HDMI to DVI cable scheme pinout diagram @ pinoutguide.com
HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. This video data is then encoded into TMDS for transmission digitally over HDMI. HDMI also includes support for 8-channel uncompressed digital audio. Beginning with version 1.2, HDMI now supports up to 8 channels of one-bit audio. One-bit audio is what is used on Super Audio CDs.
The standard Type A HDMI connector has 19 pins, and a higher resolution version called Type B, has been defined, although it is not yet in common use. Type B has 29 pins, allowing it to carry an expanded video channel for use with high-resolution displays. Type-B is designed to support resolutions higher than 1080p.
Type A HDMI to DVI-D interface cable
| HDMI Pin | Signal | Wire | DVI-D Pin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TMDS Data2+ | A | 2 |
| 2 | TMDS Data2 Shield | B | 3 |
| 3 | TMDS Data2- | A | 1 |
| 4 | TMDS Data1+ | A | 10 |
| 5 | TMDS Data1 Shield | B | 11 |
| 6 | TMDS Data1- | A | 9 |
| 7 | TMDS Data0+ | A | 18 |
| 8 | TMDS Data0 Shield | B | 19 |
| 9 | TMDS Data0- | A | 17 |
| 10 | TMDS Clock+ | A | 23 |
| 11 | TMDS Clock Shield | B | 22 |
| 12 | TMDS Clock- | A | 24 |
| 13 | CEC | N. |
N.C. |
| 14 | Reserved | N.C. | N.C. |
| 15 | SCL | C | 6 |
| 16 | DDC | C | 7 |
| 17 | DDC/CEC Ground | D | 15 |
| 18 | +5V | 5V | 14 |
| 19 | Hot Plug Detect | C | 16 |
Other pins are not connected
Type B HDMI to DVI-D interface cable
| HDMI Pin | Signal | Wire | DVI-D Pin |
| 1 | TMDS Data2+ | A | 2 |
| 2 | TMDS Data2 Shield | B | 3 |
| 3 | TMDS Data2- | A | 1 |
| 4 | TMDS Data1+ | A | 10 |
| 5 | TMDS Data1 Shield | B | 11 |
| 6 | TMDS Data1- | A | 9 |
| 7 | TMDS Data0+ | A | 18 |
| 8 | TMDS Data0 Shield | B | 19 |
| 9 | TMDS Data0- | A | 17 |
| 10 | TMDS Clock+ | A | 23 |
| 11 | TMDS Clock Shield | B | 22 |
| 12 | TMDS Clock- | A | 24 |
| 13 | TMDS Data5+ | A | 21 |
| 14 | TMDS Data5 Shield | B | 19 |
| 15 | TMDS Data5- | A | 20 |
| 16 | TMDS Data4+ | A | 5 |
| 17 | TMDS Data4 Shield | B | 3 |
| 18 | TMDS Data4- | A | 4 |
| 19 | TMDS Data3+ | A | 13 |
| 20 | TMDS Data3 Shield | B | 11 |
| 21 | TMDS Data3- | A | 12 |
| 25 | SCL | C | 6 |
| 26 | DDC | C | 7 |
| 27 | DDC/CEC Ground | D | 15 |
| 28 | +5V | 5V | 14 |
| 29 | Hot Plug Detect | C | 16 |
Other pins are not connected
Understanding the DVI Connector and Video Cable
Updated:
A DVI connection can be an excellent alternative to HDMI, but when should you use one? Find out more about the DVI connector and cable in this simple guide.
A DVI connector can provide a high-quality picture for your home theater components.
However, there may be better ways to connect your devices, and you might have plenty of other questions about using DVI.
Is DVI compatible with HDMI? What is DVI-I?
And, can you connect a DVI output to a monitor with a VGA input?
Find out more about this connection type and when you should use it.
Table Of Contents
- What Does the DVI Connector Look Like?
- What Does a DVI Cable Look Like?
- When Should You Use a DVI Connection?
- DVI Connector Types
- Can You Convert DVI to HDMI?
- How Do You Connect DVI to a VGA Monitor?
