As we change from analog to digital for everything in consumer electronics, it is inevitable that connections between our devices also become digital. For audio, this is already fully underway. For video, DVI (Digital Video Interface) represents this inevitable change.

The most important lesson I've learned in 6 months of owning a Samsung DLP TV and few weeks of Bravo D1 player is that analog Component connections are history and digital DVI connections are the only way forward. There is a night and day difference in Picture Quality when we switch from Component to DVI connections. As we move towards all things digital:

Digital PQ Nirvana = Digital Signal -> Digital DVI Connection -> Digital Display

Digital signals include SD (Standard Def.) programs, HD (High Def.) programs, DVD playback, or PC input. A digital display is any fixed pixel display (LCD, DLP, LCoS, Plasma), as well as HDTV CRT displays.

Let us also emphasize that DVI is video only. It does not carry any audio. HDMI will have both.

For more in-depth info on DVI, see DVI Overview and this DataPro page.

DVI, however, comes with a big restriction - called HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). It is Hollywood's attempt to use DVI to reclaim control of their content. All DVI connections in future will be protected connections. All devices that use DVI will be required to make sure that the copyrights of content that flow through DVI connections are protected. See the in-depth section on HDCP Overview. Some people are of the opinion that HDCP will be so onerous that we must never use DVI. That’s like cutting your nose to spite your face. DVI brings a revolution forward in picture quality - a very very good thing for us consumers. While adapting it, let us be vigilant that Hollywood doesn't get carried away with HDCP.

DVI is now evolving into HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface), its second generation successor. HDMI includes audio, has a smaller connector plug, and a bigger distance range. Fortunately, HDMI will be backward compatible with DVI. See this in-depth section later in this document on HDMI – The Evolution of DVI.

DVI brings a Quantum Jump in Picture Quality

It was a surprise to us, and it is a surprise to most people when they first experience a DVD played back through a DVI connection. "Jaw dropping" is the phrase often used, and it describes our reaction. Except in our case we had no prior clue - so it contained shock and confusion as well. It seemed almost high definition. There are hundreds of reactions like mine in this forum, and now there are reviews in many publications attesting to the phenomenal quality difference. See DVI Quotes.

Why is that? DVI is not magically adding quality to your signal, it is Component that has been degrading the signal – we just didn’t how badly.

Component: When you use a component connection, your original digital signal is converted to analog, then it is sent over to the TV and becomes susceptible to noise, then it is converted back to digital by the TV. This dual conversion introduces conversion artifacts, plus the transmission can pick up noise.

DVI: In a DVI connection, the original digital signal is passed to the TV digitally in its original pristine condition.

In the past, when you had poor quality input signal and a poor fidelity TV, you could get by with component connections. Now you have high quality inputs (HD, PC or DVD) and high fidelity digital TVs (even CRT HDTV’s are digital in this context), so the component connection makes no sense. DVI is the only sensible option.

Indeed it is our opinion that HDTV without DVI is an oxymoron. Why go through all the trouble of creating an expensive digital setup, generating a high quality digital signal into a high fidelity digital display, if you are going to throw the analog Component monkey wrench into it.

And until you've switched to DVI, don't look for other culprits for video artifacts - clay faces, dithering, motion artifacts, etc. Find out first how many are actually introduced by your component connection.

Let's move on with DVI.

The State of DVI and HDMI

Most consumers are not knowledgeable about DVI. Until last year, we weren't aware of the impact it could have. This AVS forum represents the most knowledgeable A/V consumers. I'd venture to say that most of us have also been in the dark until recently.

It is much more surprising, however, that most manufacturers are also in the dark. In a recent research in replying to a question on this forum, we were shocked to find out how many $10,000+ recently introduced displays are without DVI support. Satellite and Cable providers, as well set-top receiver and PVR manufacturers also have a mixed scorecard. DVD player vendors have also been a deep state of slumber and are just beginning to wake up.

In fairness to all of us, HDCP and the changeover to HDMI do bring a certain amount of confusion and uncertainty to DVI.

