DVI or Display Port & cables

[Macro]

Out of interest for 2560x1440 and 1920x1080 which is the generally the preferred connection, dual link DVI or display port?

I've noticed increasingly new cards seem to have dropped having multiple DVI connections in favour of a mix of 1xDVI, 1xDP and 1xHDMI, some with 2 x DP.

I currently use two screens from my 5970 via dual DVI but it's looking like if I go for a 7970 I need to switch to DP. I have a feeling that one screen on DVI and one on DP would be a recipe for problems and tearing.

Which leads me to a cable question. Most GPUs (albeit from a really quick scan of stock) seem to have mini DP connections and most screens (that have DP) have full sized DP ports. Are people using for mini - full DP cables ,of which, again at a quick scan there doesn't seem to many (any?) about from places like OCUK at the moment. Or are people just using standard cables with mini to full size DP adapters? Has anyone any experience with the DP to DVI adapters (my second screen doesn't have DP in so do I end up going mini DP on the GPU to DVI through an adapter on the back of the screen (the second screen has DP so would be a direct mini to full DP connection I guess).

Or am i just better off looking for a decent 7970 with two dual link DVI connections?

Thoughts?

 

[MOOGLEYS]

7970's usually come with either a HDMI to dvi converter or DP to dvi converter or both. Using display port will not cause tearing and will give identical results as dvi.

 

[Orcvader]

Shouldn't make a difference. Just use whatever connections that works. For your case just use a standard miniDP to DP cable (same thing, just pins rearranged to make it smaller) for your first monitor, then a standard DVI connection for your second. 1920x180 also only needs single link DVI. You won't get any problems or tearing. Well you shouldn't do anyway...

 

[Macro]

Ta, I suppose my only concern was possible timing issues leading to tearing from using two separate interfaces.

GPUs (and Macs etc) seem to use mini Display Port, You have to wonder why screens tend to use the full sized version rather than the industry settling2 on the smaller Mini DP as the standard if there's no advantage to the full size port.

 

[Surveyor]

GPUs (and Macs etc) seem to use mini Display Port, You have to wonder why screens tend to use the full sized version rather than the industry settling2 on the smaller Mini DP as the standard if there's no advantage to the full size port.

In my experience the full size port is a much firmer connection than the mini version.

Not a big deal but it does give you more confidence when the connection doesn't feel "loose".