DVI, VGA, HDMI Madness - HELP!


  1. Blanketboy
    Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home
       New #1

    DVI, VGA, HDMI Madness - HELP!


    Hi and thanks to anyone who can help. I just set up a brand new HP desktop with a two year old Dell Ultra Sharp 2410 High Definition monitor which came with a VGA cable only although it also has connectivity for DVI-D, HDMI and D-Sub. It connects with a blue end.

    The HP has a DVI port that is white. (There's also a HDMI port). With the computer came an adapter with a blue side and a white side. and I plugged my blue VGA cable into that...the white end connected to the white HP port and the monitor worked fine.

    HP Support told me not to use the adapter very long and that I should purchase a DMI cable to connect the monitor directly to the port and forget the adapter.

    Also, in case this has any bearing the computer has a 512MB AMD Radeon HD 6450 graphics card.

    Question #1 - Is HP support right and I should get a DVI cable?

    Frankly, I'm a computer idiot and can't tell one format from the other - what will get me the best graphic experience out of my monitor and computer that one cable will provide? I just want to be sure I'm getting the right cable for the damn thing!
    Last edited by Blanketboy; 20 Sep 2011 at 23:44. Reason: fixed spelling
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  3. Darryl Licht
    Posts : 1,939
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit Steve Ballmer Signature Edition
       New #2

    YES, if both the video card and monitor support DVI... go get a DVI cable! VGA is older and analog only! DVI is fully digital and a better connection for the newer monitor!
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  4. Blanketboy
    Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Darryl Licht said:
    YES, if both the video card and monitor support DVI... go get a DVI cable! VGA is older and analog only! DVI is fully digital and a better connection for the newer monitor!
    Thanks, Darryl. Again, please excuse my ignorance..I need a male to male DVI cable, correct?

    Since I have no idea the difference between DVI and HDMI...I want to go DVI cable as opposed to HDMI cable?
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  6. Phone Man
    Posts : 2,686
    Windows 8.1 Pro w/Media Center 64bit, Windows 7 HP 64bit
       New #4

    DVI is for Video only and HDMI has the same Video lanes plus a sound channel and is used mainly to connect to a TV. Here is where I get my cables and they have a Help or FAQ link associated with each type of cable. Take a look and if you have more questions just post back.

    MyCableMart.com

    Jim
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  7. Blanketboy
    Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Phone Man said:
    DVI is for Video only and HDMI has the same Video lanes plus a sound channel and is used mainly to connect to a TV. Here is where I get my cables and they have a Help or FAQ link associated with each type of cable. Take a look and if you have more questions just post back.

    MyCableMart.com

    Jim
    Thanks, Jim. Will absolutely check them out. I forgot to mention that my new computer has a TV tuner in it. Would that impact which cable to get?
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  8. metalmania31
    Posts : 670
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit build 7601 SP1
       New #6

    Blanketboy said:
    Phone Man said:
    DVI is for Video only and HDMI has the same Video lanes plus a sound channel and is used mainly to connect to a TV. Here is where I get my cables and they have a Help or FAQ link associated with each type of cable. Take a look and if you have more questions just post back.

    MyCableMart.com

    Jim
    Thanks, Jim. Will absolutely check them out. I forgot to mention that my new computer has a TV tuner in it. Would that impact which cable to get?
    No it shouldn't. You would treat it like you would a cable box. Video out to monitor with cable source into your tuner. Depending on which cable provider you have and whether you need to use their cable box as well.
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  10. Blanketboy
    Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    I consider this case closed - many thanks!
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  11. Darryl Licht
    Posts : 1,939
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit Steve Ballmer Signature Edition
       New #8

    Blanketboy said:
    I consider this case closed - many thanks!
    Thats why we are here... your welcome!
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