DVI and HDMI - What We Need to Do

4Suggestion General 1: If you are making a new consumer electronics video item purchase, we strongly urge you to make sure it has DVI support. Devices with DVI inputs, such as televisions, should also have analog inputs so that you can decide at what pace you want to move to DVI.

4Suggestion General 2: All new equipment with DVI inputs must also have HDCP support.

4Suggestion General 3: For equipment with DVI outputs, we think it is OK for consumers to buy ones without HDCP support, although Hollywood wouldn't like it too much. Of course, you must continue to respect the copyrights of content owners.

4Suggestion General 4: If you have equipment with DVI input ports that don’t support HDCP, look for equipment that has a DVI output but doesn’t enforce HDCP – e.g. Bravo D1 DVD player. Buy them quickly before such devices become non-existent.

4Suggestion General 5: If you have an existing item with DVI/HDCP support, test this capability as soon as possible. If it doesn’t work as advertised, demand resolution.

4Suggestion General 6: If you have a current A/V setup that you are happy with, weigh the pros and cons of when you should switch to DVI for each of your equipment. Television is of course the first item to switch.

Televisions with DVI and HDMI Inputs

State of DVI in Televisions: Unfortunately, many TV vendors are not acknowledging the full importance of DVI. It is shocking how many new expensive TV's are being introduced without DVI input. Another problem is many with advertised DVI/HDCP inputs don't actually have it functioning properly. Many of us have recently found out the hard way that our TVs with DVI inputs didn't work with Bravo D1 player or Samsung HD 931 player.

Note on CRT TVs: Since even a CRT HDTV is first converting the signal to digital for processing, CRT sets also benefit from the switch to DVI - although it may not be to the same extent as fully digital televisions.

4Suggestion TV 1: Do not buy any new HDTV/monitor without DVI/HDCP or HDMI input.

4Suggestion TV 2: Ideally, televisions should have 3 DVI or HDMI inputs just like they generally have 3 component inputs today. No televisions with 3 inputs are currently available, and very few with 2 inputs. Meanwhile, use external DVI switches.

4Suggestion TV 3: When you are buying a new expensive TV, it is more than likely that a retail store is displaying the picture through a component connection – which doesn’t help you much. Our advice is take a DVI equipped DVD player with some good reference (Superbit?) DVD’s with you to test out the TV. That way you can also compare television PQ in multiple stores.

One to One Pixel Mapping: If you have a fixed pixel television, then you will gain significantly in picture quality if you can get one to one pixel mapping to the NATIVE resolution of your TV. Of course, this is only possible if the original signal is the same as the native resolution. For example, if you have a 1290x720 pixel TV, you should make sure that an ABC 720p broadcast ends up in your TV without any scaling and 1x1 pixel mapped. Same is true for PC inputs. If your signal is going to be scaled, you want to make sure that it is scaled ONLY in one place, the place that has the best scaler.

4Suggestion TV 4: When you connect your devices to fixed pixel televisions (LCD, DLP, LCoS, Plasma), it is very important that you try to get one to one pixel mapping for best PQ.

4Suggestion TV 5: we strongly recommend against buying a fixed pixel TV (non-CRT) that has a non-standard native resolution. It will make 1x1 pixel mapping very difficult. we know this is a tough one, because non-standard resolutions seem to have proliferated in front projectors, plasmas and some RPTV’s.

DVI or HDMI Compatibility Table for Televisions:

Notes: (This is work in progress.)

· This is not an exhaustive list, only those reported to work by forum members.

· Your help is needed here in checking its accuracy, completing the sets listed, and in listing more sets.

· Test successful column: The TV worked with one or both DVI equipped players and it produced a satisfactory picture in at least one resolution. There may be many caveats attached to this functioning.

· 1x1 pixel mapping column: At least 1 player output resolution could be matched one to one with the fixed pixel TV native resolution. Doesn't apply to CRT televisions.

