Neil,
That explanation and link completely blew away all the smoke! I will move
forward as though all 3 adapters are compatible. Yes, I still operate in
the analog video modes because my KVM switch will only switch the old
15-pin DSub type of cable(s).
My new Dell 20in WS panel does have the DVI connector, but I do not have a
DVI-DVI cable to play with yet................ :)
One day soon, I may start a search for KVM switches that use USB
(kbd/mouse) and digital video switching.
Thank you so much. The Collective does rule!!
Happy New Year!!!!
Duncan
At 18:14 01/03/2009 +0000, you wrote:
All you need to know (and more) about DVI can be found on Wikipedia (just
like everything else :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface
the four pins either side of the blade are the analogue signal. Some of the
other pins contain analogue signals as part of the VGA/DVI spec. It's though
these pins that monitors detect whether a cable is connected to a card and
vice versa.
MSI/GW Adapter is purely DVI-A or Analogue only. This is fine, this is all
it needs to be.
The eVga has all the pin on the DVI side, but the digital connections won't
be attached to anything on the analogue side, i guess it's just a standard
part they have chosen to use when manufacturing the adapter.
Hope this makes sense.
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of DHSinclair
Sent: 03 January 2009 16:53
To: Hardware Group
Subject: [H] DVI-VGA adapters
Have noticed that most new video cards now come only with DVI connectors.
If lucky, there will be an adapter in the box to convert the DVI connector
back to the older VGA 15-pin DSub connector.
This is fine. And, yes, I do understand that video cards may now come with
HDMI connections also.
So, I now have these 3 DVI-VGA adapters. One from an old Gainward card of
~2000, one from an eVga FX5500 of 2004, and now one from a new MSI R4670 of
2008. I am confused about these adapters. 2 (the GW and the MSI) are the
same. The eVga adapter is different. It is the number of pins on the DVI
side ... !!!
(MSI adapter) L->R
What I call the DVI locator; 2 top, wide blade middle, 2 bottom.
3 top, 3 middle, 2 bottom, 1 missing from this block of 9.
3 top missing, 3 middle missing, 3 bottom missing.
2 top, 2 middle missing, 2 bottom.
(GW adapter) L->R
What I call the DVI locator; 2 top, wide blade middle, 2 bottom.
block of 9 pins; 3 top, 3 middle, 2 bottom w/1missing pin (lower right)
blank space in middle (perhaps 6 pins worth)
block of 9 pins; 1 missing and 2 pins top, 3 pins missing middle, 1 missing
and 2 pins bottom.
(The eVga adapter) L->R
What I call the DVI locator; 2 top, wide blade middle, 2 bottom.
full array of 24 pins; 8 top, 8 middle, and 8 bottom.
I really wish to hope all 3 adapters are compatible? I searched the web
but have not found much info about these adapters except some odd warnings
of incompatibilities. I'll accept that conversion of the DVI connector to
the 15-pin DSub VGA connector may affect video quality.
Any information, links, opinions are welcome. I have not ever used a DVI
based video cable yet. I have never even seen one!
Thank you,
Duncan
