VGA or DVI?

[jbarr]

Background: I was looking at LCD TV's at Best Buy, and noticed that many of the newer models have VGA and HDMI connectors with no DVI connections (HDMI instead.) Many of the older models have VGA and DVI (notably, that very cool 42" Westinghouse model.) Also, most PC graphics cards have either VGA or DVI connections, so HDMI is not a practical connection option. So it appears that if I went the DVI route, I'm limited more and more to older TV models, but if I went the VGA route, almost all models would work.

That said, given the choice between VGA and DVI, which would be your connection of choice, VGA or DVI?

Keep in mind that the main input source will be an HTPC running SageTV. There will be other connections, but that's a non-issue, because most TV's also include sufficient composite, S-Video, and Component connections.

[domc]

I would like to know this too. I am using SDTV right now and will be shopping around xmas time for a plasma (I think this coming holiday is going to be the error of flat panel tv's). It's a shame that video cards don't have HDMI.
So what is the best solution?

[doublebogey]

I've used both component video and dvi to hdmi with the right cable. I didn't see a noticeable difference between the two, but I prefer it to VGA. Seems to me I saw a blurb on another site that a video adapter with HDMI has recently been released. I just can't remember by whom.

Phil

[Lucas]

It seems that for consumer products the future is HDMI. Video cards are starting to come out with HDMI ports.

It's a non-issue mostly since, there are cheap converters that allow HDMI to DVI and vice versa conversion.

HDMI is compatible with the signal passed through DVI, HDMI also supports the passing of the audio signal as well.

[Naylia]

Originally Posted by Lucas

It seems that for consumer products the future is HDMI. Video cards are starting to come out with HDMI ports.

It's a non-issue mostly since, there are cheap converters that allow HDMI to DVI and vice versa conversion.

HDMI is compatible with the signal passed through DVI, HDMI also supports the passing of the audio signal as well.

Lucas is pretty on the mark. I just wanted to note that you don't even need a converter. It's just a cable with different plugs on each end. The data is not processed in any way when using a DVI->HDMI cable.

However, you may find VGA the better connection choice depending on the resolutions the tv supports over each connection. Many times with the 1366x768 displays it is possible to send 1360x768 or 1368x768 over VGA and not over DVI/HDMI. DVI/HDMI often allow only the standard consumer resolutions (480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i) on many tvs (sometimes you can work around, but it may require a bunch of tweaking on your pc).

[pjaffray]

I have an interesting observation regarding the Westy 42" (LVM-42w2). When I first set mine up, I only had a VGA cable handy but I knew I wanted full digital so I setup the VGA connection but ordered a DVI to HDMI cable from PCAlchemy.

When connected via the VGA cable, the Westy would power down when the computer put the monitor to sleep and the power back up when I moved the mouse or woke up the computer. I seemed to have lost this functionality when I went to the DVI -> HDMI cable. The Westy only goes dark but not fully off.

I haven't really looked into it as it is only mildly anoying and I can just power off the LCD with it's own remote.

[evilpenguin]

I've got the 42" Westy and SageTV though the DVI looks amazing

[gplasky]

DVI ->HDMI cable connected to 42" Panny Plasma HDTV.

SWEET!

Gerry

[lobosrul]

Ive hooked up my monitor to both VGA and DVI. I definantly noticed a big jump in quality with DVI. DVI versus Component, I couldnt tell a difference.

[paulbeers]

DVI->HDMI cable. VGA might have some advantages, but for longevity, I have to believe that VGA will be gone.

[pjaffray]

As to the auto power on/off issue, the only thing that changed was the connection. The initial VGA connection was via a DVI to VGA adapter to VGA cable (my video card has two DVI ports, no VGA port). Now I am using the same port off the video card with the DVI -> HDMI cable and no auto power on/off. So I don't think it has anything to do with the card.

I would be curious to know if anyone has the 42" Westy, is using the HDMI input and is getting the auto power on/off to work.

[camus]

I would be interested to know if any can get a Syntax Olevia to power on/off via any cable.

[MeInMaui]

Originally Posted by pjaffray

As to the auto power on/off issue, the only thing that changed was the connection. The initial VGA connection was via a DVI to VGA adapter to VGA cable (my video card has two DVI ports, no VGA port). Now I am using the same port off the video card with the DVI -> HDMI cable and no auto power on/off. So I don't think it has anything to do with the card.

I would be curious to know if anyone has the 42" Westy, is using the HDMI input and is getting the auto power on/off to work.