Televisions with DVI or HDMI Support

Note this is not an exhaustive list. This list will soon be replaced with a more complete coverage on this site.

Manufacturer and Set	AVS Links Esp. on DVI support	TYPE	DVI Inputs	HDCP	Test Successful?	1x1 Pixel Mapping
Samsung TXN3098WHF	Thread, Post,	CRT	Yes		Yes - Br D1	N. A.
Sony 34XBR800		CRT	Yes	Yes	Yes - Br D1 Yes - S 931	N. A.

Infocus LP350		FP – DLP1	Yes		??	No
NEC HT1000	Post	FP – DLP1	Yes	Yes	Yes - Br D1 Yes - 931	No
Optoma H56		FP – DLP1	Yes		Yes - Br D1	No
Plus Piano HE-3100		FP – DLP1	Yes		No - Br D1	No
Sharp PG-M20		FP – DLP1	Yes		No - Br D1	No

DWIN Transvision TV3		FP – DLP2	Yes - 2		Yes - Br D1	Yes
Infocus 7200		FP – DLP2	Yes	Yes	Yes - Br D1 No - S 931	Yes
Marantz VP12S2		FP – DLP2	Yes		Yes - Br D1	Yes
Seleco SIM2 HT 300 Plus PJ		FP – DLP2	Yes		Yes - Br D1	Yes
Toshiba Mt8		FP – DLP2	Yes	Yes	?? - Br D1 Yes - S 931	Yes

Hitachi CP-SX5500		FP - LCD	Yes	No	Yes - Br D1
Panasonic PT-L300U		FP - LCD	Yes		No - Br D1
Sanyo 20HD/PLV-70		FP - LCD	Yes	No	Yes - Br D1	No
Sony HS10		FP - LCD	Yes	Yes	Yes - Br D1 Yes - S 931	Yes
Studio Experience 20HD		FP - LCD	Yes	No	Yes - Br D1	No
Yamaha LPX-500		FP - LCD	Yes		Yes - Br D1	Yes

Sony 30 inch LCD		LCD	Yes	Yes	?? - Br D1 Yes - S 931

Fujitsu P50XHA10US	DVI Issue,	Plasma	Yes		Yes - Br D1
Fujitsu PDS-5001		Plasma	Yes		No - Br D1
Pioneer 503CMX plasma (w/5002 input card).		Plasma	Yes		??
Pioneer 433CMX (w/A303 DVI Input card)	DVI Issues, Post,	Plasma	Yes	Yes	Yes - Br D1 Yes – S 931
Pioneer 503CMX (w/A303 DVI Input card)		Plasma	Yes	Yes	Yes - Br D1 Yes – S 931
Sony KE32TS2		Plasma	Yes		Yes - Br D1	No
Sony KE-50XBR900		Plasma	Yes	Yes	Yes - S 931

Hitachi 57TWX20B		RP - CRT	Yes	Yes	?? - Br D1 Yes - S 931	N. A.
JVC 56" i'Art WP30		RP - CRT	Yes		Yes - Br D1	N. A.
Pioneer Elite Pro730HD		RP - CRT	Yes	Yes	Yes - S 931	N. A.
RCA HD65W140, HD61W140, HD52W140		RP - CRT	Yes	Yes		N. A.
Sony KP46wt500		RP - CRT	Yes		Yes - Br D1	N. A.
Toshiba 57HDX82		RP - CRT	Yes		Yes - S 931	N. A.

Samsung HLN - all sizes	Thread, Guide	RP – DLP2	Yes	Yes	Yes - Br D1 Yes - S 931	Yes, 720p TV-Wide
Sony Grand Wega 60XBR800		RP - LCD	Yes		Yes - Br D1	No
Toshiba 57HLX82		RP - LCoS	Yes		Yes - Br D1 No - S 931	Yes

DVD Players with DVI or HDMI Outputs

When we bought our Samsung DLP TV, we thought that the main PQ pleasure will come from watching HDTV. The most unexpected and pleasant surprise of owning this TV has been discovering the hidden PQ gem inside the regular old DVD’s available today. By using a DVI equipped player with our TV, most of these DVD’s now appear near high definition to us. We are now discovering Superbit DVD’s, which are raising picture quality even further. We can honestly say that we are in no hurry for HD-DVD. We want to enjoy the plethora of DVD’s available today in near high definition. And the only extra investment needed was a ~$200 DVD player.

