DVI Cables

DVI Cable

We manufacture and market a wide range of DVI Cables and DVI adapters:

DVI-D Single Link Male Cables
DVI-D Dual Link Male Cables
DVI-I Dual Link Male Cables
DVI to HDMI Male to Male Cables
DVI to SVGA Cables
DVI to SVGA adapters
HDMI to DVI adapters

Digital Visual Interface and DVI cables are the standard for a high-performance connection between PCs and flat panel displays, digital CRT displays, projectors, and HDTV. Our DVI-D cables deliver the high-performance, high-bandwidth interface needed for video displays of today while leaving headroom for the products of tomorrow. The DVD-D dual link configuration provides sufficient bandwidth for resolutions up to 2048 x 1536 and allows high speed digital transmission up to 9.9 Gbps.

There are three types of DVI: DVI-D, DVI-I, and DVI-A. DVI-D is strictly digital, can support dual link, and contains 24 contacts arranged in three rows of eight. DVI-I has the original 24 digital contacts, as well as five additional contacts to support analog video. DVI-I also supports dual link. DVI-A on the other hand, is only available as a male connector or plug which only mates with the analog contacts of a DVI-I connection. DVI-A is used to convert between DVI and the traditional analog display technology.

DVI Cable Length Limitations
The maximum distance you can extend a DVI cable is 15 feet over a copper cable. Many companies claim to have DVI cables which run longer than 15 feet but do not guaranty that they will work in every application. To travel DVI over longer distances you will need to use a DVI splitter/extender. Please contact us for pricing and availability.

DVI Tutorial

Digital Versus Analog
Digital Visual Interface, DVI cables allow users to create a digital-to-digital connection between their display and source. We most commonly see the digital-to-digital connection between flat screen monitors and computers. However, new HDTV set top boxes can be found which offer DVI output.

The signal your television receives with an antenna is analog. Sometimes the picture is fuzzy, sometimes it comes in perfectly clear, and sometimes it fades in and out. With a digital signal, the signal is either on or off, so "fuzziness" is not possible. That is not to say that an analog signal always looks fuzzy. A high quality analog signal also produces beautiful, clear images. The signals are just not quite as consistent as digital.

DVI At A Glance:

DVI is the only current cable that can create a "digital-to-digital" connection.

Digital signals are comprised of a series of 1's and 0's. By comparison, an analog signal can be partially on or off. For example, an analog signal may measure 0.93 or a 1.09 rather than a 1.

Some DVI connectors can support both digital and analog signals.

Digital to Analog to Digital -- Computers and Digital Displays
To experience the greatest benefits of using a digital display device, a digital connection is necessary. You may think that when you connect a computer, which is a digital device, to a digital display, you automatically have a digital to digital signal. However, without a digital cable connecting them, it is not the case.

When data from a computer leaves your computer memory, it has to go through what is called a RAMDAC (Random Access Memory Digital to Analog Converter), which converts the signal from digital to analog in order for a VGA or another analog cable to carry the signal to the monitor. Once converted, the VGA cable carries the signal to your monitor. If your monitor is a digital monitor, it has to be converted once more to digital.

Each conversion create small amounts of signal loss which impact the overall quality of the picture. DVI has eliminated the need for these conversions.

DVI to the Rescue
DVI is a relatively new standard, but is quickly being adopted by computer and select television manufacturers. Many expect that DVI will replace VGA as the most common connection for computers to displays.

DVI is capable of processing large amounts of data at high speed, which is one reason for its success. High-bandwidth content like HDTV, and high-resolution display devices are becoming more popular and have outgrown current technology.

DVI Details
One additional benefit of DVI is that it can support both analog and digital connections. DVI-D is a smaller connector, and supports only digital signals. DVI-I is slightly larger and can accommodate both digital and analog signals.

DVI transfers data using what is called the transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) protocol. The DVI protocol calls for at least one TMDS "link" which has three data channels (RGB) and one clock control channel. In some cases two or "dual" TMDS links may be used to increase the bandwidth of the connection.