Choose Wisely for Your DVI Digital Cable

       The Digital Video Interface (DVI) is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device (such as a personal computer) and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors. DVI digital cable is used with DVI-enabled graphics cards to utilize the Digital Visual Interface (sometimes called Digital Video Interface), in order to maximize the benefit of flat panel digital displays.
       There are several types of DVI digital cable or connector. Some transfer both analog and digital signals to accommodate intermixed components, as this digital interface acted as a bridge between the market transition from VGA and CRT monitors to digital monitors. When purchasing DVI cables, check with a knowledgeable salesperson to make sure the cables you are buying are right for your components.
       In order to choose the best digital video interface (DVI) cable, you will need to consider the components you are working with. The other main factor to consider is if a cable is dual- or single-link, since a dual-link DVI cable can transmit a higher resolution image. You will also want to choose a DVI cable that is an appropriate length, as some devices cannot transmit a signal over cables that are longer than about 16 feet (5 meters).

The Overview of DVI Digital Cable

       The Digital–visual interface (DVI) is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI digital cable standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors. Most contemporary retail desktop PCs and LCD monitors feature a DVI interface, and many other devices (such as projectors and consumer televisions) support DVI indirectly through HDMI VGA cable, another video interface standard. Most laptops still have legacy VGA and, in some models, HDMI ports, but fewer have DVI.

       The maximum length of DVI cables is not included in the specification since it is dependent on the pixel clock frequency, and hence the video mode's bandwidth requirements (which is a function of resolution and refresh rate). In general, cable lengths up to 4.5 m (15 ft) will work for displays at resolutions of 1,920 × 1,200. This resolution will work even up to 10 m (33 ft) if appropriate cable is used. Cable lengths up to 15 m (50 ft) can be used with displays at resolutions up to 1,280 × 1,024. For longer distances, the use of a DVI booster is recommended to mitigate signal degradation. DVI boosters may use an external power supply.

       The variety of DVI connection types can be confusing. If you use the wrong type of DVI digital cable for the connection you need to make, your video won't get through. In general, there are only two signal types which run through DVI connectors. The two types are digital and analog, and they are incompatible with one another. If you use a DVI cable to connect a device that sends out only digital signals to a device that accepts only analog signals, or vice versa, you'll get no signal; consequently, the first question you have to answer is whether your devices can talk to each other at all.