Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Depending on what you're doing, you may or may not need digital video output for your LCD monitor.
I'm thinking of buying a TFT (LCD) screen. The model which I can afford only has analogue inputs, what do I lose out on if I don't have digital inputs?
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I love my LCD monitor. I highly recommend them. Not only are they clearer than their older CRT counterparts, but in general they use less power and take up less space.
But what's the difference between an analog or digital input?
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In a nutshell, the difference is sharpness.
An analog signal will be somewhat less sharp and has the possibility of some small amount of ghosting depending on the quality of the cable and connection to your computer.
Because there's no digital to analog and back to digital conversion - a digital signal avoids all that. The images will generally be much crisper and clearer.
If you're stuck with only an analog connection, either because your computer has no digital output or because your monitor has no digital connection, you may or may not notice. It depends on what you're doing, the quality of your video card, cable, and specific monitor.
Either way, it'll still be much better than a regular glass monitor.
Article C2251 - December 31, 2004 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
August 8, 2007 4:39 AM
Hi Leo.
I have a Dell desktop computer (Dememssion E510) and I like to use a monitor to hook up with my DVD player only. What is a accesory can i buy to use with? or I want to buy a LVD TV then I can use them both for regular TV and computer. I do not want to have 2 of them in my studio room (TV and Monitor)Thank you very much
October 16, 2007 6:57 AM
Hi.
I have a graphics card with both one analog and one digital outputs.
I also have two analog TFT monitors ahd have attached both to the same graphics card, with a simple DDI to D-Sub converter on the Graphics card digital output.
I have also configured the OS (WIN XP) to allow the two monitors to act as one large extended workspace.
Now the problem.
Every now and again I get a problem where one of the screens will become distorted. Then it fixes itself after some minutes / hours.
I swapped the connections around and the other monitor then showed signs of the problem.
Any ideas please? Do I need a more clever DVI to D-Sub converter?
Regards, Dave
May 4, 2009 12:07 AM
I have a HP a1129n which I bought a approx. 3 years ago. I just bought a samsung 2333. The HP only has an anslog output not a digital. How can I convert it to digital. Looks like I have 3 more horizontal slots on the back of the CPU that are not used. Do I have to add a digital output, or is there another way?
July 21, 2009 10:29 AM
I just upgraded my computer so that I have a better graphics card that has a DVI connection port along with the regular VGA connection port. So my flatscreen monitor has a DVI connector also. What's confusing me is that the card did not come with DVI to DVI cable and I don't see one for sale on the local microcenter web page? (but all kinds of DVI to everything but DVI cables.
March 22, 2010 1:09 AM
For mac,if you need convert video to the formats what you need,you can use mac video converter to help you.
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