4Suggestion DVD 1: If you have already invested thousands of dollars in a TV with DVI input, don’t skimp on the DVD player. Hurry and buy a DVI equipped player. If you don’t like the current crop, you shouldn’t have to wait too long. Many new DVD players with DVI or HDMI output have been announced. An alternative is to use your HTPC as a DVD player.

4Suggestion DVD 2: If you are about to buy an expensive new DVD player anyway, we recommend against buying one without DVI output, even if your current TV doesn’t have DVI input.

4Suggestion DVD 3: If your television has DVI input but it doesn't support HDCP or you are not sure, hurry and buy Bravo D1 before they start enforcing HDCP. You should of course continue to respect the copyrights of DVD makers.

DVI or HDMI Equipped DVD Players

Note this may not be an exhaustive list. This list will soon be replaced with a more complete coverage on this site.

Manufacturer and Player	Links	Street Price	DVI Output	HDCP Enforced?
Bravo D1 by V Inc.	See below	$199	Yes	No
Samsung HD 931	Store, See below	$249	Yes	Yes
LG LST-3510A	Thread Thread	$499	Yes	Yes
Denon 5900 (DVI Update)	Thread	$2000	Yes	Yes
Momitsu DV-880	Thread	$220	Yes	No
Marantz DV-8400	Store	$1450	Yes
TEAC DV-30			Yes
Tag Mclaren DVD32R/DVD32FLR with the PSM192 module	Review		Yes

New and Upcoming Players in 2004

NEW DVD Players with DVI or HDMI – CES 2004

Bravo WM9 HD dvd player. Check this out.

Hot New Bravo D2 & D3 DVD Info!!!!

New Samsung DVD Players with DVD-A and SACD playback

New Phillips DVD players with HDMI connection

Big Big News : Panasonic New DVD player with Faroudja & HDMI !!!!!

New DVD Player with DVI output!! (Yamakawa)

Shootouts:

Bravo D1 vs. Samsung 931 shoot-out

Denon 5900 vs Bravo D1 via DVI! I have both.

Denon 5900 vs. Bravo D1 screenshots.

Bravo D1 out Denon DVD-5900 in!

Bravo D1

You can buy it from: www.vinc.us

Bravo D1 DVI Compatibilty List

Bravo D1 Review vs. Denon 3800 DVD

Bravo D1 Review on HomeTheaterHiFi.COM:

Bravo D1 Review on CNET

Bravo D1 vs. HTPC on CRT comparison

Samsung HD 931

You can buy it many retailers.

Samsung HD931 Review in USA Today: (6/25/03)

Samsung 931 and 4:3 DVDs

HD931 problem thread (note this really talks about DHCP compatibility issues)

Set Top Boxes – HDTV Satellite/Cable Receivers and PVRs

Unfortunately, many HDTV receivers today don’t support DVI. For DirecTV, there is a good choice of boxes that support DVI. For Dish network, the currently shipping Dish 6000U doesn’t support but the soon to be released boxes do -- Dish 811 receiver and 921 PVR. Most cable companies are at the very early stage of introducing boxes with DVI output. The surprise is that the Zenith 230 OTA HDTV PVR – just released – doesn’t support DVI.

Suggestion STB 1: DVI output should be an important factor in deciding your service provider. Fortunately, all of them are now changing to DVI.

Suggestion STB 2: If you have a choice of boxes, definitely get the one with DVI output. If your cable/satellite provider is just introducing DVI equipped boxes, become the first in line to get one.

