Difference between DVI and VGA?

Coomber1 · 2 Mar 2010 at 19:18

Hi there,

I am in the market for a new monitor, I only need a reasonably cheap monitor, the majority of the cheaper monitors only have VGA input, is there any real difference between the two (picture wise) ? or is vga just as good for normal use. I have been looking at around a 22" or 24" monitor.

cmndr_andi · 2 Mar 2010 at 19:35

VGA is generally fine, if you have the same monitor - one with DVI, one with VGA - you would struggle to tell the difference (the DVI may look a bit sharper). However, any half decent 22in + monitor should come with at least 1 DVI-D connection. Out of interest, what is your budget?

Makhaira · 2 Mar 2010 at 19:42

If you're doing anything that involves in a lot of text, or graphics design, you will DEFINITELY notice the benefit of DVI. Apart from that though, whilst there is a difference between DVI and VGA, it is much more subjective as to whether it's enough to bother you.

Coomber1 · 2 Mar 2010 at 19:46

My budget is of around £150, Which means I can get a monitor with DVI input, I was just wondering if there was any difference between the two. It probably is a sensible idea to get one with DVI input seen as I will mostly be using it for work, (word, excell, e.t.c) and the odd game every now and then.

Thanks for your help!

kerrgreg · 2 Mar 2010 at 19:51

the only thing i tend to find with VGA, weather its an outside issue im not sure, is that text can sometimes look slightly out of focus or almost as if its closer and theres shadow behind it

wellibob · 2 Mar 2010 at 23:09

I have a 24" LCD monitor (1920x1200) and i prefer the image vga gives me over dvi/hdmi on it. I think the difference is in the eye of the beholder tbh.