DVI Explained
What is DVI?
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) is a video display interface developed in 1999 by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). It was designed to transmit a video signal between your computer and your monitor. The standard was intended to be a replacement for the aging SVGA. it has since been surpassed by the HDMI and Displayport standards.
The main specifications of DVI cable are:
- DVI-I (integrated, combines digital and analogue in the same connector; digital may be single or dual link)
- DVI-D (digital only, single link or dual link)
- DVI-A (analogue only)
DVI-I Dual Link
The DVI-I Dual Link connector has all 24 data pins populated as well as the 4 analogue pins around the spade connector and is capable of transmitting either a digital signal or an analogue signal. It features two TMDS links for a maximum bandwidth of 9.9 Gbps, supporting resolutions up to 2560 x 1600p.
Please note: While the cable will support digital or analogue signal, will not convert between the two.
DVI-I Single Link
The DVI-I Single Link connector has 18 data pins populated as well as the 4 analogue pins around the spade connector and is capable of transmitting either a digital signal or an analogue signal. It features a single TMDS link for a maximum bandwidth of 4.95 Gbps, supporting resolutions up to 1920 x 1080p.
Please note: While the cable will support digital or analogue signal, will not convert between the two.
DVI-D Dual Link
The DVI-D Dual Link connector has all 24 data pins populated but is missing the analogue pins around the spade connector, so it is only capable of transmitting a digital signal. It features two TMDS links for a maximum bandwidth of 9.9 Gbps, supporting resolutions up to 2560 x 1600p.
DVI-D Single Link
The DVI-D Single Link connector has 18 data pins populated but is missing the analogue pins around the spade connector, so it is only capable of transmitting a digital signal. It features a single TMDS link for a maximum bandwidth of 4.95 Gbps, supporting resolutions up to 1920 x 1080p
DVI-A
The DVI-A connector has 12 data pins populated as well as the 4 analogue pins around the spade connector, it is capable of transmitting an analogue signal only.