- DVI-D to VGA Connections
- How to Make VGA to DVI Connections
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What Does DVI Stand For?
- Is DVI Better Than HDMI?
- Are DVI and HDMI the Same?
- What Are the Three Types of DVI Connectors?
- Pin Me!
What Does the DVI Connector Look Like?
The connection on your device will look something like this:
It is a standard port on modern computer graphics cards and AV devices such as projectors.
Some manufacturers will color the port depending on which type of DVI connector it is – DVI-D, DVI-A or DVI-I. See below for more information on the different types.
What Does a DVI Cable Look Like?
The cable that is used to connect two devices looks like this:
The ‘D’ shape means the video cable can only be inserted one way round.
The DVI connection on the end of the cable may have different amounts of pins depending on the type of DVI connection it is designed for.
The different pin configurations are explained below.
When Should You Use a DVI Connection?
Most modern AV equipment usually has an HDMI connector, which can send high-quality digital video and audio signals.
However, if you have a device with a DVI connection rather than HDMI, you should use this to send the video signal.
You would generally use DVI ahead of component video, s-video and composite video – as long as your equipment supports this method.
DVI Connector Types
There are three types of DVI cables and connections, and each has a slightly different pin configuration:
- DVI-D – for digital signals
- DVI-A – for analog signals
- DVI-I – can send digital and analog signals
The different types were designed to allow a flexible solution for connecting to either digital or analog screens.
However, in reality, it can just be plain confusing!
In general, most AV equipment will have the digital version.
It is possible to tell the type of port you have/need by checking the pins used on your device connectors – which are pictured above.
However, it is probably safer to refer to the manual before buying a cable to ensure which version you are using.
You don’t want to buy a digital cable if your outputs only support the analog version.
Another less common version is dual-link (or DVI-DL), which has a second internal connection for delivering data and can be used for high-resolution displays up to 2560×1600/60Hz.
Dual-link DVI connections aren’t widely used, but you would need a special dual-link cable if your device does have this interface.
Can You Convert DVI to HDMI?
The digital DVI-D or DVI-I version is compatible with an HDMI connection – so you can get DVI to HDMI cables or adapters if your AV equipment requires a connection like this.
Remember, a DVI connection doesn’t transfer audio signals, so these cables will send the picture but not the sound.
UGREEN Bi-Directional HDMI to DVI-D Cable
Image Credit: UGREEN
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The cable pictured above will work both ways.
So you can send a signal from a DVI-D output to an HDMI input – or from an HDMI output to a DVI-D input. Terrific!
Another thing to check is the image resolution supported by the cable.
The cables above support 1080p video with a maximum resolution of 1920×1200.
How Do You Connect DVI to a VGA Monitor?
There may be a time when you have a DVI output, but only a VGA input on your monitor.
Do DVI to VGA adapters work? They do indeed.
If you are using the DVI-I or DVI-A versions, you can buy an adapter to convert your DVI output into a VGA interface.
Then, you just need to connect a VGA cable to your display.
UGREEN DVI-I Male to VGA Female Adapter
Image Credit: UGREEN
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Does this work both ways? No, this adapter is designed for a DVI-I to VGA connection.
The male DVI connector plugs into your device’s female DVI output, and you connect a standard VGA cable into the female VGA connector.
Finally, simply plug this into your monitor.
DVI-D to VGA Connections
What if your device has a DVI-D output? Then you will need a different type of adapter.
This active VGA adapter will work with any DVI-D device – such as the graphics card connector of a desktop or laptop.
Benfei Active DVI-D to VGA Adapter
Image Credit: Benfei
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This adapter supports 1080p TV resolutions at 60Hz – up to 1920×1200 @60Hz.
How to Make VGA to DVI Connections
You have learned how to make a DVI to VGA connection, but what if you need to connect everything the other way?
In this case, you will need a different cable.
If you want to make a VGA to DVI connection, you can buy a cable like this one:
Cable Matters VGA to DVI-I Cable
Image Credit: Cable Matters
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This VGA to DVI-I cable will allow you to connect a VGA output to a DVI-I input on your display device.
