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DVI - Digital Visual Interface

DVI - Digital Visual Interface


The push is on to make displays digital, whether they’re legacy CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes) or newer LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays)—because a digital monitor provides both excellent picture quality and higher transfer bandwidths.


Three main types of DVI's

There are three main types of digital video interfaces: P&D, DFP, and DVI. P&D (Plug & Display, also known as EVC), the earliest of these technologies, supports both digital and analogue RGB connections and is now used primarily on projectors. DFP ( Digital Flat-Panel Port) was the first digital-only connector on displays and graphics cards; it’s being phased out.


There are several types of connectors: DVI-D, DVI-I, DVI-A, DFP, and EVC.

  • DVI-D is a digital-only connector for use between a digital video source and monitors. DVI-D eliminates analog conversion and improves the display. It can be used when one or both connections are DVI-D.
  • DVI-A (analog) is used to carry a DVI signal from a computer to an analog VGA device, such as a display. If one or both of your connections are DVI-A, use this cable. If one connection is DVI and the other is VGA HD15, you need a cable or adapter with both connectors.
  • DVI-I (integrated) supports both digital and analog RGB connections. It can transmit either a digital-to-digital signals or an analog-to-analog signal. It is used by some manufacturers on products instead of separate analog and digital connectors. If both connectors are DVI-I, you can use any DVI cable, but a DVI-I is recommended.
  • DFP (Digital Flat Panel) was an early digital-only connector used on some displays.
  • EVC (also known as P&D, for Plug & Display), another older connector, handles digital and analog connections.
DVI-D,Single-Link connnector image
DVI-D, Single-Link
DVI-I,Single-Link connnector image
DVI-I, Single-Link
DVI-A connnector image
DVI-A
DVI-D, Dual-Link connnector image
DVI-D, Dual-Link
DVI-I,Dual-Link connnector image
DVI-I, Dual-Link
DFP connnector image
DFP

TMDS

All these standards are based on transition-minimised differential signalling (TMDS). In a typical single-line digital signal, voltage is raised to a high level and decreased to a low level to create transitions that convey data. TMDS uses a pair of signal wires to minimise the number of transitions needed to transfer data. When one wire goes to a high-voltage state, the other goes to a low-voltage state. This balance increases the data-transfer rate and improves accuracy.


Learn more:
HDMI - The digital interface to combine HD video, multichannel audio and more.