Hey guys, I need to buy a video card to replace my current card.
The card I'm wanting to buy is 2nd hand and it has 2 DVI ports and 1 S—Video port. I just wanted to know if I'd need a HDMI port in the future or if the DVI ports would be enough?
What does HDMI have over DVI?
Thank you for any help!
What about Display Port VS HDMI?
DisplayPort can do higher resolutions than HDMI. In terms of video resolution it can output 4k @ 60hz (as of version 1.2) but the upcoming 1.3 standard can do 8192 x 4320 (8K) resolution or it can also do dual 4k streams. It'll also do 3d streams.
HDMI 1.4 is the current standard and can transmit 4k streams but at only 30hz, or 4096 x 2160 at 24hz. This'll be rectified soon in version 2.0 and we can expect full 60hz support at 4k.
HDMI does have a trick up it's sleeve and it's that HDMI can also carry ethernet (LAN) as well as remote control commands (for home theatre buffs, this means they can control multiple devices using one remote).
Displayport on the other hand is also still backwards compatible with old-skool VGA via an adapter and it can also output multiple video streams at once. For example, you could connect your laptop to an old projector and with multi-stream support you can use your laptop with 3 displays at once, using just one port.
DisplayPort however is not here to outright replace HDMI. These two connectors usually coexist with one another and many GPU's will have both types, or if they only have DP connectors it's usually that the product is bundled with some adapters to convert DP to HDMI.
Wow! A lot of information, thank you. Just wondering because my new GTX 970 has like 3 DP and only 1 HDMI port. My monitors only have HDMI and DVI though :(
I see, thank you!
So DVI is good enough?
That depends on your needs.
if you're buying a card with dvi only and s-video (!!!) chances are its too bloody old
HDMI DP are the future and really, i wouldnt pay money for any card that doesnt have that
if you're using it on an old crappy dvi only monitor and not using it for any 3d type stuff then yeah go for it
dbl
Thanks so much!
If I buy a monitor in the future that only has a HDMI port, I can just use a 'DVI to HDMI' adapter right so that the graphics card will work with it?
sure, they are a coupla bucks off ebay and they come with most new video cards now
Thanks. By using a DVI to HDMI adapter, am I losing any video quality?
no loss in image quality.
HDMI does sound as well as video. DVI does not have pin-outs for sound — it was a connector standard originally only meant for computer displays without any speakers.
If you are connecting your PC to a television you will probably want to invest in a more modern GPU that does HDMI, unless you wish to connect a seperate cable for audio. Going by your previous posts, you seem to be wanting to setup something with your bedroom TV?
Do note, HDMI and DVI are compatible with one another through the use of an adapter. If you have HDMI display, you can still connect it to a DVI-only video card. The sound won't work through this connection though.
For some extra information on connection standards, watch Linus's tech tips video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f38sotYHqtA