A Question of Cables?

[KaBar]

sorry if this bores some people but I've got a little confused.

want to connect my graphics card to my HD plasma screen, the g-card has a DVI output and the plasma has both DVI and HDMI inputs. Benn looking at DVI cables and got confused

1) I take it I need a male to male cable?

2) budget cables seem to be 18 pin whereas more expensive ones are 24 pin, what's the difference?

3) I've seen DVI to HDMI cables do these offer a benefit in quality of if it just for those with no DVI input?

4) do any g-cards have a HDMI output?

thanx

 

[Joe42]

1: Female to female i would have thought. Edit: Wrong about this, you're right its male to male.

2: I think thats dual link vs single link or it could be with analogue vs without. Have a look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvi

3: Use the dvi input because it will probably be able to auto adjust whereas the hdmi won't, or at least thats the problem i had although i was using analogue in vs hdmi. No quality difference in theory, but in practice if the tv auto adjusts with dvi and treats it as a pc input i think it will be better for dekstop stuff. And then theres the copy protection, which is mind bogglingly complicated. I think your graphics card has to support it first and it might work over dvi, but i'm really not sure.

4: Yes, but they are rather rare i think.

 

[g00dsh0t]

1. it is male to male ..it has pins
2.single link cable is fine for hd res(1280x720p as 1080i looks pants)
3. if your plasma has both ,i would use the dvi just incase you ever get a new dvd or sky hd as they all come with hdmi now


p.s ive got all cables ,single/dual link dvi,hdmi,hdmi>dvi + dvi>hdmi adaptors and i find using a dvi>hdmi adaptor on g card, hdmi lead, hdmi>dvi adaptor on lcd the best picture for pc,ie reading forums(ive also tried this on a newer panel downstairs with a hdmi input....but for pc it didnt look right to me=dvi input was better

4. ati has 1 out...alright if you have a htpc i suppose

c ya m8, hope it helps

 

[Energize]

Some tvs wont accept pc input through certain inputs, my samsung for example will only accept pc through vga and not hdmi.