DVI Cable

[knoba]

The reason I'm saying DVI-I is because it covers both analogue & digital signals. The DVI-D only covers digital.

Hence monitor not getting the right inputs if the signals/requirements are not met....

I like Maplins since they commercialised, they have a superb "try before you buy" returns policy. "... it didn't work on my Linux system!" They never argue it...

You're right about components shopping though; RS, farnell & digi-corp are far better.

 

[rtbcomp]

The monitor shouldn't require both analogue & digital, one or the other surely?

The manual that came with the monitor doesn't specify which DVI cable to use. I'm pretty sure the first one I tried was DVI-I

 

[knoba]

Who knows in this cheap manufacturing society rtb? That's why I insist on good OEM support & open source. If it's proprietary one has to wait for the vendor...

I've seen "lite" versions of hardware (& software) before, where they use old tech with new, which is essentially a new interface on an old bit o' kit. The card may be using analogue signals for the VGA, and then converting them back to digital at the DVI interface, before it sends them to the screen.

It's a bloody minefield when you're changing; BIOS, screen resolutions, Drivers, cables, jumpers, etc... cycling through the possibilities every time one makes a change. At times my house feels more like "Bletchley Park" than a living room. I think having to dress-up as a blasted WWII General really does take the biscuit, though... wot, wot...

The DVI-I cable is worth a try...

 

[rtbcomp]

The card may be using analogue signals for the VGA, and then converting them back to digital at the DVI interface, before it sends them to the screen.

That's what I guessed was going on, the reason for wanting DVI was so that I could put a VGA monitor in another room and keep an eye on the screen when I was away from my desk.

Bletchley Park --- I actually interfaced a WWII Creed 7B teleprinter to a Sinclair ZX80

 

[PTvor]

I gave up repairing things electronic about 10 years ago , both for myself and other people .. life is much better now.

It's always worth having a look. It's amazing how often faults in modern equipment turn out to be bad contacts, a loose wire or an obviously bulging cap which can be replaced.

I fix things for myself, I fix things for friends, strictly on the basis that whatever it is is beyond hope and was going to be thrown away anyway, and succeed more often than not.

Most modern electronics is just not made to be repaired, and the cases are snapped together in the factory with the clear intention that they should never be opened. service data is hard to come by or non-existent. Trying to make money from fixing such things is an obvious fool's errand.

I've been watching this DVI thread with interest as I'm just about to order new PC hardware. Standards change and I'll be using DVI. I think I'll re-check the order with some googling for problems. I thought all computer cables were DVI-D.

There are VGA to DVI converters for a few quid, which apparently work with some loss of quality. Not a nice solution, but maybe better than nothing.

 

[rtbcomp]

You're right about reparing stuff, it is worth a quick look, as I found out with the remote controlled plug I mentioned earlier. A quick look inside revealed a manufacturing fault which was easy to fix, easier than getting an RMA number and going to the Post Office (remember those?) in a car I can't afford to run!

I once got a virtually new faulty microwave off Freecycle, it had all the bells and whistles and the fault was a wire came off one of the interlock microswitches. Fixed it in 5 mins, knocked it off my bench and destoyed it.

 

[knoba]

the reason for wanting DVI was so that I could put a VGA monitor in another room and keep an eye on the screen when I was away from my desk.

Arhh! Hmmm... I'm not sure if you can use both outputs (VGA & DVI) on your graphics card (or VGA / DVI cable) at the same time... Manufacturers usually want you to buy their other, more expensive, equipment for that. They're not charities... ...and don't we know it!

You can buy a "dual head" graphics card that can display two separate outputs to dual screens.

Or you can buy a "splitter", which would be a more economical solution, to display the same output on two screens, since you're going to be routing the cabling over some distance (signal loss) it might be worth checking out as a better overall solution.

Tech is such a minefield! I wouldn't give up on this DVI solution though. Where there's a wheel...

Quite a few years back, while living on a house boat, in Queensland Aus, I replaced my (beloved) Vaio's motherboard smt caps, in candle light, during a storm. Caps had to come from States, paid for in UK & sent to Aus... Cost me 40 bucks all in and the Vaio lasted another 5 years.

