDMI devices you will only need to use an appropriate adapter in order to be able to connect to a modern USB Type-C port.

By analogy with the fact that previously each mobile phone manufacturer had its own charging connector, and now most use a micro-USB port, the video standard is also striving for unification. And the unifying form factor should be the latest generation USB port, through which both monitors and regular headphones and headsets will be connected.

To ensure video signal transmission in digital format, DVI is used. The interface was developed during the period when DVDs began to be produced. At that time, there was a need to transfer video from a PC to a monitor.

The methods of transmitting analogue broadcasting known at that time were not conducive to transmitting high-quality images to the monitor. Since it is physically impossible to physically carry out such a high-resolution transmission at a distance.

Distortion can form in the channel at any time, this can be especially observed at higher frequencies. HD is precisely the owner of high frequencies. To avoid this kind of interference and distortion, manufacturers of modern technology have set a goal to abandon the analogue broadcast option and switch to a digital type of signal in the process of processing and transmitting video to the monitor.

In the 90s, manufacturers joined forces, as a result of which DVI technology appeared.

The DVI connector is considered one of the most popular methods for connecting monitors and projects. The presence of a DVI interface on a device does not guarantee that the user will be able to realize all the capabilities available in this port. In this article we will look at DVI I and DVI D, the differences and similarities between these ports.

DVI Connector Features

Ports are responsible for transmitting images to the monitor. There are several modifications of the connector in question. Both digital and analog signals are transmitted. This type of port is most often represented by two options: DVI-I and DVI-D.

Is there a difference between them? DVI-D or DVI-I, which is better? More on this later.

DVI-I interface

This interface is considered the most used in video cards. “I” speaks of unification from the translation “integrated”. The port uses 2 channels for data transmission - analog and digital. Functioning separately, they have various modifications of DVI-I:

  • Single Link. This device includes independent digital and analog channels. The type of connection on the video adapter and how the connection occurs determines which one will function.

This type of interface is not used by professionals because it does not transmit to 30″ and LCD monitors.

  • Dual Link– this is a modernized port, which contains: 2 digital and 1 analog channel. The channels operate independently of each other.

The difference is that most video cards have at least 2 DVI-I connectors.

DVI-D interface

This port looks different from the first DVI-I. The interface can accept a couple of channels. The first Single Link type contains only 1 channel, and it is not enough to connect to 3D monitors.

Dual Link is the second type. There are no analog channels, but the interface has wide options for transmitting information. Dual - indicates two channels, which makes it possible to send images to the monitor in three-dimensional format, since 2 channels have 120 Hz and are capable of transmitting high resolution.

The main differences between DVI-I and DVI-D

Most modern video card models are available with a DVI interface instead of the classic, but outdated VGA. Of course, you shouldn't forget about HDMI. From what was said earlier, it is clear that DVI is available in two types. What's the difference between DVI-I and DVI-D?

The differences boil down to the following: I can transmit both analog and digital signals, while D can only transmit digital signals. Thus, DVI-D is not suitable for connecting an analog monitor.

DVI is a digital video connector that replaced VGA. DVI-I is responsible for transmitting digital and analog signals. As for the analog signal, it is required for compatibility of older monitors with the beam tube. Time passed, and this option was no longer required; video cards began to use exclusively digital signals. As a result, DVI-D took over these tasks.

You need to understand that inserting a DVI-I adapter or the same type of cable into DVI-D will not work. Because the connector connectors are different. The DVI-D interface can be connected to “i” without any problems. This option allows you to receive an exclusively digital signal. Analog signals are not read in this situation, since the DVI-D connector does not have an “i” pin, which is responsible for transmitting an analog signal.

What do they have in common?

The differences between DVI-I and DVI-D have been examined, and we can begin to consider their combined characteristics.

DVI-I is universal and has the option of transmitting two types of signals: digital and analog. Due to the use of special additional elements in the form of adapters, and connection with other devices, “I” is capable of efficiently transmitting different formats. The use of this type for an analog signal has practically no striking distinctive features from “D”.