Set Top Boxes and PVR’s for Satellite, Cable and OTA Reception

Note this is not an exhaustive list. This list will soon be replaced with a more complete coverage on this site.

Go to this STB Synopsis Thread for latest on Set top boxes. Other STB Threads: HDTV FAQ, STB Thread, Dish, DirecTV .

Manufacturer and Box	Status	For	DVI Output	HDCP Enforced?	AVS Threads
Motorola 5100		Cable	?		Thread
Pace ?? – coming soon		Cable	Option ?
Pioneer Voyager 3510HD	coming soon	Cable	Option ?	?	Thread
Scientific Atlanta 3100		Cable	No
Scientific Atlanta 3250HD	coming soon	Cable	Option ?

LG LSS-3200A	coming soon	DirecTV, OTA	Yes
SamsungSIR-TS160		DirecTV, OTA	Yes	Yes	Thread,
SonySAT-HD200		DirecTV, OTA	Yes	Yes	Thread, Thread, Thread
Sony SAT-HD300	coming soon	DirecTV, OTA			Thread
Toshiba DST 3100		DirecTV, OTA	Yes	Yes	Thread, Thread
Zenith HD-SAT520		DirecTV, OTA	Yes	Yes

Dish 6000U HDTV Receiver		Dish, OTA	No	-
Dish 811 HDTV Receiver	coming soon	Dish, OTA	Yes	Yes	Thread, Thread
Dish 921 HDTV PVR	coming soon	Dish, OTA	Yes	Yes
JVC TU-PVR9000 PVR	coming soon	Dish, OTA	Yes	Yes

LG LST-3100A	June 2003	OTA	Yes	Yes
LG LST-3410A PVR	Oct 2003	OTA	Yes	Yes
LG LST-3510A DVD+Rcvr		OTA	Yes	Yes
PanasonicTU-DST50		OTA	No
PanasonicTU-DST52		OTA	No
PioneerSH-D505		OTA	No
SamsungSIR-T150		OTA	No
SamsungSIR-T151		OTA	No
SamsungSIR-T165		OTA	Yes	Yes	Thread, Thread, Thread
Samsung SIR-T351	Summer 2003	OTA	Yes	Yes	Thread
Zenith HDV420		OTA	No
Zenith HDR 230 HDTV PVR		OTA	No

PC Graphics Cards with DVI or HDMI Output

We use our 61 inch TV more as a large monitor than as a TV. It is used for couch computing, web browsing, PC gaming, photo slide shows, mp3 music playback. It also serves as a backup DVD/ stored media player. Using a VGA connection, we achieve a surprising good PQ. DVI, however, provides another quantum jump.

4Suggestion PC 1: Buy HTPC graphics cards only with both VGA and DVI outputs. We personally have very good experience with ATI cards and they are favored in this forum.

4Suggestion PC 2: When you connect your HTPC to a fixed pixel TV using DVI, make sure that you set the graphics card resolution to the native resolution of the TV. To do that, you may have to use Powerstrip.

Most ATI and nVidia cards today support both VGA and DVI. How well they comply with DVI is another story -- see this developing story in ExtremeTech.

DVI and HDMI Connections and Conversion

Your source box may have DVI or HDMI output and your television may have a DVI or HDMI input. And you may want to use the TV’s sound or feed it off separately to an audio receiver. So these are the various ways to connect your systems:

Type of Setup	Sound From	How To
DVI Source to DVI TV	TV	Video: Use DVI to DVI Cable Audio: Feed Audio Separately to TV
DVI Source to DVI TV	Receiver	Video: Use DVI to DVI Cable Audio: Feed Audio Separately to Receiver
HDMI Source to HDMI TV	TV	Video and Audio: Use HDMI to HDMI Cable
HDMI Source to HDMI TV	Receiver	Video: Use HDMI to HDMI Cable Audio: Feed Audio Separately to Receiver
DVI Source to HDMI TV	TV	Video: Use DVI to HDMI Cable Audio: Feed Audio Separately to TV
DVI Source to HDMI TV	Receiver	Video: Use DVI to HDMI Cable Audio: Feed Audio Separately to Receiver
HDMI Source to DVI TV	TV	Video: Use DVI to HDMI Cable (In reverse) Audio: Feed Audio Separately to TV
HDMI Source to DVI TV	Receiver	Video: Use DVI to HDMI Cable (In reverse) Audio: Feed Audio Separately to Receiver

DVI Cables

The cables you need to make your digital connections are DVI-D, Male to male – and they should cost $20-$30.

