DVI vs VGA... am I missing out? All opinions greatly appreciated pls

[Formula350]

So I got a monitor for Christmas that I put on my list, sadly in my haste to make a list of things I didn't think I'd get, I didn't notice that this monitor doesn't even have a DVI input :S (Samsung 923NW for anyone interested) That and its native res is only 1440x900, quite a bit smaller real estate than I'm used to (1360x1024, yes 1360), so I'd really be sacrificing desktop space unless I felt like going well beyond it's native.

That's where you all come in, should I return it and take a few bucks out of my pocket to get one that has a DVI and a higher res, or is the VGA going to look just as good as the DVI and the jump above it's native res not hurt the IQ all that much? I'm looking for either your knowledge in the matter, your opinion on it or both. As well as if you feel I should stay away from any of the following, and preferably why. From what I've been able to gather, Acer makes a darn decent LCD now, the Hanns line is quite a good buy and I've owned a Viewsonic CRT (traded it for this CRT actually) which was REALLY nice looking, and my parent's Viewsonic HDTV isn't too shabby either.

The upgrade candidates are:
Acer X203Wbd Black 20" 5ms (2500:1ACM, what's ACM mean?)
ViewSonic VA2026W Black-Silver 20" 5ms
Hanns·G Hi-221DPB Black 22" 5ms
Acer X223Wbd Black 22" 5ms
ASUS VW224U Black 22" 2ms(GTG)

And the only 2 19" Candidates
Acer X193W+BD Black 19" 5ms (Helluva price)
ViewSonic X Series VX1962wm Black 19" 5ms, 2ms (GTG) (Not quite sure on what GTG means yet...)

I'm currently using a Gateway VX1100 with a Mitsubishi Trinitron tube that was Remaned way back in 99 (had it since probably 2000) and is FINALLY starting to die. And still only then when it gets really warm, and only is unusably when it gets REALLY warm, so this thing is a damn trooper, I salute you

Thanks all.

 

[IggSter]

With regard to VGA vs DVI, DVI all the way. The picture is much sharper, colours more vibrant and much better contrast.

So my vote...swap it for a DVI monitor.

As for which off your list: the viewsonic ones I've read are very good and I dont have any experience with the others sorry


ps Merry Christmas

 

[BrooksyX]

DVI is way better. Not a huge difference but definitely a noticeable one. You will appreciate using DVI. Worth swapping it in my opinion.

 

[Formula350]

Well the votes are going how I was planning, so assuming they continue along that path, I just need to decide upon one of them.

I'm also opened to any other monitors in those price ranges ($120-170usd, limit stands w/ or w/o free shipping, but prefer free heh) if anyone has a different recommendation. I'd love to have a Samsung, but they're all just a wee on the pricey side :\

 

[Woody112]

If your ever going to run blue ray on your computer you have to have a DVI connection or HDMI and the monitor must be HDCP compliant. If it has HDMI then it more than likely is.
If all your going to be doing is gaming, surfing the web and what not then VGA will work just fine. However if your into photo editing then DVI will give a more accurate picture as in color tone.
I'm shure their are other benefits to running a digital signal but when I made the switch I never really noticed any other than photo editing.

 

[IggSter]

Just a quick update:

Ive just performed a quick test using a dell 24" and NEC 17", switching them between DVI and VGA.

By far the most noticable difference is when viewing dark text on a light background (web pages, email, etc). When using VGA the letters appear to be much more out of focus and some letter have distinct halo of either red or blue (appears as tho the pixels are not 100% aligned on screen)
DVI is just much much sharper and more exact

In movies/games where the screen content is constantly changing the differences are hardly noticeable.

 

[Woody112]

Just a quick update:

Ive just performed a quick test using a dell 24" and NEC 17", switching them between DVI and VGA.

By far the most noticable difference is when viewing dark text on a light background (web pages, email, etc). When using VGA the letters appear to be much more out of focus and some letter have distinct halo of either red or blue (appears as tho the pixels are not 100% aligned on screen)
DVI is just much much sharper and more exact

In movies/games where the screen content is constantly changing the differences are hardly noticeable.

That was stand up of ya to do that. TPUers hookin each other up.

