Need Help With Selection of CORRECT DVI Cable for AIW X800-XT

[gary]

Recently bought an ATI All-In-Wonder X800-XT graphics card,
which as you may know has DVI and VGA connectors on the
back. (Currently, am using the VGA connector to a CRT-monitor).

Today, am buying the Dell 24" UltraSharp 2405FPW flat panel
LCD monitor. Want to use the DVI connection, not the VGA
connection.

I started to buy it, but decided to check with Dell to see
if it came with any DVI or VGA cables. Dell said it only
comes with a VGA cable, and that you have to buy a DVI cable
separately.

My ATI card documentation says the X800-XT has a DVI-I
connection, but doesn't say "how many pins" or mention
anything about "Dual Link", or HDTV, or male/female, etc..

When shopping for DVI cables, I'm finding many different
types, such as DVI-I and DVI-D, some mention Dual Link, some
don't. Some say MALE to MALE, I think others have something
different.

I guess I thought DVI was DVI, and didn't realize there was
such a large selection. CAN ANYONE HELP IN ADVISING WHICH
IS THE RIGHT TYPE OF DVI CABLE FOR THIS CARD?

Dell offers a "PureAV by Belkin High Performance HDTV DVI
Video Cable (8ft)" for $89.00. But it doesn't say if it's
DVI-I or DVI-D, but it does say that it's Dual Link
(whatever that means). Dell told me this cable would work,
but I'd rather hear it from someone who is using DVI with
one of these ATI or similar cards.

Does anyone know if Dell was right, and if this particular
cable will work with the DVI connection on the back of my
card? And is this a reasonable price for a good DVI cable?
Do good ones run about this price range ($89)?

Again, I don't need the HDTV and not sure what Dual Link
means. My ATI card says the DVI connector supports a DVI-I
cable. But not sure if this is compatible with the Belkin
cable mentioned above. Does anyone know?

I think it's the use of the terms "HDTV and Dual Link" that
is confusing. And the male/female thing, and the # of pins
that concerns me. When searching on CompUSA's web site for
"DVI Video Cables" I find all kinds. But I just want to get
the RIGHT cable from the get-go.

Also, are most DVI cables about $90, or is the Belkin one
offered by Dell considered an expensive one?

Thank you very much for any advice/help in getting the right
DVI cable "the first time."
Gary

 

[mxh]

Recently bought an ATI All-In-Wonder X800-XT graphics card, which as you
may know has DVI and VGA connectors on the back. (Currently, am using the
VGA connector to a CRT-monitor).

Today, am buying the Dell 24" UltraSharp 2405FPW flat panel LCD monitor.
Want to use the DVI connection, not the VGA connection.

I started to buy it, but decided to check with Dell to see if it came with
any DVI or VGA cables. Dell said it only comes with a VGA cable, and that
you have to buy a DVI cable separately.

The Dell 2405fpw I bought just a few months ago came with both a VGA AND a
DVI cable which, of course, works with my AIW ATI x800xt.

mxh

 

[gary]

Thanks to all for the info. Others have said that this
monitor comes with both a DVI and VGA cable. But I checked
with Dell BEFORE I placed the actual order, and they told me
it only comes with a VGA cable. Maybe this is because the
monitor is on sale for $799 for a limited time (no PC or
other purchase required).

So I bought the "optional-recommended" Belkin PureAV
HDTV/Dual Link DVI 8-foot cable. It says it's a 24-pin
cable, but doesn't say anything about DVI-I or other types
of DVI connections. It's supposed to block interference and
cross-talk, and the dual-link provides high bandwidth for
true HDTV quality. I have no doubt it's a good cable, for
the price. And Dell told me THIS cable would work. It cost
an additional $89.00, and I wanted to get a good cable to
work with the monitor, especially since I'll be using it for
detailed high-rez video and photo editing.

But I have no idea how much better, if any, it is over the
DVI cable you folks say IS INCLUDED with the monitor. Dell
says it's not included.