You can buy single link or dual link cables. Single link is fine for most connections, dual link is necessary for higher resolutions only.

Note that DVI-D is what you need for your purely digital connections (DVI-A is for analog, and DVI-I supports both digital and analog.)

Since DVI-D is a digital connection, there is no degradation of the signal due to noise. So you don’t need to buy expensive cable to assure quality of signal transmission. But the cable quality could limit the range of connection, see DVI Overview section.

Cables up to 5 meters (16 feet) are commonplace. Cables up to 30 feet can be obtained, but somewhere over 5 meters is the range of ordinary DVI connections. Some members have reported no problems with 30 feet runs using a 9 meter BetterCables DVI cable. If you get a picture with sparklies or no picture at all, you have exceeded the length limit. For much longer connections, up to about 500 feet, you can get DVI over optical fiber. It is significantly more expensive, costing up to $3000.

DVI cables

http://www.pacificcable.com/dvi.htm

http://www.bettercables.com/dvicables.html

http://www.cablestogo.com/resources/dvi.asp

http://www.cable4pc.com/dfp.htm#connector

http://www.datapro.net/dvi.html#Page05

www.lindy.com

HDMI and DVI / HDMI Cables

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/cables/hdmi.jsp

how to find DVI to HDMI cables

http://www.pasc.panasonic.com/Epart...sListChoice.asp TY-SCH03DH ($39.95)

Some forum members have also reported buying DVI and HDMI cables at e-bay.

DVI Switching

So you have a television that takes in DVI, and you have 3 devices that output DVI. How do you connect them? Traditionally, either your TV had enough inputs or you used an A/V receiver to do this task. Well, televisions with multiple DVI inputs or A/V receivers with DVI switching are some years out. So meanwhile you need a DVI switch.

There are some DVI switches available today. Gefen DVI switch is the best so far, but a number of other switches are on the verge.

Please note that the Gefen switch currently has a remote control problem - its IR codes conflict with many other devices. A fix is reportedly in progress, stay tuned.

There are no HDMI switches on the horizon so far.

DVI Switches

The ideal DVI switch should have:

- Switch up to four input ports

- HDCP compliant

- No degradation of the signal whatsoever

- Includes IR Control, and controllable from universal remote controls

- Included cables

- Price ~ $300 street.

Links

Gefen DVI Switcher

DVI switcher, Arun?

Need power buy for DVI switcher

Geffen 2 way DVI switcher review

Why do I want video switching in a receiver?

DVI Switching, a Review

Switching Cables Manually

If you want to switch manually, you can follow this procedure:

4Connect a 2 meter DVI extender cable (DVI-D, male to female, single link) to the back of the TV. Place its free female connector to an easily accessible location near the TV. For each input source, say a Bravo D1 DVD player, connect a DVI cable (DVI-D, male to male, single link) and place its free male connector near the free female connector so that it can be easily connected and disconnected. Label each connector. Switch cables as needed.

When you get a DVI switch, you can use the same cables – just replace manual switching with the switch device.

Technology Overviews

DVI Technology Overview

A DVI (Digital Video Interface) connection sends video signal digitally in an uncompressed format from a transmitter (e.g. a DVD player) to a receiver (e.g. a TV).

DVI specification is created by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). The specification is available here.

Types of DVI

A Cable may be DVI-D or DVI-I, single or dual link. Most connections need DVI-D, single link, Male to Male.