 

[BrooksyX]

I hate using my parents computer that is downstairs cause they are hooked up to their monitor via VGA. My computer is hooked up my LCD via DVI. It almost hurts my eyes to use their computer.

 

[IggSter]

Sorry for double post: But it might be worth looking here http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/ as they have very good reviews and will discuss the pro/cons of the diff tft types TN, VA, IPS etc.

And just for your information, generally the following viewing angles mean:
160/160 or 160/170 is a TN panel
178/178 is VA or IPS.

 

[Formula350]

Well, I've noticing that the text on this is really crisp, but I'm having a problem with adjusting the brightness/contrast how I'd like it. The screen is either really nice until a predominantly white background appears, or too dark for the white background. Like this page is kinda killing me heh I'm also not used to the DPI of an LCD. Maybe a screen with a higher native res will have a higher DPI, but I honestly know VERY little in regards to TFTs, and it might actually not be how they work.

EDIT: I'm pretty surprised at this, the angle of view is pretty much straight on, or else the screen gets warm colors. Me not likey. That and while the text is super crisp, it's causing my eyes HELL with trying to focus. I wish I paid more attention to my friend's Samsung (much better model than this one) when I was over there last week :| As the evening progresses though, I'm not liking this thing more and more, and I've only been using it for about an hour and 15mins :S

 

[Formula350]

Well hopefully Buy.com will grant me an RMA so I can get a different one, but their silly return policy states 14 days from date of purchase, which was up EXACTLY yesterday (Xmas). I plead my case, but don't expect to hear back till Monday. I got a few more bucks that I didn't anticipate and have decided on the Samsung 2233BW 22". I'd LOVE to get the T240 (the one my buddy got) or the T200 even, but those are waaay more than I have to spend heh. The 2233BW is really nice and $179.99 after rebate. Only thing I wish was it had a glossy screen like my friends laptop, that thing looks amazing with that cover over it.

Specs:
Type: a-si TFT/TN
Viewable Size: 22" Wide
Native Resolution: 1680 x 1050
Pixel Pitch (mm): 0.282
Aspect Ratio: 16:10
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1/20000:1 Dynamic
Viewing Angle (H/V): 170/160 (CR>10)
Response Time: 5ms
Light Source: CCFL
Brightness (Typical): 300 cd/m2
Panel Surface: Matte

Video Input Signal
Maximum Color Supported: 16.7M
Analog: Analog RGB
Digital: DVI (with HDCP)
Frequency (H/V): 30~81kHz(H) / 56~75Hz(V)
Sync H/V: Separated, Composite; H/V, Sync on Green

 

[pepsi71ocean]

VGA and DVI huge difference when you get to higher resolutions. I hooked my computer(system SPecs) up to a 80 inch LCD projection TV and huge difference. DVI is just amazing compared to VGA, especially when the monitors get above 20 inches, and your resolutions go above 14xx,xxx

 

[hat]

I dunno, my 19" HDTV I have hooked up to my pc looks orgasmic, and it uses VGA. It also has HDMI, but I would need a HDMI cable and a HDMI/DVI adaptor. I wouldn't mind trying it out, but I can imagine that an HDMI cable and the adaptor would cost a bit of money for something I probably wouldn't notice too much anyway. I use 1440x900

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Um, VGA is capable of at least 2048x1536. VGA is best for analog monitors (like CRTs).

DVI is digital and best for digital screens (like LCD). DVI with a single link can only go to 1920×1200 @ 60 Hz. DVI with a dual link can go to 2560×1600 @ 60 Hz.

 

[hat]

I believe the point he's trying to make is that DVI looks a lot better than VGA. At 2048x1536 VGA would be kinda crappy.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Not on a 22" CRT.