It doesn’t send audio, so you need to make a separate connection for the sound.
In fact, this cable is bi-directional, so if you want to make a DVI-I to VGA connection, then this one will work too.
This is an excellent alternative to the previously mentioned DVI to VGA adapter.
Sometimes buying a cable rather than an adapter will save you the cost of purchasing an extra cable.
However, always check that the cable or adapter that you are going to buy supports the correct signal direction that you need.
Some cables will send both ways, but many are designed for one way only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does DVI Stand For?
DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface.
Is DVI Better Than HDMI?
DVI sends the same high-quality digital video signal as HDMI. However, unlike HDMI, DVI doesn’t support audio signals, so you must make a separate connection to hear the sound.
Are DVI and HDMI the Same?
DVI-D and HDMI are similar, although not exactly the same.
The main differences are that HDMI supports stereo and multichannel audio, the YUV color space and CEC control signals – where DVI doesn’t. You may also have trouble playing copyright-protected material with DVI as the connections may not support HDCP.
What Are the Three Types of DVI Connectors?
The three types of DVI connectors are DVD-D (digital signals), DVI-A (analog signals) and DVI-I (compatible with both digital and analog).
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About Home Cinema Guide
Paul started the Home Cinema Guide to help less-experienced users get the most out of today’s audio-visual technology. He has worked as a sound, lighting and audio-visual engineer for around 20 years. At home, he has spent more time than is probably healthy installing, configuring, testing, de-rigging, fixing, tweaking, re-installing again (and sometimes using) various pieces of hi-fi and home cinema equipment. You can find out more here.
Home Cinema Guide may get a commission if you buy from a link marked with * on this page: about ads
How to make a do-it-yourself DVI-D VGA adapter
Despite the growing popularity of HDMI and other modern interfaces, VGA is still relevant and is used to transfer video data most often.
The Video Graphics Array standard, released by IBM, is used today, as it was thirty years ago, in monitors and video adapters. If you need to connect a monitor with an analog connector to a new video card that broadcasts digital, use DVI VGA adapters. In fact, such devices do not always work, since the question of compatibility arises here, therefore experts recommend using signal converters instead of adapters.
Features of DVI-D and VGA connectors
The interfaces will seriously differ both in the method of signal transmission and processing, and in the connectors. What is the difference between the two DVI and VGA standards is clear even from the definitions.
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) is a digital interface that allows you to transfer video images to digital devices, usually a video card — a monitor. The DVI port is equipped with technology-enabled devices, its use ensures that the picture is obtained in the best quality.
In the case of the DVI-D modification, only a digital video signal is transmitted, while there is no analog channel, and modern GPU modules are equipped with just such an interface.
At the same time, not everyone is in a hurry to completely update the equipment, and the incompatibility of technologies creates obvious problems for owners of monitors with VGA, there is a need to purchase converters.
Since the DVI modifications differ from each other, the connectors can be of the following types:
- DVI-A — Provides only analog signal transmission.
- DVI-I — used both for sending data in digital form and in analog format (both channels are available, independent of each other, working alternately — the decision to transfer data through one or another channel is made by the device).
- DVI-D — designed to transmit digital signal only.
Versions of the standard also differ in the number of channels (Dual Link in the name indicates the presence of two digital channels, Single Link — only one channel is implemented), which directly affects the throughput.
The Video Graphics Array standard is more than a decade old, it is an analog interface developed in 1987, which was equipped with computer monitors and video cards.
With the advent of LCD monitors, it became necessary to convert the video signal twice, which became impractical, as a result of which it was decided to exclude the analog signal from the chain.
The maximum quality when transmitting a video signal via VGA is HD, so Full HD or 3D files will not be played, so the specification is considered obsolete, despite the fact that it is still popular among users. The maximum resolution that is achieved with an analog interface is only 1280×1024 pixels, which was not bad 20 years ago, but today the digital format is more relevant, allowing you to get a picture with a resolution of 2560×1600 pixels.
The VGA interface can be of the following types:
- DDC1 — one-way transmission. The video adapter detects the data and identifies the attached DDC monitor.