DVI-D vs. DVI-I: To make things really confusing for us, there are three different types of DVI connections:

- DVI-D for digital signals. Of course, our interest here is in DVI-D.

- DVI-A for analog signals (equivalent to and easily converted to RGB/VGA)

- DVI-I for both.

A DVI-D cable can carry only a digital connection. DVI-I cables are more versatile, and carry both types of signals.

Single vs. Dual Link: The DVI-D (as well as DVI-I) format is available in either Single or Dual link connectors. These cables send information using a format called TMDS (transition minimized differential signaling). Single link cables use one TMDS 165Mhz transmitter, while dual links use two. Single link can support up to 1280 x 1024 whereas dual link can go up to 1920 x 1080 resolution.

Cable Length: Up to 5 meter cables are commonly available for $30 or under. Longer cable runs up to 30 feet are harder to find. Much longer runs use optical fibers and are very expensive.

Quote from amillians:

Depending upon your equipment, a 25' DVI cable can be all but guaranteed to introduce artifacts (AKA sparklies) into the picture...just because the signal is digital in nature doesn't mean that DVI either "works" or it "doesn't work."

Although there are no hard and fast rules with regards to DVI-D cable lengths, at the max single link pixel clock, the generally accepted cable length is 5m best case...the lower the pixel rate (e.g., 1080i/60, 800x600/60, 480p/60), the longer the DVI cable can be, ceretus paribus. From a total system perspective, the maximum "safe" DVI cable length is a function of DVI cable construction (copper, silver clad, etc.), DVI TX/RX chipset performance and pixel clock (in order of impact).

That said, assuming no egregious construction/build quality issues, a $20 6' DVI cable should work just as well as a $200 6' DVI cable; however, there could be observable differences in 20'+ cables, depending upon the setup...a 20' cable that works fine for someone using STB X at 720p/60 may show artifacts using STB Y at 1366x768p/60. Just make sure that whatever you buy, you can return if it doesn't perform--lots of places are hawking 30' DVI cables that are "guaranteed" to work, albeit only at 640x480p/60 (the lowest DVI pixel clock speed) if you press them for details.

DVI Links

http://www.ddwg.org/faq.html

http://www.datapro.net/dvi.html#Page05

http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/...ackgrounder.cfm

http://www.intechlabs.com/ourfaqs/tv/dvi.htm

What does DVI stand for and what does it do?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=277923

Why Use DVI vs. Component- My Rant:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/show...838#post2391838

DVI vs. Firewire

Firewire is another type of digital connection.

- DVI is a point-to-point interface for UNCOMPRESSED video between a source device (PC, STB, DVD-player) and a display device. It requires less logic in the display, and is therefore more suited to connecting display devices.

- Firewire is a network-able interface suitable for COMPRESSED multimedia streams between many devices, including PCs, displays, STBs, D-VHS recorders, and DVD players. It requires less logic in a recording device and therefore it is more suited for recording devices.

Firewire's origin are from the computer industry, specifically Apple. Its competitor from the PC side is USB. Firewire was offered in early digital consumer electronic devices that needed to connect to computers.

DVI standard originated with Intel and has been widely accepted as the digital connection in the consumer electronics industry. DVI standard is also enabled (or burdened depending on your perspective) with HDCP for content protection.

As consumers, some of us may prefer Firewire because it does not come with HDCP. This is, however, just wishful thinking. There is no indication that Firewire will be adapted for display devices. Its role is primarily in recording devices, and even there its not clear whether electronics industry will embrace it because of copy protection issues.

Firewire has its own version of content protection, known as DTCP or "5C". Hollywood seems to prefer DVI/HDCP connections over Firewire/DTCP connections because DVI would be impractical to record even if you could break the protection.

HDCP Overview

HDCP enforces copyrights of content that flows through DVI connections. HDCP is essentially a way to get the device makers follow the wishes of content providers. Device makers must get licenses that will equip their devices with licensed keys. These keys will enable them to receive and display encrypted content. To get the license, they agree to honor flags in the content that will generally limit the storage and re-transmission of content.