I don't know about HDMI, but DPMS works fine on DVI1 on the 47" Westy. So I assume it would be the same on the 42". I have an HD cable box attached to my HDMI input. I can try the DPMS with that and let you know tomorrow.

Mike

[Bryann]

You can pick up a DVI > HDMI cable on Newegg for $5+ depending on the length. I think I paid $10 for a 7 footer. Much better than component or VGA.

[sniper's_scope]

the downside to new hardware components is the lack of drivers for pc usage, as they all use wdm composite driver, sometimes the lack proper drivers for pc intergration in the home entertainment arena causes such headaches...

its all in the resolusion which set the highest possible display rate...

[mike1961]

We just got a 46" LCD for downstairs and my wife is complaining non-stop about it looking pixelated. I started thinking it could be several things. First, I'm still using Fair quality so I'm thinking of going up to either 2.4 or 3.2 gb/hour. What do you all recommend. I went down to fair quality because I just didn't notice a difference but that may also have been due to the fact I'm going VGA (or I believe it's really SVGA) out to VGA in on the TV. Why is DVI so much better? The windows desktop looks totally clear using VGA. Is it a refresh rate issue that makes it look better.

I'm just wondering if the problem has to do with an SD signal instead of an HD signal. Also, regarding component video - what would the setup on the computer for that be? I have an adapter cable that came with my computer which plugs into the SVideo on my computer and then support component (red/green/blue) out of the svideo cable into the TV but I can't see how that would be any better than SVideo.

Regarding VGA being analog is that going out of the computer or going into the TV? In other words, could one get a cable from VGA to DVI? So far, I just can't seem to improve on the video quality. I just got a graphics card that suppoorts HDMI but I"m not sure if there is a difference going HDMI to DVI in on the monitor.

Any feedback on this?

Thanks,
Mike

[mike1961]

Almost forgot - the other problem I'm having is in the HDMI -> DVI mode I can't get my LCD resolution fo 1366x768 and the icons are all of the windows desktop. It all works fine in the VGA mode though.

Mike

[kpsmith]

No one flog me if they disagree or I get anything wrong but this is how I see it:

Component = Analog but very good analog. Much better then RCA cables, or S-Video

VGA = Analaog Signal going out of PC into TV. Should be better than any other analog signal but some do prefer Component.

DVI = There are actually several flavors. DVI was supposed to carry both analog and digital signals in the same cable. Most new DVI connectors are digital only though.

HDMI = Essentially the successor of DVI it is digital, can carry audio, and I believe the newest versions can have bi-directional communication between the devices. Essentially this is the same quality as Digital DVI but in a smaller, feature full consmer friendly package. Adapters do go from DVI to HDMI.

In regards to grainyness. Garbage in garbage out. If it is SDTV going to HDTV you will notice this a lot more. In fact some may feel the picture looks worse on HDTV verse SDTV or via a SDTV. Realty is that the picture definintion is just enhanced or magnified so that you can see how bad that SDTV signal was. If you move back from the HDTV set though and view from a distance it will look fine.

For me, I record SDTV all the time and prefer watching recorded SDTV to live SDTV. I think the quality is better after being processed by the PC. Granted though it doesn't even come close to watching a high-def signal or even a DVD quality signal.

[mike1961]

My wife says it no longer looks "pixelated" when I increased the quality to DVD standard. I think it is far more noticeable on the 46" we now have downstairs instead of the 27" tube TV. Now, whether she still feels it may look like a "soft focus" or not very clear, I won't know that until tomorrow. But, she doesn't see the "pixels" especially when transitioning scenes which I'm now positive was due to the 0.9 gb/hour fair quality.

I'm still looking for ways to increase quality but I definitely think going back to DVD standard will look a lot better and she would rather have 60 DVD standard hours than 180 Fair quality hours. Also, now with the 750 gb SATA drives, we can get a lot more hours if we need them but I do compress the stuff I want to save to mpeg4 which saves a lot of space.

As far as I can tell - I like VGA better than DVI because the screen resolution fills the entire screen and it's not less or more but an exact fit. I can't see how everyone here prefers DVI. Please enlighten me. Thanks for any input and feedback.

Mike

[sniper's_scope]

pixelation can be cause by many things, though with new and old standard alike they never truely support intergration of a pc a a main viewing platform when the lack of drivers aren't produced so the which ever connection you wish connect works correctly, i've tried many graphics cards i've never been able to sync my tv up regardless of what pc-tv connection i use, as tv producers haven't bothered building a driver for they all expect plug&play to work, though it very seldom does work thw way we expect it too..