DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface. This visual display interface was first developed by DDWG (Digital Display Working Group). The purpose of developing it was to create an industry standard for transmitting digital video content to digital display devices such as projectors, flat-panel LCD and display monitors. Another purpose was to replace the traditional VGA standard.
History
DVI was designed by Digital Display Working Group(DDWG) in the year 1999, to replace the existing analog transmission method used by VGA with the digital mode of transmission. DVI allowed computer monitors, projectors and other display hardware to display more colors than the existing VGA technology.
Types of DVI cable connectors
There are mainly 3 types some of which contain a single link and a double link as well. Dual-link DVI connector contains 6 more pins as compared to a single-link DVI connector to allow another transmitter to enhance the bandwidth to support resolution up to 2560 × 1600 as compared to 1920 × 1200 resolution obtained from the single-link connector.
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DVI-I Single Link
The DVI-I Single Link has three rows, each consisting of six pins and also contains two contacts. It can be used with both analog and digital applications as the connector is integrated.
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DVI-I Dual Link
The DVI-I Dual Link has three rows, with eight pins each along with two contacts. More pins are present to accommodate a dual connection. It can also be used with both analog and digital applications as well.
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DVI-D Single Link
The DVI-D Single Link has three rows, with six pins each without any contact. It can be used with digital applications only.
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DVI-D Dual Link
The DVI-D Single Link has three rows, with eight pins each without any contact. More pins are present to accommodate a dual connection. It can be used with digital applications only.
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DVI-A
The DVI-A has three rows. The first row has five pins, the second has four pins, and the last row has three pins along with 2 contacts. It can be used with analog applications only.
Advantages
- DVI transmits digital signals and thus the information which is in the digital form need not be converted. Thus it reduced a lot of processing resulting in greater transmission speeds.
- DVI can transfer both digital and analog signals whereas VGA can only transfer analog signals
- DVI exhibits remarkably clearer and sharper picture quality as compared to VGA
- DVI connectors support resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 pixels for single-link format and 2560 x 1600 resolution for dual-link format
- DVI connectors are Plug and Play and do not require the system to be restarted as in VGA
Disadvantages
- It is an older technology with a limited amount of supported resolution.
- The color capacity of DVI is less than its successors.