video cables: 2 out of 3 ain't bad

[Brian Cluff]

HDMI is a subset of DVI that also includes audio so the adapters to go 
between them are super cheap (Like $2 or $3 each unless you want audio 
then they are closer to $12+).  So it doesn't really matter which one of 
those you pick.
VGA is on it's way out, so I wouldn't go that route unless you have to. 
  As the previous message said, you can usually get VGA out of a DVI 
connector with an inexpensive adapter and most monitors will also allow 
you to adapt them for VGA.  You just have to check to see which DVI 
standard they conform to.  If it's DVI-I, then you are good to go.  If 
it's DVI-D, then it only carries a digital signal and no amount of 
adapters will get a VGA signal in or out of it.

One way to visually tell if you've got DVI with an analog signal is to 
look at the DVI connector and see if it's got the 4 pins with a big flat 
one between them like this:

O O
---
O O

If the four pins are missing, it's definitely a DVI-D connector.  It's 
not fool proof though; I have seen connectors that have the analog pins, 
but only supports digital signals.  I've also found some HDMI to DVI 
adapters that had the analog pins on them, even though they are unused, 
and in my case they got in the way because the connector I was plugging 
them into didn't have the "guzintas" for the pins.  In that case you can 
safely pull the pins out of the adapter with a pair of needle nose 
pliers.  They come out easily since they aren't soldered to anything.

Brian Cluff

On 10/24/2013 11:58 PM, der.hans wrote:
> moin moin,
>
> I setup a system and don't have to muck with it much for years at a time,
> so I lose track of proper setup. I'm fine with this tradeoff as I'm glad
> to concentrate on other things :).
>
> Anyway, ordering a new system and it looks like integrated video means I
> choose two of the following three to drive my monitors: VGA/HDMI/DVI.
>
> Am I much better off spending $xx on a video card that can drive both off
> the same type of port? If so, what port type should I prefer? I presume
> VGA is not the current favorite :).
>
> ciao,
>
> der.hans