Digital Video Interface, or DVI, is a digital video cable that can be used with most newer personal computers and their monitors. DVI can be used with HDMI but does not support the digital audio that HDMI does. So those channels are left out of the connector. But unlike HDMI cables, DVI cables are able to support analog video. This has made for three different versions of the DVI cable available: DVI-A, DVI-D, and DVI-I. The DVI-A cables only support analog mode. The DVI-D version of the cable will only support digital mode. Version DVI-I of the cable has the ability to support both analog and digital modes. There are also single link and dual link versions of the DVI-D and DVI-I cables. The average consumer will only need the single link cables. But for people who require a higher video bandwidth then is provided by the single link cables there are also the dual link cables.


What does a DVI Cable look like?

DVI Cable Image DVI Cable Image 2

Advanced Information

  • The long flat pin on a DVI-I connector is wider than the same pin on a DVI-D connector, so it is not possible to connect a male DVI-I to a female DVI-D by removing the 4 analog pins
  • Many flat panel LCD monitors have only the DVI-D connection so that a DVI-D male to DVI-D male cable will suffice when connecting the monitor to a computer's DVI-I female connector.
  • Single link maximum data rate including 8b/10b overhead is 4.95 Gbit/s @ 165 MHz. With the 8b/10b overhead removed, the maximum data rate is 3.96 Gbit/s.
  • Dual link maximum data rate is limited only by the bandwidth limits of the copper the DVI cable is constructed of and by the DVI signal's source.
  • The DVI data channel operates at a bit-rate that is 10 times the frequency of the clock signal. In other words, for every DVI clock there are 10 bits, per channel.
  • The DVI specification includes signaling for reducing power consumption.