What Is a DVI Connector for a Computer?

Like most advanced technologies, computers have several different types of cables to perform specific functions. One of these is a DVI cable, which you usually use to connect a computer to a monitor.

  1. DVI Basics

    • "DVI" stands for Digital Visual Interface. Although the name suggests that this cable is for visual purposes, it turns out that a DVI cable is not always digital.

    Types of DVI

    • There are four types of this cable: DVI-D (digital), DVI-I (integrated, containing both analog and digital), DVI-A (analog) and M1-DA (contains digital, analog and USB connections). Very high resolution monitors sometimes require a "dual-link" DVI cable, which is sometimes referred to as DVI-DL.

    DVI Usage

    • DVI ports are usually found on LCD monitors and some flat-panel TVs. However, many older LCDs only use VGA, and a DVI connector will not fit in a VGA port. Most modern video display cards possess at least one DVI port, and they come with cable adapters for VGA monitors.

    Technology Comparison

    • A DVI cable is very much like an HDMI (High-Defintion Multimedia Interface) cable. The main difference is that a DVI cable does not transmit audio, only video, and an HDMI cable can transmit information quickly enough to display images on large flat-panel televisions.

    Identifying Your DVI Cable

    • If you are not sure what kind of DVI cable you have, you can identify it by the arrangement and number of pins on the connector. See the chart below in the Resources section to identify your DVI connector.

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