Cable quality

NotAGolf

NotAGolf

NotAGolf

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Hi all. Just bought myself a new TV and I want to get it hooked up to my computer so I can play my films through it. I was just wondering the best way to do this.

The tv is a LG42LD450 so has:
2 x HDMI
1 x Component
1x Composite
1 x PC Input
1 x Scart

And my graphics card is a 7800gtx which has:
2 x DVI-I - 29 pin combined DVI
1 x HDTV output VIVO

The distance between the 2 is about 3-4 metres so will need to be a 5m cable. I want it to carry a decent signal so I can see the full 1080p goodness. Don't want to be too expensive though so was thinking <£20. Oh, and not worried about audio, will just play that through my computer.

I have no idea what sort of cables/connectors can carry full 1080p signal (First ever decent tv :D). So was wondering what you would suggest?

Thanks.
 
arknor said:
HDMI surely? its all 1's and 0's so length of cable doesnt matter? ocuk have own branded cables.
Click to expand...

Computer doesn't have an HDMI port :(. Could get a DVI to HDMI adapter and then a length of HDMI but wasn't sure if this was the best option.
 
DVI to HDMI adapter + HDMI-HDMI cable is the best option.

Cable quality does matter. Anything over 3m @ 1080p and you really need to start paying attention to cable speed which is how cables are classified.

Also, the argument about the signal being 0's & 1's is too simplistic. It conveniently ignores the speed of the data flowing and the interference (crosstalk) between the wires that carry the different components of the signal. At the data rates required for 1080p the 0's and 1's don't change state instantly. They skew. Instead of being _|-|_|-|_ you get _/-\_/-\_ The worse the cable then the more sloped the transition. That's why some cables give sparklies or fail. Most cables rated to carry 1080p 60 over 1m would fail at 5m if the full bandwidth were sent down the wire.
 
lucid said:
DVI to HDMI adapter + HDMI-HDMI cable is the best option.

Cable quality does matter. Anything over 3m @ 1080p and you really need to start paying attention to cable speed which is how cables are classified.
Click to expand...

Any decent brands to look for, or perhaps a certain data rate/specification to look for?

**Edit** - And is it better to get an hdmi cable with dvi adapter seperate, or a cable with dvi one end and hdmi the other?
 
mpledge52 said:
Any decent brands to look for, or perhaps a certain data rate/specification to look for?

**Edit** - And is it better to get an hdmi cable with dvi adapter seperate, or a cable with dvi one end and hdmi the other?
Click to expand...
Category 2 - High Speed, is the spec to look for on a HDMI-HDMI cable. I wouldn't waste any time worrying about 3D or HDMI 1.4 spec since none of that applies to signals passing through a DVI connector.

Konig is nice quality. It might be a little outside your price range though.

Just be careful of the cheap Chinese rubbish on Eblag. :)
 
lucid said:
Just be careful of the cheap Chinese rubbish on Eblag. :)
Click to expand...

Completely disagree.. you can get a cheap one from there. It'll be fine.. I do 1080p over a cheapie 5 metre cable from there at work and its perfect. At WORST it wont work and you've wasted less than a fiver, but don't worry it'll be fine.

Expensive HDMI cables are for people with more money than sense.

EDIT I've just realised you can get them from ocuk too at good prices..

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-054-OK
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-029-OK

£7.98 total
 
Last edited:
I used to connect my TV this way but if you have a PS3/router use this and software such as ps3 media server - much more elegant solution.
 
lucid said:
DVI to HDMI adapter + HDMI-HDMI cable is the best option.

Cable quality does matter. Anything over 3m @ 1080p and you really need to start paying attention to cable speed which is how cables are classified.

Also, the argument about the signal being 0's & 1's is too simplistic. It conveniently ignores the speed of the data flowing and the interference (crosstalk) between the wires that carry the different components of the signal. At the data rates required for 1080p the 0's and 1's don't change state instantly. They skew. Instead of being _|-|_|-|_ you get _/-\_/-\_ The worse the cable then the more sloped the transition. That's why some cables give sparklies or fail. Most cables rated to carry 1080p 60 over 1m would fail at 5m if the full bandwidth were sent down the wire.
Click to expand...

This is very true, I've had problems with cheap hdmi cables at work and even a fairly cheap branded hdmi at home both suffering from sparklies. It was so bad on the cable at home that I thought it was my graphics card dying, and I even bought a new graphics card lol. This was for 1080p 60hz.

Definately be wary of cheap hdmi cables.
 
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