 

[rtbcomp]

I've just opened the machine up and there's a label on the card which says

"Radeon 9200 SE
64 bit 128 MB DDR
With DVI TV"

Could this mean the DVI port only works with a TV card? What is the round connector between the DVI and VGA ports? Will Google find the solution? Wait for the next thrilling installment of "The DVI Saga"

 

[rtbcomp]

http://www.superwarehouse.com/Asus_Radeon_9200_SE_TD_128MB_Video_Card/A9200SE_TD_128/p/408831

Gives the best description of the card so far.

The 3rd connector is S-Video, the DVI connector is 24 pin, ie DVI-D

General concensus seems to be "ditch the Radeon and buy a proper graphics card."

 

[knoba]

...and now, LIVE from the UK, it's; The DVI show, and here's your host... (let's give him a warm welcome...) RTB...

rtbcomp
Could this mean the DVI port only works with a TV card? What is the round connector between the DVI and VGA ports? Will Google find the solution? Wait for the next thrilling installment of "The DVI Saga"

1. No.
   
2. The round connector is a "S-video output" for TV's. It has been replaced by component video and digital video standards, such as DVI and HDMI.
   
3. Computer say's; No. ...cough

 

[rtbcomp]

I now understand what it means by "DVI TV", it means a DVI output to connect to a TV.

The latest driver for this card on the ATI/AMD website is Nov 2006!

I'm still uneasy about this pin 24 clock thing, so what if in the good old days this was used to clock the data, but the "standard" evolved and they now use a different clock, so cable manufacturers decided to omit pin 24, but my card being ancient still needs it?

I'm tempted to get the other DVI cable back for 3 quid and have a go at adding the pin 24 connection.

 

[PTvor]

This is an AGP card and all the action has moved to PCI-E. You can still get AGP cards for about £30, not much if everything works, a lot to have the same problem. You could also look on ebay or try the local computer shop, they might have an old AGP card hanging round which doesn't have these problems and which they'll let you have for a few quid.

For my next PC build I was moving away from nVidia and to ATI (Radeon) because I was sick of driver problems with nVidia using Linux, now I'm having doubts. Out of the frying pan .......

Is there any way of trying this with another monitor? If you're in for a new PC anyway, you just want something to tide you over for a bit.

 

[mike os]

VGA is not that different tbh... seriously doubt you would notice any difference unless the screen is heuegelllllyyy gynormous... or over 30"

 

[PTvor]

I got the impression that rtbcomp's flashy new monitor doesn't do VGA, which was why I suggested a VGA to DVI converter earlier on, to go from the card to the monitor. If it's got problems but is usable, you can live with it if you know it's only for a bit.

 

[rtbcomp]

It's not worth the expense of getting a new card, I'm happy enough with the VGA, but I just thought I'd like to try the DVI, especially as my new machine will have a TV card in it. The screen is a 22 inch widescreen one. It does have VGA & DVI inputs.

 

[mike os]

it will be fine till you get the new one

 

[scott0031]

Just a quick update. The co i bought all the parts from for the new PC are going to check a working lead for continuity and give me the results. When i get them i will post them for future reference for anyone else having similar problems.



Kind regards,



Scott

 

[rtbcomp]

Just a quick update. The co i bought all the parts from for the new PC are going to check a working lead for continuity and give me the results. When i get them i will post them for future reference for anyone else having similar problems.



Kind regards,



Scott

Any progress?

 

[scott0031]

Welllllllllllll........................... yes and no! The information they gave em was as follows: Pretty much any of the dvi leads should work, so they sent a new lead this time is was a dvi-d single link. So not the same cable as originally sent. sighhhhhhhhhhhhh. Plug in boot up PC and guess what............... nothing!


I have given up now as this mother board has no on board graphics, so if i send the graphics card back i have no operational pc. This should be plug and play right?

Given up with it!



Kind regards,

Scott

 

[rtbcomp]

Typical - "Pretty much any" "Should" you wouldn't think computers were designed around logic!

Thanks for trying anyway.