DVI Connector
Digital Visual Interface - a connector that carries analog and/or digital video. Capable of carrying high-definition signals such as 720p, 1080i and 1080p.
The DVI or Digital Visual Interface is a connector that carries analog or digital video. DVI can support uncompressed high definition video up to 1080p resolution. Originally designed as a connector for high resolution PC displays, it was incorporated in early high-definition TV's and projectors, and is slowly being phased out in favour of HDMI.
The types of connectors
Not all DVI connections are created equal, they come in three flavours:
- DVI-A - Carries a high resolution analog to analog signal.
- DVI-D - Carries a digital to digital signal.
- DVI-I - Carries either an analog to analog or digital to digital signal.
You can't connect a DVI-A device to a DVI-D device.
Be aware that you can't connect a DVI-A device to a DVI-D device. So keep this in mind if you are purchasing equipment to be interoperable with a DVI-A or other analog component. Purchase DVI-I equipment over DVI-A if possible.
DVI-A is only available as a plug (male) connector on DVI cables and mates to the analog-only pins of a DVI-I connector. DVI-A is also used in adapter cables, where there is the need to convert to or from a traditional analog VGA signal. DVI is compatible with HDMI, so that DVI and HDMI connectors can be interchanged with an adaptor.
The number of pins and their configuration in the DVI plug varies depending on whether it is DVI-A, DVI-D, DVI-I, and single or dual link.
Dual-Link DVI
It gets more complicated. DVI-D and DVI-I support a dual-link mode known as DVI-DL. This doubles the bandwidth of the connection from 4.9Gbps to 9.9Gbps, and is generally only used for high resolution PC displays (which have a much higher resolution than even the best TV's and projectors), using resolutions above 1080p, or refresh rates above 165Hz. DVI-DL is rare and generally won't play into your buying decisions unless you are planning on buying a display of 1080p or greater.
Advantages of DVI
- Supports high-definition digital or analog video (depending on which connector you have).
- Compatible with HDMI connectors via an adaptor.
- Same bandwidth (4.9Gbps for DVI-D/DVI-I and 9.9Gbps for DVI-DL) as HDMI.
- Better picture quality than analog connectors such as VGA, component, s-video, or composite.
Disadvantages of DVI
- A small percentage of DVI connectors use HDCP content protection, so that you may not be able to output a high definition signal if your TV or projector doesn't support HDCP.
- Requires a separate audio cable, unlike HDMI.
- DVI-A and DVI-D devices aren't compatible.
For more information about other connectors see here.