VGA vs DVI Monitor Hookup

[jim evans]

I just got a new LCD monitor today -- my first. It's doing something
I think is called ghosting. I'm using VGA because that's what my
video card supports. I talked to a tech support guy and he said DVI
cannot have ghosting, and if I used DVI it would eliminate the
problem.

Before I go spring for a new video card I want to know if this is
true. Does anybody here know?

 

[Sleepy]

I just got a new LCD monitor today -- my first. It's doing something
I think is called ghosting. I'm using VGA because that's what my
video card supports. I talked to a tech support guy and he said DVI
cannot have ghosting, and if I used DVI it would eliminate the
problem.

Before I go spring for a new video card I want to know if this is
true. Does anybody here know?

Yes its true. VGA is analogue and DVI is digital. My HannsG monitor has both
VGA and DVI inputs but came with only a VGA cable - I tried it by borrowing
a DVI to VGA adapter and the image was slightly blurred (or ghosted) but
when I bought a DVI lead it produced a clear sharp image with no ghosting.

However, my brother bought a more expensive Samsung monitor with only VGA
input and we had to fiddle with the settings to get a sharp image. 72hz
refresh rate worked best. You could try differant refresh rates first and
look at the monitor controls before shelling out on a new card.

 

[jim evans]

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Michael Hawes]

Thanks for the reply.

If there is an auto setup, try that, or have a fiddle with the settings
on the monitor, but only change one at a time and return it to original
vakue before fiddling with another.

Mike.

 

[DaveW]

The DVI cable will definitely improve the image, BUT if you mean that images
in motion ghost, that means your video card is too underpowered to drive the
resolution required by the LCD monitor.

 

[jim evans]

The DVI cable will definitely improve the image, BUT if you mean that images
in motion ghost, that means your video card is too underpowered to drive the
resolution required by the LCD monitor.

No not in motion. Static characters. See this example
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3523/dellmonitorsmearp725181aq0.jpg

This was taken with a digital camera and enlarged/enhanced to make the
problem obvious.

 

[helmut]

No not in motion. Static characters. See this example
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3523/dellmonitorsmearp725181aq0.jpg

This was taken with a digital camera and enlarged/enhanced to make the
problem obvious.

make sure you are using the best resolution for your lcd monitor..unlike crt
monitors lcd's only look good in one resolution..usually but not
always...the dox will say ..
15" = 1024 * 768.
17" = 1280*1024.
19" = 1280*1024.
22" = 1680 * 1050.

failing that get a better gfx card.

 

[Paul]

No not in motion. Static characters. See this example
http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3523/dellmonitorsmearp725181aq0.jpg

This was taken with a digital camera and enlarged/enhanced to make the
problem obvious.

You know, that almost looks like the effects of ClearType. The
ClearType rendered text, should be the stuff on the right hand
column of samples here.

http://www.mezzoblue.com/i/articles/03.7.25.cleartype.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleartype

But it is so hard to tell. Some of what I see in your picture, will be
an artifact from the camera taking a picture of an LCD. I don't like the
row of colored pixels under each row of text, because that should not be
ghosting. Ghosting caused by cable reflections, should be restricted to
things to the left or right of the dominant (black) text. I don't know
where the colored stuff comes from under each line of text.

If it was my setup, I'd start by trying another VGA cable. But what
I'm seeing in your picture, could be more than one effect at work.

Paul

 

[Michael Hawes]

You know, that almost looks like the effects of ClearType. The
ClearType rendered text, should be the stuff on the right hand
column of samples here.

http://www.mezzoblue.com/i/articles/03.7.25.cleartype.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleartype

But it is so hard to tell. Some of what I see in your picture, will be
an artifact from the camera taking a picture of an LCD. I don't like the
row of colored pixels under each row of text, because that should not be
ghosting. Ghosting caused by cable reflections, should be restricted to
things to the left or right of the dominant (black) text. I don't know
where the colored stuff comes from under each line of text.

If it was my setup, I'd start by trying another VGA cable. But what
I'm seeing in your picture, could be more than one effect at work.

Paul

As mentioned, check you are at Native Resolution. Open Help & Support
and enter 'cleartype'. Follow the instructions, if it is ON, turn off, if it
is OFF, turn on, find best setting.

Mike.

 

[Frank McCoy]

make sure you are using the best resolution for your lcd monitor..unlike crt
monitors lcd's only look good in one resolution..usually but not
always...the dox will say ..
15" = 1024 * 768.
17" = 1280*1024.
19" = 1280*1024.
22" = 1680 * 1050.

That's *any* digital display.
Something many people miss when buying an HDTV set.
It always looks best at "native resolution".

Thus, while a Plasma Panel or LCD TV set capable of 1080p resolution
(equivalent to a 1900x1200 computer monitor) will give you the absolute
*best* picture possible if you can ever get a truly High-Def signal with
even 1080i, it actually doesn't look *quite* as good displaying a 720i
signal on a digital TV with 720p as "native resolution". Of course,
that 720p TV will look rather crappy when trying to down-convert a real
1080i signal. (The 1080p, maximum-quality picture possible for HDTV
would only come from some local in-your-home source like a *really good*
progressive-scan DVD player ... or, of course, from a computer using the
set as a monitor.)

 

[jim evans]

I just got a new LCD monitor today -- my first. It's doing something
I think is called ghosting. I'm using VGA because that's what my
video card supports. I talked to a tech support guy and he said DVI
cannot have ghosting, and if I used DVI it would eliminate the
problem.

Before I go spring for a new video card I want to know if this is
true. Does anybody here know?

To whom it may interest. I bought a DVI cable and it fixed the
ghosting completely.