- DDC2 — information is exchanged in both directions, the monitor broadcasts data, the computer adjusts the parameters for the connected device.
- E-DDC is the most advanced variation.
Data about the connected device is stored in the memory of the interface.
VGA connector pinout
DVI-D (Dual Link) pinout
Compatibility issues
When purchasing a new video card, the owner of an old-style monitor immediately has the question of how to connect DVI-D to VGA. First of all, the user, seeing the striking differences in the connectors, purchases an adapter, but this solution does not always help to cope with incompatibility problems.
So, the lack of contacts C1-C4 on DVI-D (4 rectangular holes on the connector) makes it impossible to broadcast an analog signal. Looking at the pinout, you can immediately determine that a modern video adapter is not suitable for the old image output tool, and even if the monitor sends a signal, the chance that the picture will appear is minimal.
Pinout that supports DVI to VGA transfer
IMPORTANT. If the video card has a DVI output, and the monitor has a VGA output, the problem is solved by purchasing (or making it yourself) an adapter, while taking into account the tangible difference between DVI-I and DVI-D.
In the first case, the signal transmission is due to the presence of an analog channel, while in the second one there is none, which means that it is impossible to transfer data via DVI-D through an adapter, so in this case you will need a converter.
Connecting a VGA monitor to a DVI-D video card can be done using a special device that converts the signal.
IMPORTANT. DVI-A graphics cards do not support DVI-D output devices, while DVI-I graphics cards can be connected to a monitor that supports the digital standard.
Solution of the issue
Based on the pinout, it should be understood that even by making a DVI-D / VGA adapter with our own hands, we will not get an image on the screen, since the video signal is not converted by soldering. The appearance of the picture may mean that the video adapter still supports analog transmission, that is, you have DVI-I or A.
Despite the incompatibility of technologies, it is still possible to connect VGA to DVI-D, since information can not only be transmitted, but also converted.
So, the connection is implemented through a device called a converter or converter. Although the device may look like a simple adapter, unlike it, there is an additional module. Many models of the device also require a separate power supply, and the converter will cost much more, but you should not save on it, since this approach can cause incorrect connections.
The task of the converter is to convert a digital signal into an analog signal, which allows you to send data from a modern GPU module to an outdated model of an image output device, including also TVs and projectors. At the same time, devices are most often equipped with a more advanced HDMI connector, which also works with digital, so there should be no problems with connecting a video card. In this case, the additional use of adapters is not necessary.
The converter is a unidirectional device, which means that only a digital video signal will be converted to analog, while the reverse conversion is excluded.
Therefore, if it is necessary to connect an outdated video adapter to a modern display, an inverter is used, but you can not count on high image quality under such conditions.
When choosing a converter, we recommend taking into account possible incompatibility with equipment and the need for a separate power supply. Audio is transmitted via an additional cable, since when using the above technologies, we are talking exclusively about broadcasting a video signal. If the length of the cord connecting the computer and the monitor or TV receiver is less than 1.5 meters, it is not necessary to connect to a power source. In addition, ideally, it is better if the frequency of the output means and the converter matched. If the display is larger than 40 inches, stripes may appear on the display.
HDMI to DVI adapter. Unsoldering, unsoldering.
Many people currently have older computers, monitors and other video signal sources/receivers that have a video output or video input in the form of a DVI interface on board.
And many want to «dock» these devices with equipment that has only a modern HDMI video input / video output. It is for this kind of tasks that the adapter HDMI DVI is used:
Everything seemed to be simple — they took it, connected it and everything works. But often, trying to solve this problem so simply, people encounter problems and numerous questions, what and how. We will try to consider all the pitfalls in this matter.
Recommended:
How to connect audio via HDMI to speakers. HDMI to SPDIF converter.
How to extend HDMI over twisted pair
How to connect VGA over twisted pair
How to connect an RCA TV box to a VGA monitor
HDMI to RCA converter
Optical to Analog Audio audio converter
and HDMI-HDMI, as well as in conjunction with HDMI transceivers over UTP twisted pair. Therefore, I can safely recommend this HDMI-DVI adapter for purchase.
