What, are there several kinds of DVI ports?

[Erik_Twice]

So I was very happy today. I got my new, shiny ATI 5770 FLEX and I plugged it. It boasts out-of the box connectivity for three DVI screens, thanks to a DP->DVI adapter so it was a smart choice for me, as all my screens are old and still have VGA inputs.

Before switching graphics cards I connected my screens with VGA->DVI adapters. Unfortunatedly it seems that they are the kind with 4 little pins around the big pin (DVI-I [Dual] ) and my new graphics card only has one like that.

Basically:

I have:

3x DVI with 4 little pins around the big one (DVI-I [Dual])

What my graphic card has:

1x DVI-I
1x DVI-D
1x DP->DVI-D Adapter
2x DP ports

So I need a way to connect two VGA screens to two DVI-D adapters. What can I do?

[irixith]

Get new screens. That analogue VGA connection has to be wreaking havoc on your eyes.

Failing that, you'll need 2 DVI-D to VGA adapters.

So I was very happy today. I got my new, shiny ATI 5770 FLEX and I plugged it. It boasts out-of the box connectivity for three DVI screens, thanks to a DP->DVI adapter so it was a smart choice for me, as all my screens are old and still have VGA inputs.

It actually wasn't a smart choice if you're still using analogue VGA connections...

[Erik_Twice]

Get new screens. That analogue VGA connection has to be wreaking havoc on your eyes.

VGA is not bad. Everything looks very sharp to me, specially compared to consoles

Getting new screens is harder than it seems since a new one would need to be at the same level as the other two for triplehead . I don't have enough money for three new screens, and if I were to do that I would upgrade to 22" or 24" screens.

Failing that, you'll need 2 DVI-D to VGA adapters.

DVI-D is digital, VGA is analog meaning that the only adapters out there are kind of bad and horribly expensive.

Basically, I have three analog screens and my graphics card has 1 analog, 1 analog and digital and 2 digital outputs.

I need a DP->VGA adaptor and a new screen. Expensive stuff =/

It actually wasn't a smart choice if you're still using analogue VGA connections...

I asked for advice before buying but alas, they were wrong. It would be a smart choice if I didn't have those screens =P

So it seems I need:

A DP-> VGA adapter.
A new screen, preferably one that allows me to hook up consoles

Any tips?

[d123456]

That analogue VGA connection has to be wreaking havoc on your eyes.

I have to take this flame bait. No-one can see the difference between VGA and DVI/HDMI (quick, somebody back me on this bold statement! ) Well that is how I feel. VGA is perfect.
digital > analog, but vga is such a good analog standard that you cannot see the difference.

That having been said:
VGA = RGB
VGA,RGB > component, S-Video, composite, RF
I urge all console owners to get a RGB cable for their consoles, mod if you have to and get a RGB capable tv. All European tv´s have RGB in for instance. I know a secondhand shop here in Germany that sells older big tv´s for like 20-30 bucks. (Well, euro´s actually)

[Hatta]

If you get a panel that does both VGA and DVI you'll find that there is a visible difference between them, if you look really really hard. However, it's nothing any normal person would notice, and really can only be seen when you look at them right next to each other. Personally, I still use VGA because it's really hard to find a CRT that does DVI.

[irixith]

That analogue VGA connection has to be wreaking havoc on your eyes.

I have to take this flame bait. No-one can see the difference between VGA and DVI/HDMI (quick, somebody back me on this bold statement! ) Well that is how I feel. VGA is perfect.

It isn't "flame bait".

Here's the easiest way I have to explain it. You know when you watch a video recording of a CRT screen, and you can see the horizontal line moving down the screen? I can see that without the camera, on CRT televisions and monitors. It makes looking at them very difficult. The same applies to VGA vs DVI -- I can see the shimmer and movement of the VGA signal, which makes it very difficult to focus on. It causes real headache and eyestrain. The DVI signal doesn't produce the shimmer, and causes me no eyestrain.

I forget quite often that most people can't see it, but many people experience the eyestrain and headaches but don't know why. So I must apologize, but your bold statement is in fact, incorrect.

..and now you know, and knowing is half the battle. G.I. Joe!

[irixith]

So it seems I need:

A DP-> VGA adapter.
A new screen, preferably one that allows me to hook up consoles

Any tips?

If you live in the US, I'd hit up Monoprice. You can get a relatively inexpensive DisplayPort to VGA cable (link is to 3ft, they offer various lengths) or an adapter instead. That's probably your best and cheapest bet to get yourself going with the parts you have now.

For the future, unless you're REALLY attached to your monitors that predate DVI connections, I'd probably be shopping around for a new monitor. Display technology has come a long way since then, and not just in terms of how you can hook them up. The refresh is better, the colour gamut of even TN panels (let alone IPS) is much improved, and most display richer blacks now than their predecessors ever did. Once you've got a monitor hooked up via a true digital connection, you'll wonder how you were ever still getting along with VGA. :p

[jfrost]

I forget quite often that most people can't see it, but many people experience the eyestrain and headaches but don't know why. So I must apologize, but your bold statement is in fact, incorrect.

Wait. Do your eyes work in a higher frequency?

[bdlou]

Be really careful on the DisplayPort adapter stuff. The ATI 5770 and other models need "Active" DisplayPort adapters or Windows will not display on all 3 monitors. If you have a Passive DisplayPort adapter connected, Windows will only allow 2 monitors.

[Erik_Twice]

Be really careful on the DisplayPort adapter stuff. The ATI 5770 and other models need "Active" DisplayPort adapters or Windows will not display on all 3 monitors. If you have a Passive DisplayPort adapter connected, Windows will only allow 2 monitors.

Yeah, thanks for the reminder. There's also a tearing issue with some so I checked widescreengaming for help and this one works well:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Startech-Displa ... omputers_3

However mine is a FLEX and includes a chip, perhaps I can use a pasive one.

I forget quite often that most people can't see it, but many people experience the eyestrain and headaches but don't know why.

Well given how many hours I spend glued to my screens I think I would have noticed if I could!




Anyways, I had a thrift store round pending so now I have another incentive for not being a lazy ass. I'm not going to buy a new 17" screen only to see it gathering dust when I decide to upgrade to 20+.