HDCP was originally developed by Intel Corporation. It is now published and maintained by Digital Content Protection, LLC (http://www.digital-cp.com/)

As we go forward with HDCP, two major issues become of concern to us consumers.

Device compatibility issue: we are already seeing an incompatibility between HDCP enforcing transmitters and receivers that are not HDCP enabled. Now as the standard evolves, each generation will continue to see the same compatibility problem.

Fair use issue: Following are the encoding rules proposed to FCC in their original language:

“- Subscribers may make at least one copy for their private and personal use of any digital program sold by monthly subscription.

- Programs sold by the one (PPV, VOD and SVOD) may be marked as copy never, but cable subscribers may pause or store them (on PVR’s) for 90 minutes (or longer, if agreed to by the program provider).

- These devices may not permit content to flow only through a particular type of output. (This prohibition on “selectable output controls” will be effective when the FCC makes the restriction applicable to all MVPDs.)

- Free over-the-air broadcast signals may be copied freely, and may not be reduced in resolution (“down-res’d”) when output from unprotected high-definition analog ports.

- The proposed rules are neutral on down-resolution of all other content, leaving it to the FCC to decide how to address the “analog hole” through which high-quality high-value programming passes in unprotected format.”

We don’t know whether these rules will be passed as proposed, and we don’t know how exactly they will be implemented if passed.

There is also some concern whether HDCP will actually be effective, or will it have to be replaced by something even stronger. If HDCP continues to cloud the issues, will it potentially hamper the adoption of DVI?

HDCP Links

Digital Content Protection, LLC

http://www.digital-cp.com/

HDCP Specification

http://www.digital-cp.com/data/HDCP...ationRev1_1.pdf

HDCP Upstream protocol on personal computers

http://www.digital-cp.com/data/hdcp...ecification.pdf

HDCP: what it is and how to use it - Jim Lyle, Silicon Image Inc -- EDN, 4/18/2002

http://www.e-insite.net/ednmag/cont...ages/209091.pdf

AVS Forum Discussion

So does/will HDCP obsolete component video for HDTV?

Should HDCP Compliance be a deal breaker?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/show...767#post2403767

HDMI - The Evolution of DVI

In a year or so, DVI will change over to HDMI. HDMI extends the DVI standard and adds audio to it. Functionally it is DVI for Video + HDCP for protection + Audio. It also uses a smaller more convenient connector and has a bigger range. It can also carry more types of video signals. It is expected to be available in devices starting in 2004.

It is supposed to be backward compatible with DVI as well as existing audio standards. For example, you will be able to take separate DVI video + audio outputs from devices, combine them, and feed it into a HDMI port on a TV. Or you can take HDMI output from a device, split it and feed the DVI part to a TV and the audio part to a receiver.

HDMI definition from Whatis.com:

"HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is a specification that combines video and audio into a single digital interface for use with digital versatile disc (DVD) players, digital television (DTV) players, set-top boxes, and other audiovisual devices. The basis for HDMI is High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) and the core technology of Digital Visual Interface (DVI). HDCP is an Intel specification used to protect digital content transmitted and received by DVI-compliant displays.

HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video plus standard to multi-channel surround-sound audio. HDMI benefits include uncompressed digital video, a bandwidth of up to 5 gigabytes per second, one connector instead of several cables and connectors, and communication between the video source and the DTV. HDMI development is overseen by the HDMI Working Group that includes Sony, Hitachi, Silicon Image, Philips, and Toshiba as members. "

HDMI Links

Here is the main link to HDMI, go to FAQ section:

http://www.hdmi.org/

An article by Silicon Image in Widescreen review:

http://www.siliconimage.com/documen...HDMI70lores.pdf

A column in Digital Cinema Report:

http://www.digitalcinemareport.com/hdmicolumn.html

Sigma designs, covers DVI and HDMI

http://www.sigmadesigns.com/support/DVI_HDMI.htm