Regular PC use HDMI or VGA?

sillygoose

I am considering putting together a new PC, it still looks like you can do it competitively against ready made, as it was last time I did it 3 years ago!

Things change so this is my question, is HDMI the way to go? I have a newish large monitor (HD capable) with HDMI input and a lot of graphics cards now have an HDMI output. Or am I better sticking to VGA connection?

I don't want too slow a refresh rate, or to run at very high resolutions, system will never be used for gaming. Basic web, video editing, admin, photo editing sort of stuff.

Is HDMI output up to regular PC use or really just for watching movies on a TV?

Cheers.

pcombo

HDMI can be used for everyday use on the computer. You will have no issues if this is the cable you want to use. you cant really compare HDMI to VGA.

fwor

DVI or HDMI are definitely worthwhile. The picture quality will be better, and you don't need to fiddle about with screen resolutions and monitor settings, as they are all done automatically. If DVI is cheaper, it's easy and cheap to get a DVI to HDMI cable if the graphics card does not support it natively.

Richie-from-the-Boro

HDMi every single time - but - make sure the MOBO has spDIF out and the Video card has spDIF in and a patch cable. That way the HDMi will handle sound to your TV whatever on one thin cable only.

totalsolutions

>I don't want too slow a refresh rate

Sorry that's now set at 60Hz, (yes sixty)

>or to run at very high resolutions

Sorry that's preset by the monitor too.

esuhl

As totalsolutions implies, "refresh rates" are only relevant for cathode-ray screens. The now ubiquitous LCD panels work at a fixed refresh rate.

You can get DVI to HDMI adapters. As long as the sockets are both HDCP-compliant, I think the only difference between HDMI and DVI interfaces is the shape of the plug/socket - they carry the same data and can produce images of the same quality.

VGA is an older analogue technology that will produce an image of noticibly poorer quality than DVI or HDMI.

sillygoose

totalsolutions wrote: »

>I don't want too slow a refresh rate

Sorry that's now set at 60Hz, (yes sixty)

>or to run at very high resolutions

Sorry that's preset by the monitor too.

Thanks... can you clarify
so your saying would be limited to 60Hz by the HDMI specification? (I know my monitor can support 75)

And that using HDMI I probably would not be able to set my resolution from the PC/driver as the Monitor and PC would resolve it via the HDMI connection?

Thats a few things to think on.

S0litaire

HDMI is up to 1920 / 1080
Refresh is fixed at 50Hz (for PAL) 60Hz (for NTSC)

Personally I'd go for VGA + separate speakers
You only actually need HDMI if you are going to play Blu-Ray movie from a HD DRM-encumbered source then you're forced to use HDMI for 1080p output

If it's playback of non-DRM burdened videos / AVI, MKV then VGA will put out 1080p easily!!

Hammyman

Makes absolutely bupkiss difference if HDCP compliance isn't an issue. All those who are harping on about better image quality and higher refresh rates of DVI and HDMI forget that the PC monitors that had the highest resolution and refresh rates were all old CRT ones that used VGA inputs and the old VGA standard used to be able to do automatic settings of refresh and resolution.

S0litaire

Hammyman wrote: »

Makes absolutely bupkiss difference if HDCP compliance isn't an issue. All those who are harping on about better image quality and higher refresh rates of DVI and HDMI forget that the PC monitors that had the highest resolution and refresh rates were all old CRT ones that used VGA inputs and the old VGA standard used to be able to do automatic settings of refresh and resolution.

totally agree!!

I've a 7year old Dell Inspiron 8200 Laptop that has a 15 inch LCD that has a 1600x1200 display!!

The only reason 1080p screens have become the "standard" is the fact they are cheaper to produce and they want to push "Blu-Ray" movies!

It's actually done the monitor industry a LOT of damage, If they didn't stop at 1080p screen you'd be having 4k screens in shops by now (4 times more resolution that 1080p screens!!) like having an IMAX in your living room!

They are started to film in "UHDTV" (the BBC and Japan's NHK are testing the format) which is 7680x4320.