It is also worth noting that when ordering, you can make a mistake and choose an HDMI-DVI (24 + 5) adapter, which should not be done, why? But you will understand this from the description below. 9To get started Let’s take a closer look at the DVI interface itself.
And so, DVI (Digital Visual Interface) is a digital interface originally used to connect computer video cards to LCD monitors, TVs, video projectors and other devices that have the same interface on board. This interface ensures the transmission of a clear video image to a TV due to the transmission of a digital signal, i.e. the image is not subject to processing by video processors of analog / digital devices and vice versa. This fact allows you to evaluate the quality of the picture at high resolutions.
If you have such a video output / video input on your device, even when connected with a DVI-DVI cable (and even more so an HDMI DVI adapter), you should figure out which interface your device has.
After all, there are several varieties of this interface.
Device connector can be:
DVI-D : interface for outputting digital video only
DVI-I : combined interface for analog (VGA) and digital video output
Cables for connecting a video signal source to a video display device can be:
DVI-A : only transmit analog video signal
Single-Link DVI-D : interface for single-link output of only digital signal with Full HD resolution at 60Hz only
Single-Link DVI-I : Interface for single-link output of both analog and digital signals
Dual-Link DVI-D20 x 1200/120Hz, 2560×1600/60Hz
Dual-Link DVI-I : Dual-link analog and digital output interface
Dual-Link DVI provides 1920 high resolution image output x 1200 and more (2560×1600 and 2048×1536), in this regard, if you have, for example, a TV with such an interface, then the source must have a similar video output.
All described options will be more clearly seen in the following picture:
Now you can determine exactly what type of DVI video interfaces are available on your devices and what cables you need to connect them.
What is an HDMI multimedia interface?
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is an interface for transmitting high-definition digital video and audio from source to destination. In fact, the difference between HDMI and DVI is a large bandwidth, audio transmission and design differences in the direction of reducing the overall dimensions of the connectors.
But it is worth noting that, given the presence of several types of DVI video interface, not every device can be connected to a device with HDMI with this output (using an adapter). It is worth remembering: HDMI is a digital interface, respectively, it will only be possible to connect a device with a digital DVI-D connector to it.
Consider the correspondence of these interfaces, the pinout of the “
HDMI DVI adapter” will help with this:
It is not difficult to notice the similarity.
Application of the
HDMI DVI adapter in practice.
Case study: I have a monitor with DVI-D (digital) video input, and I need to connect a DVR with HDMI video output (also digital) to it. Everything seemed simple — we take an adapter, a 10m HDMI-HDMI cable, connect and enjoy. But it was not chickpeas. The monitor «understands» that a source is connected to its input, but we have a black screen. The option with a ready-made HDMI-DVI cable was also tested — the result is unchanged. For the sake of experiment, a satellite tuner with an HDMI output was also used as a video signal source instead of a recorder. In this case, the picture was received, but disappeared and appeared every 2 seconds, while being shifted to half the screen.
As a result of the experiments, the picture from the recorder on the monitor was never received. However, when checking this HDMI-DVI adapter in conjunction «laptop with HDMI output — monitor with DVI input», «tuner with HDMI output — projector with DVI input», etc.
, the image was received!
The analysis of this connection showed that it is important for the monitor with what parameters (resolution and screen refresh rate) the image is supplied. Playing with the laptop’s HDMI video output settings, changing the resolution and refresh rate of the screen in various combinations (from the smallest to the largest), the «correct» image on the monitor was obtained in one combination of «resolution-frequency». At the same time, the resolution in the laptop settings was exactly the same as stated in the technical specifications of the monitor, and neither more nor less (although, theoretically, less should be displayed without problems). But, if a laptop (computer) allows you to change the parameters of the output video signal, then the manufacturer of the DVR has one single resolution of the output video signal 1920×1080 and the exact frequency is not known. The satellite tuner provides a choice of different resolutions up to 1920×1080 / p ( / i), but the result was not achieved.