I printed a copy of my transcript with Dell, where on their
on-line chat sales info screen, they told me DVI cable WAS
NOT included. If I find I get a DVI cable, and if I find
there is not enough difference in quality to justify the
extra $89 for the Belkin cable, I'll ask for a refund, and
free shipping to return the item.

Thanks again to all you responded to my question, and for
your help and advice. Much appreciated.
Gary
=============

 

[J. Clarke]

Recently bought an ATI All-In-Wonder X800-XT graphics card,
which as you may know has DVI and VGA connectors on the
back. (Currently, am using the VGA connector to a CRT-monitor).

Today, am buying the Dell 24" UltraSharp 2405FPW flat panel
LCD monitor. Want to use the DVI connection, not the VGA
connection.

I started to buy it, but decided to check with Dell to see
if it came with any DVI or VGA cables. Dell said it only
comes with a VGA cable, and that you have to buy a DVI cable
separately.

My ATI card documentation says the X800-XT has a DVI-I
connection, but doesn't say "how many pins" or mention
anything about "Dual Link", or HDTV, or male/female, etc..

When shopping for DVI cables, I'm finding many different
types, such as DVI-I and DVI-D, some mention Dual Link, some
don't. Some say MALE to MALE, I think others have something
different.

Almost all electrical connectors have gender, they're either male or female
and you use the two in combination. The connectors on most video boards
are female, so the connectors on the cables have to be male. Examine the
cable and the connector and you should be able to figure out the reason for
this nomenclature.

DVI-I has additional pins that carry the analog VGA signals--generally if
you have DVI hardware a DVI-D cable will work fine, but if you try to plug
a DVI-I cable into a DVI-D connector it won't usually fit because there are
no holes for the extra pins to fit into.

I guess I thought DVI was DVI, and didn't realize there was
such a large selection. CAN ANYONE HELP IN ADVISING WHICH
IS THE RIGHT TYPE OF DVI CABLE FOR THIS CARD?

Dell offers a "PureAV by Belkin High Performance HDTV DVI
Video Cable (8ft)" for $89.00. But it doesn't say if it's
DVI-I or DVI-D, but it does say that it's Dual Link
(whatever that means). Dell told me this cable would work,
but I'd rather hear it from someone who is using DVI with
one of these ATI or similar cards.

Does anyone know if Dell was right, and if this particular
cable will work with the DVI connection on the back of my
card? And is this a reasonable price for a good DVI cable?
Do good ones run about this price range ($89)?

That's a ludicrous price for a DVI cable. It should work fine though. At
that price one would hope that it works superbly.

Again, I don't need the HDTV and not sure what Dual Link
means.

Dual link is only needed if you are working at extremely high resolutions.
It has to be supported by both the monitor and the video board. That
monitor can't display a high enough resolution to require it and few ATI
video boards support it, so it's a non-issue. HDTV compatibility in a DVI
cable is just marketing bullshit, there's nothing special about a DVI cable
that makes it suitable or not suitable for HDTV, which is just one set of
resolutions among many.

My ATI card says the DVI connector supports a DVI-I
cable. But not sure if this is compatible with the Belkin
cable mentioned above. Does anyone know?

Yes, it will be. The monitor's DVI connection is DVI-D so DVI-I is
irrelevant.

I think it's the use of the terms "HDTV and Dual Link" that
is confusing. And the male/female thing, and the # of pins
that concerns me. When searching on CompUSA's web site for
"DVI Video Cables" I find all kinds. But I just want to get
the RIGHT cable from the get-go.

Also, are most DVI cables about $90, or is the Belkin one
offered by Dell considered an expensive one?

<http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=dvi-i+cable&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&sa=N&tab=wf>

Belkin doesn't list a cable by the part number that Dell claims--the closest
match I can find on their site seems to be AV51400-08, which they list for
over 100 bucks and which can be had new in sealed package for under 50