[mythtv-users] Why do they put VGA on Mother Boards anymore?

David Brodbeck gull at gull.us
Thu Feb 28 22:16:59 UTC 2008


On Feb 28, 2008, at 7:58 AM, Richard Bronosky wrote:

> Am I missing something here?  It seems to me that any mobo with "DVI"
> is actually DVI-I, meaning that it has both analog and digital.  This
> allows the use of a DVI->VGA cable.  So, I'm forced to wonder, why are
> hardware manufacturers in the year 2008 throwing away the digital
> signal and only providing access to the post D/A processed outcome?

I'd guess three reasons:

1. There are still a lot of legacy monitors out there.  While Apple's  
switch to exclusive use of DVI has raised awareness of the existence  
of DVI->VGA adapters somewhat, they can still be hard to find.

2. Most current LCDs look just as good with a VGA input as they do  
with DVI.  The days of them having trouble "locking on" to analog  
signals are mostly over with -- it was mainly an issue of getting  
accurate, stable timing from the sync pulses.  (LCDs are analog  
devices, too, so DVI really just moves the DAC from the video card to  
the monitor.)

3. DVI connectors are physically large compared to VGA, and the space  
on an ATX backplane is pretty limited.



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