VGA to DVI

[rsagetv99]

I have an ATI Radeon 9200 video card with VGA and S-Video out. I also have a Toshiba 57" HDTV with DVI-in and Component-in.

Can anyone recommend a good VGA to DVI adapter? My second choice would be a VGA to Component adapter. (I am assuming that DVI is preferable over Component but if I am wrong feel free to correct me).

[salsbst]

It would probably be a better idea to get a newer video card with DVI out. Good VGA to component transcoders will run in the same price range as the new video card.

[DFA]

Salsbst is correct but to add to that, I do not know of any VGA to DVI convertors (DVI to VGA yes but not the other way around). And even if existing, not desirable.

Consider that at the video card, the signal remains in the digital domain until ready for output to the monitor and is then converted to analog (DAC) for VGA type output. For video cards having DVI, the signal remains in the digital domain. With an external VGA to DVI convertor, should it exist, you would convert to analog within the video card and then back to digital again externally with the convertor. Not a desirable scenario as far as signal quality is concerned.

Order of quality for un-compressed video is as follows (the first being digital the remaining being analog):

DVI / HDMI
VGA
Component
S-Video
Composite

It's one thing to down-convert, quite another to up-convert.

DFA

[Menehune]

This site lists a VGA to DVI converter (DP-VGADVI)
https://www.btx.com/dvi/default.asp?...conversion.asp

[stanger89]

To echo what others have said already, any converter you get, (VGA-DVI or VGA-Component) is going to be as expensive or more expensive and most likely give you inferior quality to a new card.

Take a look at the AGP Geforce 6600s.

[mls]

Just to add to the confusion. Not all DVI connectors are equal. There are three forms:

DVI-D (digital only)
DVI-I (integrated both digital and analog)
DVI-A (analog only)

[DFA]

Yep. There it is, VGA-to-DVI. Not exactly a dongle. As I thought, if something like that existed, it would have to be powered for all the electronics (ADC's) required. I don't see a price but to mimic everyone else, the cost for the convertor to save a 9200 is doubtfully justified.

The degradation of signal going from digital ---> analog ---> digital is also still a downside even if giving these convertors away for free.

DFA

[rsagetv99]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Take a look at the AGP Geforce 6600s.

OK, well I haven't been able to find a place to purchase the AGP 6600s, if you know of a place let me know. I did find a GT on New Egg's site, not sure if that is what you meant. (Actually, now that I am reading your quote I think you meant the 6600s - as in plural - as in 6600 series).

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduc...150-080&depa=0

Would I be better off with this one? I've heard it mentioned on this site a few times and it's only $50 or so more.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduc...150-080&depa=0

Also, does that mean I will have to upgrade my system as well? Currently I have an ASUS motherboard that only supports 4x AGP.

[rsagetv99]

bump

[stanger89]

Well I've got my 6800 running in a 4X AGP board. I can't make any guarantees though. Oh, and yeah, I was talking "6600 series".

[rsagetv99]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Well I've got my 6800 running in a 4X AGP board. I can't make any guarantees though. Oh, and yeah, I was talking "6600 series".

OK thanks, I will try just adding the card and see what happens.

Thanks.

Is it worth the extra $50 or so dollars to go with the 6800? I was thinking of the fanless model to cut-down on the noise.

[stanger89]

Is it worth $50 to go fanless, I'd say so, is the 6800 worth $50 more than the 6600 for HTPC use, probably not for most people. If you don't care about WMV accelleration, then the 6800 will work just fine.

[rsagetv99]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Is it worth $50 to go fanless, I'd say so, is the 6800 worth $50 more than the 6600 for HTPC use, probably not for most people. If you don't care about WMV accelleration, then the 6800 will work just fine.

I only plan to use it for htpc. No heavy gaming (maybe MAME).

Does the the 6600 not come in a fanless model?

Forgive my ignorance, but what is WMV acceleration?

And did you mean to say, "the 6600 will work just fine." in your last sentence?

[stanger89]

Fanless 6600? The only AGP 6600 I've seen is a GT and not fanless, I'd expect to see a fanless model but don't know when. WMV is Windows Media Video, and the 6600 offers decode accelleration for WMV. And I did mean the 6800 in my last post, but both will work well.

[korben_dallas]

I was under the impression that the DVI on the back of a video card was not necessarily the same DVI as is on the back of an HDTV ?

[stanger89]

It's the same, the only difference may be the plug (DVI vs HDMI).