DVI out to Big screen TV

[maxpower2078]

I just built a computer for some people to hook up to their big screen tv. Here is the crappy part, I didn't notice until I was all done that it had a DVI input on the back, I didn't know this and the video card I got doesn't have DVI out. My question is if it is worth it to get another video card with DVI out to display in HDTV resolution rather than going through S-video cable. Currently I think it is a little fuzzy especially compared to a regular CRT monitor next to it. Anyone know or know of a site for some comparisons.

[HatchetMan]

CRT? My rear projection Mitsubishi has DVI input which states "Do NOT connect to a computer". I think it causes burn in or fade or something, what else could it possibly mean? DVI on a LCD or plasma, well that's a diff story, I think.

[BJ_M]

it will be better ussually to use dvi ... better than s-video for sure ..

[maxpower2078]

Well I figured DVI would be better, but the old farts that I built it for don't want to mess with it anymore. It was built so they could play their flight sims on it and browse the internet, but the problem is that the internet is hard to read unless you crank up the font, but then it may not fit in the screen horizontally. That is weird to have a DVI input and then they suggest not to plug a computer into it. hmm... anyways, I think I will still try and convince them into a DVI card.

[HatchetMan]

That is weird to have a DVI input and then they suggest not to plug a computer into it. hmm... anyways, I think I will still try and convince them into a DVI card.

I guess it's only for HDTV and DVD, on my set anyways. Asus makes great low buck DVI vid cards. Remember there are both DVI-I and DVI-D. (ebay is best place to find cables - oh wait, my Sam's Club even carries some nice ones now)

[maxpower2078]

HatchetMan Said:

Remember there are both DVI-I and DVI-D

Oh, crap another thing I overlooked, so what is the difference, I and D, hmm... interlace and which would be best.

[BJ_M]

one is digital and one is analog+digital dvi ....

[BJ_M]

nothing to do w/ interlacing

[HatchetMan]

DVI-I 29 (28+1) pin = digital and analog
DVD-D 25 (24+1) pin = digital
^those numbers are for the dual link cables^
single link cables = less pins
This is where I purchased from -
http://search.stores.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=dvi&sid=135939&store=STSI.COM&co...&submit=Search

[Ste]

Let me take a shot at this. Anyone (and everyone) is free to yell at me if I'm wrong.
Almost all DVI inputs on HDTVs have HDCP copy protection. Here's some info:

http://www.digital-cp.com/

Basically what it comes down to is that the DVI output on whatever you're hooking up to the TV must also be HDCP (in short - HDCP output needs to be connected to HDCP input). It needs to match at both ends. The only components that have HDCP DVI connections are HDTV boxes and DVD players, and that's what the DVI input on the HDTV was designed for (which HatchetMan already pointed out). PC video cards with DVI don't have this kind of copy protection, so hooking one up to an HDTV that does have HDCP might cause compatibility issues. Maybe that's why the Mitsubishi TV you guys were talking about says "Do NOT connect to a computer."

On another note, for certain video cards you can purchase component video adapters to attach to your card to give the computer an HDTV component video output. Depending on your card, you might be able to get one of these.

[manono]

Hi-

Anyone (and everyone) is free to yell at me if I'm wrong.

OK, you're wrong. My TV (Samsung HLN4365W) with DVI enforces HDCP. My DVD/MPEG-4 player (Bravo D1), also with DVI, doesn't have HDCP. No problems with either over DVI. Here's a not complete list. Scroll down to the "Televisions with DVI or HDMI Support" portion of it:

http://www.digiupdate.com/G002_DVI_HDMI_and_HDCP.html

I'm not quite sure why it was recommended not to use the DVI for a video card. I know people that use it from an HTPC to an HDTV or projector.

[Ste]

This is from the link you gave above:

Device compatibility issue: we are already seeing an incompatibility between HDCP enforcing transmitters and receivers that are not HDCP enabled. Now as the standard evolves, each generation will continue to see the same compatibility problem.

You said that you had a non-HDCP transmitter (the DVD player) and an HDCP receiver (the TV). The article mentions incompatibility for setups of the reverse nature: an HDCP transmitter to a non-HDCP receiver. So I was half-wrong. Thanks for correcting it though.

But you're right, that still doesn't explain why the TV says not to hook it up to a PC.