What's the best way to connect your graphics card to your monitor?

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Just wondered if one is preferable to the other in terms of image quality, lag, etc. etc.

Out of:

Displayport
Mini-Displayport
HDMI
DVI-D
DVI-S

I know DVI-S only allows for certain resolutions, so that's out, but my card has DVI-D, HDMI and DP, just wondering what's best or does it depend on the card/monitor?
 
Technically DVI-D, HDMI and (mini) Displayport offer exactly the same image quality and the time sending the signal/lag is effectively the same, since other factors (such as the lag within the monitor) are much greater.

When you say DVI-S, may I ask what you mean? Do you mean DVI-D (single link) or something else? Here is an explanation of the different DVI types which include DVI-D (purely digital), DVI-I (digital and analogue) and DVI-A (purely analogue).

As for which one to go for, I would personally go for Displayport or DVI. Neither of these have the annoying scaling issues HDMI can often have when it is initially set up. Also, depending on your type of monitor (be it a high resolution 2560x1440+ resolution panel or a 120Hz model) the DVI (dual link) and Displayport 1.2 connections offer enough bandwidth to support these settings - while HDMI often can't. Between DVI and Displayport, I would go with displayport - as the connector is smaller and easier to install (so long as your monitor supports it).

Also, it is often nice to leave the HDMI port free so you can easily plug in a HDTV to your computer without much trouble (and get the sound working).
 
To add to and summarise the excellent post above this one:
If running max 1920x1200 @ 60Hz use whatever cable you have, HDMI being the least preferable as it may give scaling issues.
Mini displayport and displayport are the same thing just a different size plug pretty much like all USB cables are the same but the plugs can be (a lot) smaller.

So don't bother buying a cable specifically to reduce input lag.
 
cmndr_andi said:
Technically DVI-D, HDMI and (mini) Displayport offer exactly the same image quality and the time sending the signal/lag is effectively the same, since other factors (such as the lag within the monitor) are much greater.

When you say DVI-S, may I ask what you mean? Do you mean DVI-D (single link) or something else? Here is an explanation of the different DVI types which include DVI-D (purely digital), DVI-I (digital and analogue) and DVI-A (purely analogue).

As for which one to go for, I would personally go for Displayport or DVI. Neither of these have the annoying scaling issues HDMI can often have when it is initially set up. Also, depending on your type of monitor (be it a high resolution 2560x1440+ resolution panel or a 120Hz model) the DVI (dual link) and Displayport 1.2 connections offer enough bandwidth to support these settings - while HDMI often can't. Between DVI and Displayport, I would go with displayport - as the connector is smaller and easier to install (so long as your monitor supports it).

Also, it is often nice to leave the HDMI port free so you can easily plug in a HDTV to your computer without much trouble (and get the sound working).
Click to expand...

My apologies, I meant single link DVI, but I believe it's top resolution is quite low.

I currently use Displayport and I just wondered if moving to HDMI or DVI would see me any improvements - but if it doesn't then great, i'll just stick.
 
Single link DVI = HDMI without the sound so the same 1920x1200 max resolution. (Newer HDMI version excluded but you don't find those on monitors yet anyway)
 
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