HDMI/DisplayPort/DVI

[iHap]

I've been reading off and on about video card cables and I honestly can't make sense of it. I just got a new 5770 which has all three outputs (HDMI, DisplayPort, and 2xDVI). I'm curious if HDMI or DP is better to use over HDMI with my current setup of DVI-DVI.

So what would you suggest, do I upgrade my cable or is DVI just fine? From what i read HDMI is obviously better, but is going past the DVI 7.92 Gbit/s threshold necessary? I ask because I've been playing the couple of games that has DX11 and it got me curious what's coming out of my monitor.

Specs if you're wondering.
My Monitor:
http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=erP006LelxWnWNBn

Video Card:
HD5770 850M 1GB DDR5 DP HDMI DUAL DVI PCI-E


School Me, please.

[biosc1]

DVI is fine. I have computers here that have dual monitors, one DVI, one HDMI. No difference in quality that I can tell...though, to be fair, I'm not pushing Blu-Rays through them.

[Grifter]

The only time you'd need to use HDMI over DVI is if you were plugging your PC into a home theater receiver and wanted to output audio and video into the same source. The display port is used for higher end monitors or with a DVI adapter when using ATI's Eyefinity setup.

[nabokovfan87]

Look at the bandwidth of each of the cables, use this to calculate the required bandwidth, and use that to select which to use. They can all be used no matter the port through adapters and such, but the cable might not be able to handle the signal.

http://myhometheater.homestead.com/bandwidthcalculator.html

[muddi900]

DVI is fine for regular use. HDMI cables, though, are usually thinner and easier to manage. As far as video output goes, HDMI nad DVI are the same.

[nabokovfan87]

DVI is fine for regular use. HDMI cables, though, are usually thinner and easier to manage. As far as video output goes, HDMI nad DVI are the same.

I run a 1920x1080 monitor, used to be on a DVI cable. Found out about the bandwidth differences and just decided to switch to the higher thickness and newer HDMI cable (a high speed one from monoprice, 28 AWG I believe), and there is a distinct differenct in image quality. This is from the same card, same everything, just a different cord.

To give you an idea:

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/fovcalc.php

Click down where it says "[+] Show Common Resolutions and Cable Types [+]"

Common Cable Types With Associated Bandwidth Rates

VGA or DVI-A = 6.4 Gbit/s (400 MHz)
DVI-D = 3.96 Gbit/s (165 MHz)
DVI-D Dual Link = 7.92 Gbit/s (330 MHz)
HDMI v1.0/1.1/1.2 = 3.96 Gbit/s (165 MHz)
HDMI v1.3/1.4 = 8.16 Gbit/s (340 MHz)
DisplayPort v1.0/1.1 = 8.64 Gbit/s (360 MHz)
DisplayPort v1.2 = 17.28 Gbit/s (720 MHz)


And using the top section to calculate bandwidth:

Total Resolution = 1920by 1080Pixels (inc bezel comp.)
Total pixels per frame = 2.07M (inc bezel comp.)
Surround aspect ratio = 16 : 9 or 1.777778(inc bezel comp.)
Individual monitor aspect ratio = 16 : 9 or 1.777778 New hFOV = 106.26 (inc bezel comp.)
New vFOV = 73.74 (calculated from new hFOV.)
Video bitrate = 2.99Gbit/s
Video bandwidth = 124.42MHz

Then consider that most DVI cables aren't DVI-D, but Single link DVI-D/I which would be the smaller, 165 Mhz which should be fine, but HDMI is double that, so why not just use it?

I don't see why not. Cables are around 8 to 12 dollars (again, monoprice) and the adapters are often included or less they 7 dollars. Auto syncing of audio, because HDMI carries audio as well, and some other random things, but I think you get the point.