Hdmi Or Dvi? Which To Use And What's Better?

Which one should I use, HDMI or DVI? What is the difference between the two

? Are HDMI and DVI compatible? These questions and more appear in our minds when it comes to choosing between the two. On looking deeper into the facts of the differences between the two, one could get to be surprised. Let us understand what they are and try to form an opinion as to which one to use.

Digital Visual Interface, normally called DVI, was first introduced in the year 1999 by a company called Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). DVI has been designed essentially to carry uncompressed digital video data to a display system, such as a computer. But with time DVI is presently used for the same purpose to transmit video signals to a TV. The main aspect of confusion with DVI is that it uses different types of connectors for different system functions. For example, DVI has three different connectors for DVI-D (digital only), DVI-A (analog only) and DVI-I (digital and analog).

HDMI is the short form of High-Definition Multimedia Interface, which was introduced late 2002. HDMI is an all digital cable having the capability in carrying both audio and video signals from your digital source like Blu-ray to your flat screen TV. Unlike component video, HDMI has no conversion stages and hence the digital audio and video signals reach your TV in its purest form having no attenuation or noise riding over it. More-over, HDMI has High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) built in as well.

Know the difference:

Both, DVI and HDMI have one thing in common. They support digital transmission, and both of them have similar basic specification since HDMI was developed with DVI specifications in mind. However, there are two large differences between HDMI and DVI are:

1) HDMI has built-in High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP).

2) HDMI supports digital video and audio.

To identify the HDMI cable from that of DVI, you would find that the HDMI cable uses USB connection where-as the DVI cable has connectors of the sort we use in computers. Just as we connect to a serial port in a computer, the DVI connectors are similarly connected with screws to tighten the connector to the body of the equipment so that it does not come out. The USB connector of the HDMI cable simply slides into a slot and the connection is done.

What about compatibility?

HDMI and DVI are both meant to transfer digital video and hence upto here they are similar. However, HDMI goes one step ahead in transmitting digital audio signals as well which is not available in DVI.

In some cases you may find that your source has a DVI type of connectivity and your TV or display has an USB connection, converters from HDMI connectivity to DVI are available in the market by which you could easily run a DVI cable between your source and your TV. In this case you would have to use a separate cable (TOSLINK or SPDIF) to transmit audio to your TV.

by: Dan Mason

POST COMMENT

Hdmi Cable Versions: What They Are And What They Mean Speaking Of H-h-hats In W-w-worship What Do You Do When A Tooth Cracks Classified Ads - Getting The Word Out On What You Are Selling Linux, Libertarianism and America by:Drew Brumbaugh What You Need to Know About the Flip MinoHD Camcorder by:Pat Thomason The Hoover 30010COM - What's In It For You? by:Albert Norman What is a Telescopic Stun Baton? by:Christopher Winkler What Is A Stun Gun & How Does It Work? by:Christopher Winkler What Is The TASER C2? by:Christopher Winkler Refresh Rate 100hz Or 200hz - What It Means For Your TV by:Jack Smith What is Probation Boot camp? What Are Your Storage Needs