Digital Tigers SideCar MMS Series manual Display types and connections, DVI vs. VGA connections

Display types and connections

It is important to understand some basic differences among display types and connections, so that you can match the right display with the right port or adapter. There are three major categories of computer displays:

ƒFlat-panel LCD or plasma displays

ƒCRT computer monitors

ƒComputer display projectors

All of these display types can be attached to your SideCar. However, you will need to determine the required connection type for your display – DVI or VGA. This is easily determined from your display documentation. You can also simply inspect your display cable connectors.

DVI vs. VGA connections

Most computer users are familiar with VGA monitor connectors. Known technically as HD15 or mini D-sub15-pinconnectors (see next page), they became the computer industry standard for monitor connections after the VGA display standard was introduced in

1987. Display resolutions have since risen far beyond the original VGA standard (640 x 480), but the same HD15 connector has continued to be used and is still commonly referred to as a VGA connector.

VGA (HD15) cabling supports only analog display connections. Until recent years, almost all computer displays were analog CRT monitors, which is why the VGA connection standard is analog.

Unlike analog CRT monitors, flat-panel displays and computer projectors are digital devices and are best used with digital (DVI) connections.

More recently, flat-panel LCD displays and computer display projectors have become popular. These displays are digital displays. To ensure broad compatibility, such displays are usually offered with analog VGA connectors and cables. However, using a VGA connection with a digital display (flat panel or projector) forces the computer’s display output to be converted from digital to analog, then from analog back to digital. With high-quality components (a well- engineered display; high-quality, shielded cables; and high-quality computer graphics output) this conversion process works well. With mediocre components in the chain, display quality can suffer. Symptoms can include blurry text, inconsistent display sharpness, poor colors/contrast, and a wavy shimmer effect.

Fortunately, an all-digital connection is possible using a digital DVI connection, based on the DVI (Digital Visual Interface) standard introduced in 1999. Digital DVI display connections are highly reliable and rarely suffer from the defects of some VGA connections.

12– SUPPORTED DISPLAY CONFIGURATIONS