I've searched around, but no one seems to know...

jerichobp -- Thu, 12/20/2007 - 01:13

Well I've searched the internet, but can't find a straight answer for my question, so I figured I'd ask here. I'm looking to buy a new monitor for my computer to be used for high-def movies and gaming. I'm going for the 22"-24" range (1680x1050) and I wanted to know if I should go with DVI in or HDMI in on the monitor.

I have a relatively high end graphics card (Nvidia 8800gt) with dual link DVI out, so I would have to use a converter if I go with HDMI in. I wanted to know if this is going to degrade the quality of the image. Also I've read that the new standard is going to be DisplayPort, and I was wondering if I should hold out for that or not.

Sorry if these are easy questions, I'm not the biggest A\V guy. Thanks in advance to anyone that can help.

scottwilkinson -- Sat, 12/22/2007 - 12:31

I'm afraid I don't know much about computer monitors. It seems to me that the choice between DVI and HDMI depends on whether you want to send audio info to the monitor. I assume you wouldn't want to do that because most monitors don't have built-in audio, and you probably have a separate multichannel sound system. In this case, I'd go with DVI, which is functionally equivalent to HDMI except that it carries no digital audio, whereas HDMI does. I have every confidence that using DVI will not degrade the image quality compared with HDMI.

I've heard about DisplayPort, but I don't know how quickly it will be adopted. In any event, waiting for it simply delays your enjoyment of the system now, so I say go for DVI now.

Scott Wilkinson
Video Editor
Playback

jerichobp -- Sat, 12/22/2007 - 18:08

Thanks for the advice Scott. I look forward to listening to more of you on The Tech Guy radio show.

HarrisonS -- Fri, 12/28/2007 - 11:39

jericobp:

I strongly recommend avoiding the 22" size with its reduced resolution (1680 x 1050 or whatever), and go for the 24" size. These have the full 1920 x 1200 resolution (for some strange reason widescreen computer monitors have a standardized aspect ratio of 16:10 instead of 16:9). In any case, you will be able to display the full 1920 x 1080 resolution without lowering the resolution and without the likely introduction of scaling artifacts (jaggies, Moiré effects, etc.).

Often the best computer monitors come from Samsung and Dell, even though their TV sets are mostly middle-of-the-road. Make sure in any case that you get their top of the line model in this size, since the economy models may not be so good. Also, for video uses, it would be good to select a monitor that is HDCP compliant; many are not.

Scott Wilkinson:

Thank you so much for all your excellent equipment reviews; I always value them highly! I recently purchased the 60" KURO Pioneer Elite PRO-150FD plasma and am really thrilled with it!

Harrison

Harrison S.

y2khardtop -- Tue, 01/08/2008 - 20:17

hdmi can only go up to 1080p, so if you are using it as a computer monitor, then you need DVI (or dual DVI for highest resolutions). If you are just doing video, then HDMI is great.

HDMI however can carry HDCP copy protection, so if Blu-Ray/HD-DVD ever turns the copy protection flags on, you'll get decreased resolution if you aren't using an HDCP compliant card/monitor. I don't think DVI can do hdcp, but not sure.

Anyway, for high resolution gaming, you need multiple DVI. If HDMI supports the resolution you need, then I think it is a great choice.