 

[pepsi71ocean]

i mean a LCD monitor, i ditch CRt's a long time ago, and i know that when my 22inch HDTV tv tuner monitor was hooked up to my old compaq, it was VGA, and the signal was in a decent state, but kinda crappy, compared to LCD tv

 

[m4gicfour]

I dunno, my 19" HDTV I have hooked up to my pc looks orgasmic, and it uses VGA. It also has HDMI, but I would need a HDMI cable and a HDMI/DVI adaptor. I wouldn't mind trying it out, but I can imagine that an HDMI cable and the adaptor would cost a bit of money for something I probably wouldn't notice too much anyway. I use 1440x900

semi-offtopic, but on my 55" LCD HDTV, HDMI makes quite a bit of difference (purely subjective, can't prove it, sorry ) VGA feels, I don't know... Fuzzy? not fuzzy as in unsharp but fuzzy as in not quite correct... like somebody was saying earlier about color being a bit off around text. I don't know quite how to describe it. On HDMI now I run 1920x1080 on my HD4850 and I love it. to the OP: HDMI is the sucessor to DVI, so this might be appliccable to you too?

anyway, since HDMI/DVI are digital; it doesn't matter the quality of the cable/connector so long as the signal is good enough to not overwhelm any error correction and fail completely (I.E. Sattellite TV corruption during thunderstorms due to trees blowing back and forth infront of dish - blue/green corrupted macrosquares covering parts of screen; image freezing; audio loss)

Simply put, you don't need Monster Cables. (even analog, Monster is overkill under most circumstances) Check monoprice.com for dirt cheap cables and adaptors - every one I've gotten has been high quality, even for analog signals. Might be worth trying out that HDMI.
10ft. HDMI cable: $6.17
HDMI/DVI adaptor: $3.63

Shipping is cheap (if you use USPS standard) even for me, in canada.

 

[hat]

Yeah, my screen does look a bit jacked up around text and etc, kinda like a ghostly image that continues on stretching out to the right of the screen. It's barely noticeable, and only on certian backgrounds though. I'm sure if I had HDMI, this wouldn't exist.

 

[m4gicfour]

Yeah, it definitely makes a difference at high res, I imagine you'd get diminishing returns as you lower the res.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

HDMI < DVI

The only thing HDMI has on DVI is that HDMI carries an audio signal too while DVI is strictly video.

 

[m4gicfour]

HDMI is the successor to DVI. In fact it IS DVI, but with support for audio and encryption. You can use an HDMI adaptor with any DVI device, either way (DVI source to HDMI receiver or vice versa). You can extend DVI runs with HDMI cable and an adaptor at either end and vice versa. They are the same thing. DVI = HDMI. And yes, the encryption part sucks, but thats the way the industry is moving. I wish it wasn't but it is.

clicky for the exact differences

source

 

[FordGT90Concept]

HDMI is not a successor for DVI. HDMI is for home entertainment use. DVI is for professional/computing. DVI was intended to replace VGA (the 15-pin D-sub). HDMI was intended to replace S-Video and RCA plug R/L audio. DVI is capable of much greater bandwidth due to the dual-link capability.

HDMI: 4.9 Gbit/s
DVI (single-link) 3.96 Gbit/s
DVI (dual-link): 7.92 Gbit/s

DisplayPort is supposed to replace DVI. It has a maximum bandwidth of 8.64 Gbit/s but also includes DRM features. Although DisplayPort was approved almost a year ago, I have yet to see a single device that uses it. As such, I wouldn't be surprised if something else actually replaces DVI.

 

[Darknova]

HDMI is not a successor for DVI. HDMI is for home entertainment use. DVI is for professional/computing. DVI was intended to replace VGA (the 15-pin D-sub). HDMI was intended to replace S-Video and RCA plug R/L audio. DVI is capable of much greater bandwidth due to the dual-link capability.

HDMI: 4.9 Gbit/s
DVI (single-link) 3.96 Gbit/s
DVI (dual-link): 7.92 Gbit/s

DisplayPort is supposed to replace DVI. It has a maximum bandwidth of 8.64 Gbit/s but also includes DRM features. Although DisplayPort was approved almost a year ago, I have yet to see a single device that uses it. As such, I wouldn't be surprised if something else actually replaces DVI.

The specification for HDMI lists bandwidth as 10.2Gbit/s

EDIT:

HDMI 1.0 is 4.9Gbit/s
HDMI 1.3 is 10.2Gbit/s

 

[r9]

With VGA cable the picture could have snowing effect. If you are using VGA cable make sure the cable not to be in touch with other power cables. You will survive.
And yes DVI is better And the native for your monitor is 1440x900
http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/...e=monitors&subtype=lcd&model_cd=LS19HANKBUXAA