Well I just ordered a new monitor:
BenQ Canada - Computing
My video card is a 9800 GX2 (DVI + HDMI)
My question is which cable should I use and what are the differences between the 3 since my new monitor will be capable of DVI + HDMI.
I am a bit of a theater buff and obviously my instincts suggest the HDMI cable but I am curious if the DVI does the same as I admit I know less about the various options for connecting computer monitors.
Thanks
I'm on a 42" LCD TV as my main and only monitor, i'm currently using DVI-HDMI. No issues whatsoever. My onboard HDMI however isn't the same story. It doesn't usually want me to use it, plus i don't want onboard GFX anyways.
Your HDMI cables are set for audio/video so remember that. If you have a speaker setup then you may want the DVI-HDMI especially if you are just wanting to HDMI for graphics on your card, then you gotta look at the fact that it won't give you any sound until you hook up external speakers.
Only difference between DVI and HDMI (not counting the connectors), is HDMI can carry audio as well.
If you want to pass audio over HDMI with your video card you're going to have to do the following,
Guide: 8800GT/9800GT/9800GTX Sound over HDMI (Now including Creative cards) - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net
without that cable from the video card to the sound card (either onboard or an actual card), with a current Nvidia card you will never get audio over HDMI.
ok, so in my case where I don't care about the audio since I utilize my soundcard for my speakers and the monitor doesn't have any built in I should just a DVI cable then?
Leads to a new question then, why would benq put an HDMI port on their monitor if it has no speakers? Is it simply to be able to use the monitor in your living room for your regular tv needs for example?
Wouldn't it be simpler than to just go HDMI to HDMI then if it does indeed give me a better resolution. According to stormy though, there is no diff between the two except for audio.
DVI vs. HDMI vs. Component Video -- Which is Better?
From looking at the monitor you are planning on getting it only comes with a VGA cable. If that is the case just get whichever is cheaper between a DVI and HDMI cable (and if you go HDMI, avoid Monster at all costs, unless you like getting severely ripped off that is).First, to clear away one element that can be confusing: DVI and HDMI are exactly the same as one another, image-quality-wise. The principal differences are that HDMI carries audio as well as video, and uses a different type of connector, but both use the same encoding scheme, and that's why a DVI source can be connected to an HDMI monitor, or vice versa, with a DVI/HDMI cable, with no intervening converter box.
Great link, this is basically what I had found after googling myself and thanks for the tip about Monster cables but I am well aware of it! I have several gold plated HDMI cables laying around, I always grabbed tons of cables during my layovers in Hong Kong at the 'electronics' market. As long as you had the energy to barter (and it takes lots out there!) you could get smokin deals on everything.
I have a similar monitor (BenQ as well) and I'm using a DVI-D cable, no issues whatsoever.
I do have a question that might help to this topic though.. my video card has 2 outputs for dual monitors, left and right. But if I'm using 1 monitor, is there a difference which one to use? My friend says I should always use the left side first. However the guy in best buy said it doesn't matter.
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