What is the difference between analog RGB and DVI inputs?

Question

You know, to hook up a computer to an LCD? I heard that DVI has a better picture quality but Im not sure. Thanks.

Answer 1

DVI does have better quality, but you need a video card that supports it.

RGB is not a typical monitor connection, because it can scale up to a mere 640x480 pixels. I think you may be referring to VGA, however, which has the same resolution limits as DVI (1920x1200).

DVI will yield more accurate colors, though refresh rates and response times won't differ. For a high-end monitor, such as Dell's or HP's 30-inchers, the resolution is 2560x1600. Under these ridonkulous conditions, you must use a dual-link DVI connection—even then, only if you have a compatible video card. Anything under that should only require a standard single-dvi connection.

However, unless you're an amateur graphic artist or beginning professional photographer, DVI won't make a huge difference (I specified skill level because a true professional would have a dual-link DVI setup). I use DVI on my primary 1680x1050 LCD and the gamut is imperciptibly different from my secondary 1280x1024 LCD which is connected via VGA.

In truth, it doesn't matter what you use. If you already have a DVI cord and a DVI capable computer and monitor, then it wouldn't hurt to use it in place of your VGA connection. Inversely, if you don't have a DVI cord or DVI capable set-up, then there is absolutely no rush to go out and buy one because you won't see any performance increase. Both connections put the same load on your computer. To put the quality difference in perspective, if VGA was 96%, then DVI would be 98% (in terms of color accuracy).

Answer 2

A VGA connector has analog Red Green and Blue signals on it.

DVI comes in three flavors:

DVI-A This is exactly the same signals as in the VGA connector. The superior contacts of the DVI connector will give a slightly better signal at high pixel rates, assuming that you have a DVI-A cable.

DVI-D this also has separate red green and blue signals but these are transmitted as an 8 bit (actually 8 data bits + 2 extra) digital signals rather than analog.

DVI-I The DVI connector uses separate pins for the analog and digital signals, so a DVI-I connector is capable of both analog or digital connection.

Since the signal starts as a digital signal in the computer, it is better to keep it digital with DVI-D rather than convert it to analog, send it up an imperfect cable and then convert it back to digital for an LCD monitor.

Also because an LCD has to reverse-engineer the pixel clock so that it can sample an analog signal properly this can cause jitter problems.

However, there is no pixel clock limit on the analog signal. Whereas DVI is limited to 165 Mpels (1600 by 1200, or 1920 by 1200) by the original standard. You can use the second set of connectors in the DVI connector to extend this (dual link DVI) but it is not part of the DVI specification and so can cause problems. (But i getting better as more people agree on a standard protocol)

In short, if you have DVI-D then use it. If you don't I would not spend much money to get it.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the difference between analog RGB and DVI inputs?
You know, to hook up a computer to an LCD? I heard that DVI has a better picture quality but Im not sure. Thanks.

Answer 4

RGB is analog and DVI is digital and yes DVI is better cuz it does give it a better quality...

Answer 5

DVI goes from digital to digital, while RGB goes from digital to analog and back to digital. The extra step reduces the quality.

Answer 6

well they both use RGB thats the colour array (primary colours) u mean VGA and DVI yea DVI is better, looks a bit better and its just as quick, and if your getting a monitor get that, it woudlnt supprise me if VGA becomes obsolete soon

Answer 7

DVI will give you a better picture in most cases.

Answer 8

DVI is "Digital Video Interface" so yes it is better than analog.
Hope this helps

Answer 9

DVI will definetely give you a better quality signal.

Answer 10

if your CPU have DVI output and you have a DVI cable, use this input it's better quality.