DVI Card - I need recomendations

[Sam Ceccola]

In an earlier post, I mentioned I purchased a 19" flat screen monitor (analog/digital). To connect it to the PC via digital, they manufacturer supplies a DVI cable.

I don't have a DVI connection in the PC.

I went to Pricegrabber.com and did a search on DVI cards. It came out with 911 finds prices ranging from about $12.00 all the way up.

I can not find a true description why use DVI. If anyone knows where I can find this information, please let me know. Specifically as a home user.

I was also hoping someone can recommend a model? I don't want to spend too much money. What's my limit? Right now, I don't know because I don't know how and why the DVI card is used.

My immediate intension is to use it simply to connect the new monitor digital rather than analog.

Thanks,
Sam

[mylanta]

Dvi is always preferable http://www.projectorpeople.com/tutorials/dvi-connections.asp

[kern]

In an earlier post, I mentioned I purchased a 19" flat screen monitor (analog/digital). To connect it to the PC via digital, they manufacturer supplies a DVI cable.

I don't have a DVI connection in the PC.

I went to Pricegrabber.com and did a search on DVI cards. It came out with 911 finds prices ranging from about $12.00 all the way up.

I can not find a true description why use DVI. If anyone knows where I can find this information, please let me know. Specifically as a home user.

I was also hoping someone can recommend a model? I don't want to spend too much money. What's my limit? Right now, I don't know because I don't know how and why the DVI card is used.

My immediate intension is to use it simply to connect the new monitor digital rather than analog.

Thanks,
Sam

Sam,
if you have AGP slot, the ATI9550 256mb or ATI9600 128mb are decent cards for around $70.
check Bestbuy, circuit city for sales/rebates...

[Sam Ceccola]

Rich/Rob:
Thanks for the description. It basically says to me, there's not many ways to use it at this point with the exception of a HDTV. In the future, that will change. The TV in my office is not HDTV, the one downstair is.

Rob: thanks for the recommendation. I need to ask Rich or Dan--Do I have a AGP slot??

Thanks,
Sam

[mylanta]

=Sam Ceccola]Rich/Rob:
Thanks for the description. It basically says to me, there's not many ways to use it at this point with the exception of a HDTV. In the future, that will change. The TV in my office is not HDTV, the one downstair is.


I went and reread that article Sam, and am clueless how you arrived at that conclusion.
"With a digital signal, the signal is either on or off, so "fuzziness" is not possible. That is not to say that an analog signal always looks fuzzy. A high quality analog signal also produces beautiful, clear images. The signals are just not quite as consistent as digital."
The digital signal is so much sharper consistently. Put a dvd in your pc and watch the difference. The dvi picture is 3 dimensional, almost makes you feel like you are in the movie!


[quote]
I need to ask Rich or Dan--Do I have a AGP slot??

The new pc has a pci-express not Agp. The old unit has agp slot not pci-express.

[Sam Ceccola]

I agree with what you say about DVI. My point however was geared outside of the PC environment. As I stop and think, I have DVD players in the house (not within the PC).

Thanks for the agp info. When I purchase a DVI card, I need to make sure it is used in a agp slot (for the older system).

Thanks

[mylanta]

I agree with what you say about DVI. My point however was geared outside of the PC environment. As I stop and think, I have DVD players in the house (not within the PC).

Thanks for the agp info. When I purchase a DVI card, I need to make sure it is used in a agp slot (for the older system).

Thanks

Earth to Sam...
You have a dvd burner in new pc, and that will play dvd movies....so you do have one in pc now!

[Sam Ceccola]

I went and reread that article Sam, and am clueless how you arrived at that conclusion.

Rich:
Thanks for the education. I was under the impression that a default was setup in the firmware or driver environment. I see I was wrong.

What I should of said is: "they supply you with 2 cables, analog and digital. To hook up the digital, you need a DVI connection."

You folks are trying hard to get me over the "freeze" I have on hardware. I'm learning but I am still very uncomfortable messing around with it.

Thank,
Sam

[mylanta]

Sam,
Here was my course in hardware. When I had my first computer, and this story will prove my late entry, I had a Compaq P 133 with 16 ram. I paid a guy $625 to up to 200 MMX P and 48 ram. When I watched him do that in 20 minutes, (5 of which was waiting for pickup by Compaq on telephone) I made up my mind my face needed to be in the case as much as out so as never to repeat that piece of stupidity again. That was the first and only time I ever paid anyone to touch any of my pc's.

[Dan18960]

I remember going on an interview back in the 90's (EARLY 90's) and the HR (replace with IDIOT) asked if I worked in hardware or software ? ? ? ?:confused:

Well, in the 80's I spent a lot of time in programming and found out that without being familiar with hardware, I couldn't design my programs to be crossover acceptable. Back then IBM had their algorithms (8086 cpu) and the "compatiables" (8088's) had their own algorithms. Now you could work around that by compiling your applications to apply the assembly code to error out and proceed to another call statement that worked on the alternate algorithm statements all transparent to the end user.

So it was just as much a requirement when entering the "Personal Computer" environment to gain a knowledge of the hardware vs software interfaces.

I MAY have the 80's cpu reversed - you KNOW that was a LONG LONG LONG LONG time ago and what is not needed, I tend to forget about.:)

[Sam Ceccola]

So it was just as much a requirement when entering the "Personal Computer" environment to gain a knowledge of the hardware vs software interfaces.
I agree. My first job out of college (1966) was an operator for a Univac 1206 military computer and a Univac 1004 (large wire panel had to be done for programming) . After about 3 to 4 months learning and doing both machines, I moved into the analyst and programming area. I have always said, and still say today, "how in the hell can you program the machine correctly if you don't know how it works". That philosophy also helped me out in my teaching career.

As far as my comments on hardware in the earlier post, I think I know more than the average person when it deals with hardware. New items are coming out all the time, I just don't keep up with it. Dan, fellows like you, Rich, and many of the other people on this board, work with this stuff in your jobs. You and the others "need to know". Me, I'm retired. I do the programming and the web design to keep my mind going and it is something I fully enjoy.

Like many other people, I try to find the answers first before posting a question on the BBS. If I am having trouble doing that, I am not hesitant to ask and I value everyone's opinion. I would rather be right the first time.

Sam