HDMI vs DVI question

[OldProf]

My wife's monitor has been showing signs of imminent demise, so I bought myself a new one and handed my old one down to her (this is our standard pattern). My ex-monitor connected to my computer via a HDMI cable, but the new one links up through DVI connectors. It seems to me that I'm seeing a little less detail on this new monitor when I run Train Simulator. I've adjusted the brightness and contrast a couple of times; "Sharpness" has three settings and I've selected the highest one. Which is more likely: that my eyes are playing tricks on me or that there's a difference between HDMI and DVI output?

[plethaus]

Your eyes are playing tricks, DVI is as good as it gets to your PC. If anything you're just seeing differences in quality between the new monitor and the old one.

[Haystack]

Your eyes are playing tricks, DVI is as good as it gets to your PC. If anything you're just seeing differences in quality between the new monitor and the old one.

I think you've been misinformed. HDMI is way better than DVI.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

HDMI is DVI combined with audio in a single cable. It is primarily meant for connecting flatscreen TV's to settop boxes, BD players etc, with full digital content protection. HDMI is not a computer interface per se.

What are make and model of both your new monitor and your video card? You plugged the monitor straight into the video card with a DVI cable (white plugs at both ends?). No adaptors?

Make sure your monitor is properly detected by your video card driver, accessible through the Windows Control Panel. Optimum resolution of your monitor must be selected.

Everything should be plug and play nowadays, but sometimes your computer needs to detect new hardware.

[plethaus]

Your eyes are playing tricks, DVI is as good as it gets to your PC. If anything you're just seeing differences in quality between the new monitor and the old one.

I think you've been misinformed. HDMI is way better than DVI.

Hilariously, you are the one that is misinformed. Trust me on this.

They are both essentially the same thing, but HDMI rolls in audio signal too for devices that utilize it. Unless one is using a PC monitor with speakers AND intends to use them, the DVI vs. HDMI argument is moot.

[OldProf]

Okaaaaaaaaaaaaay! I should have expected a dogfight over this and will not get involved except to say that I find the idea of my eyes playing tricks on me plausible.

As I should have mentioned before, my new monitor is a HANNS-G HL269DPB and my video card is a GeForce GTX550Ti. Both are identified correctly by the computer.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

First, picture quality is subjective, especially colour. You can tweak the controls a bit to suit your taste and working environment.

Sharpness and responsivity are hardware characteristics. I assume you run your monitor at its native resolution 1920 x 1080?

Hanns is not an A brand, they might use slightly older/slower panels in their products.
While excellent value for money, reviews are a bit mixed: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824254099.

With LCD screens there is little you can do besides working the controls. You either like the picture or you don't.

[arizonachris]

Beauty is really in the eye of the beholder, Tom. There will always be a difference between two different monitors, even with the same brand and size. Go with a different brand than you are used to and the difference can be a lot. I use a little tool, the Nokia Monitor tool http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia ... Test.shtml to test the settings or change them when I first get a new monitor. This Asus I have is really a gem, needed no adjustment at all.

HDMI is really just DMI with an audio signal overlaid, as was said. Even so, I have a friend that went gaga over "how good HDMI is" when he spent a lot of money just for a cable and hooked up his new 32" monitor. Like I said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

One final comment to add: that Hanns monitor seems to have a rather small viewing angle. You need to look at it from a quite perpendicular position to get the best perception.

Other than that, 26'' is a good size for general desktop activities. You can have a few windows open side by side.

Railworks full screen on a large panel does look a little blurry/unsharp as I think the "internal resolution" of the graphics renderer isn't quite 1920*1080.
I don't know the "natural resolution" of Railworks, but in a window, 1440 or 1600 look quite good.

AZ-Chris' friend has hooked up a 32" TV I think. Using a TV usually means there will be a certain "overscan" area cut from the HDMI signal (at least overhere due to different EU taxes on TV's and monitors). This means you either will get a cut off desktop or have to live with a non-fitting resolution.

Large high resolution panels like the former Applle Cinema displays required the use of DVI-D, a double link DVI interface. I don't think HDMI specification allows for that.

[Ericmopar]

What Chris said is fact.... By the book.

However, different monitors can handle the different inputs with different drivers and on-board hardware.
In theory, DVI and HDMI share the same signals. In practice, DVI may talk between your graphics card and monitor in "RGB" While the HDMI input might favor YCbCrxxx format. This is because some monitor manufacturers figure you might hook up a Blue Ray player etc, to that HDMI input on your monitor and their native language is YCbCrxxx.
Case in point. My Dell SR2320l monitor always had a good picture while hooked to my GTX660 via DVI and using RGB, but when I hooked it up to HDMI to HDMI, using YCbCr444 as the language between monitor and GPU, it clearly has a better picture now. (It's not supposed to be that way however)

The only way to find out, is to try both and experiment with using RGB color format or YCbCrxxx format. The monitor and GPU must be set to match formats.

[Ericmopar]

Large high resolution panels like the former Applle Cinema displays required the use of DVI-D, a double link DVI interface. I don't think HDMI specification allows for that.

This too. In fact a 3-D monitor might not work correctly with HDMI as well, as a dual link DVI cable can allow for a lot more communication between monitor and GPU.
If I remember correctly, multiple monitor setups also require DVI to work correctly in most, or all, cases.
In my case, my single monitor works best when setup with home entertainment standards. My mother's HP monitor prefers DVI over HDMI, for reasons only know to it and it's creator.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

The OP, our Old Prof, will be mighty confused by now with our techno talk.

I don't know much about 3D displays and relevant hardware. Railworks in stereoscopic 3D looks like an interesting prospect, esp. in cab view.

With Apple gone it's own way with quasi open standard interfaces and links that really don't seem to make much inroads otherwise. Also, not everybody can afford that new "R2D2" Mac Pro and its associated hardware.

DVI will remain the PC - monitor interface for a few more years I think. DP is a professional alternative and HDMI a home theatre interface.

Budget brands in computers and peripherals allow you to get a real bargain sometimes, but buying a monitor is best done in a shop where you can look with your own eyes wether the picture pleases you. Good dealerships allow you to hook up your own laptop so you can play your own games for a while.

[OldProf]

The Nokia Monitor tool recommended by Arizonachris is not compatible with Windows 7 64bit. Thanks anyway.

[arizonachris]

The Nokia Monitor tool recommended by Arizonachris is not compatible with Windows 7 64bit. Thanks anyway.

That's strange, I use it and I have Win 7 64 bit. OK, then, I found this one: http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/ read some great reviews. You can just run it online, or download and run it later. I tried it and it works fine.

[peterhayes]

OldProf
The other point is that always do is to check the cable.
I had a Samsung Monitor that only looked good with the cable supplied by Samsung.
Just a thought.
Are all the pins straight too at both ends?
pH