70470 Posts in 6879 Topics - by 687 Members - Latest Member: Laricwashere

Author Topic: DVI or SVGA  (Read 3304 times)

Offline Pride

  • Administrator
  • Godlike Gamer
  • *
  • Posts: 4714
  • Karma: 0
DVI or SVGA
« on: May 31, 2006, 09:53:08 AM »
Here is something I have always wondered.

On the back of my ATI Radeon card, I have both DVI and SVGA outputs. (Photo likeness below)

My LCD monitor only has an SVGA cable on it, but I have a "convertor adapter" to go from DVI to SVGA so that I may run dual SVGA monitors on my card.

My question is... is there any performance/quality benefit if I use the adapter for the DVI port rather than plugging directly into the SVGA port?

Insert witty signature here...

Offline The Shoctor

  • Administrator
  • Godlike Gamer
  • *
  • Posts: 5803
  • Karma: 17
  • Steam ID: shadohawk@shadoworks.net
  • XBox Gamer Tag: TheShoctor
  • XFire: shadoworks
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2006, 10:23:49 AM »
If your board looks like that? pffttt... Maybe a little tiny insignificant ammount of perceived crispness because the connector is soldered to the board... But the real answer is.

No.

But Dual Monitors KICK ASS! Actually, I can't live with just one anymore... I mean it's hard enough to do with out 4 ;)

Support LAN Play!
ლ(ಠ益ಠლ) "I have more than 20 friends EA!" --FITES.NET
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
"Close enough." --UGC League

Offline Krurath108

  • Veteran Gamer
  • *
  • Posts: 175
  • Karma: 0
  • XFire: m1edo
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2006, 11:03:46 AM »
I have dual display config. on my radeon 9600 pro
and it actually resulted in some noticeable drops in benchmark scores. poby because it has another screen to render while gaming.

...But the dual screens are still much worth it!

Offline The Shoctor

  • Administrator
  • Godlike Gamer
  • *
  • Posts: 5803
  • Karma: 17
  • Steam ID: shadohawk@shadoworks.net
  • XBox Gamer Tag: TheShoctor
  • XFire: shadoworks
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2006, 11:20:03 AM »
nVidia's new 9 series drivers can do some nice things.  I flip-flop between the ATI and nVidia camp depending on who is giving me more bang for my buck.

Support LAN Play!
ლ(ಠ益ಠლ) "I have more than 20 friends EA!" --FITES.NET
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
"Close enough." --UGC League

Offline llDayo

  • Vintage VIP
  • Elite Gamer
  • *
  • Posts: 590
  • Karma: 0
  • ACE
  • XFire: llDayo
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2006, 11:28:17 AM »
I've always wondered that too, Pride. I don't think I've ever even had an adapter to plug in there, but my last two cards both had the outlet. Why make two different outputs if both are basically the same? What's the advantage of one over the other and why is Pride such a nancyboy?

NerdTests.com says I'm a Cool High Nerd.  What are you?  Click here!

Offline The Shoctor

  • Administrator
  • Godlike Gamer
  • *
  • Posts: 5803
  • Karma: 17
  • Steam ID: shadohawk@shadoworks.net
  • XBox Gamer Tag: TheShoctor
  • XFire: shadoworks
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2006, 11:40:11 AM »
DVI AND VGA COMPLETELY DIFFERENT! All the adapter does is use the 15 pins not used by the digital connection. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVI

Support LAN Play!
ლ(ಠ益ಠლ) "I have more than 20 friends EA!" --FITES.NET
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
"Close enough." --UGC League

TekieB

  • Guest
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2006, 01:09:54 PM »
the adapter uses analog signals put out by the dvi port, they do this for backwards compatibility, so you go digital -> analog -> digital vs straight digital

Offline Pride

  • Administrator
  • Godlike Gamer
  • *
  • Posts: 4714
  • Karma: 0
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2006, 01:13:00 PM »
But my monitor is only analog... so, I assume it doesnt matter which port I use?
Insert witty signature here...

Offline The Shoctor

  • Administrator
  • Godlike Gamer
  • *
  • Posts: 5803
  • Karma: 17
  • Steam ID: shadohawk@shadoworks.net
  • XBox Gamer Tag: TheShoctor
  • XFire: shadoworks
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2006, 01:36:52 PM »
If you use that adaptor you are only getting the analog signal. Same signal from both ports.

Support LAN Play!
ლ(ಠ益ಠლ) "I have more than 20 friends EA!" --FITES.NET
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
"Close enough." --UGC League

TekieB

  • Guest
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #9 on: May 31, 2006, 01:43:04 PM »
IIRC your monitor had a dvi port on it (the one I used at the lan did)

edit: lcd's are natively dvi, but not all monitors have the ports

Offline Pride

  • Administrator
  • Godlike Gamer
  • *
  • Posts: 4714
  • Karma: 0
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2006, 02:28:08 PM »
Hmmmm... now you got me wondering!  I'll have to double check, but I know if I had gotten a digital cable, I woudl have used it!
Insert witty signature here...

Offline Billabond1

  • Vintage VIP
  • Uber Gamer
  • *
  • Posts: 1134
  • Karma: 0
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2006, 04:21:36 PM »
sometimes they don't like to include digital cables with monitors.  VGA ones are cheaper...

Offline Fabio

  • Vintage VIP
  • Elite Gamer
  • *
  • Posts: 507
  • Karma: 0
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2006, 04:24:45 PM »
widescreen > Dual
url=http://profile.xfire.com/danzarampage]

TekieB

  • Guest
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #13 on: May 31, 2006, 04:37:20 PM »
Quote from: "Fabio"
widescreen > Dual


Dual gives you more pixels

And I remember going "oh darn, I forgot my dvi adaptor for my powerbook" when I saw it had a dvi port

Offline Billabond1

  • Vintage VIP
  • Uber Gamer
  • *
  • Posts: 1134
  • Karma: 0
DVI or SVGA
« Reply #14 on: May 31, 2006, 06:36:00 PM »
Quote from: "Fabio"
widescreen > Dual


Or you can do what I do...both...   :2thumbsup: