Question - HDMI Video Cards

[AAA]

I've read so much on the comparison between HDMI and DVI and I"ve come to my own conclusion that HDMI will be the way to go by next year for me.

Unfortunately, this brings me to my question:

Will the combinations of HDMI + DVI be heavily more supported by the time Next gen video cards release? or are we still gonna be stuck with those lame-ass converters and Dual DVI's?

EDIT: Also, Why is it that all of the popular/reliable manufacturers release quality cards that come out right now don't have HDMI support, but a few amount of the "native" manufacturers do support it? I just don't see why they would have a reason not to support HDMI...

[Sel]

Probably not.

There is no noticeable difference between the two formats, and you'll get the same quality using a DVI --> HDMI adapter as you would if there was no adapter.

[Mr Buckshot]

I don't think there's any image quality difference between HDMI and DVI, it's just that HDMI has the small convenience of carrying both video and sound at the same time.

[paladin]

I dont think video cards have HDMI output. I think the HD ATi all-in-wonder does but all others have a DVI-HDMI converter... Its hard to say when theyll actually switch to HDMI out but I dont think itll happen for atleast a year or two.

edit: this belongs in tech too, doesnt it?

[Cortexian]

My GTX 285 just came with a DVI-HDMI dongle... The GTX 295 is the only Nvidia card with native HDMI iirc.

[Phopojijo]

Yeah... HDMI -> DVI is exactly the same *quality wise* (excluding sound)...

If you don't want to put up with the adapter for whatever reason, you could always buy an HDMI->DVI cable instead of an HDMI->HDMI + HDMI-DVI adapter...

Some cards do have HDMI though... it's rare but it does happen. Very few computer monitors support it though... probably because it'll cut into LG/Samsung/etc's TV sales... or because monitors don't often have speakers... dunno.

[Warsaw]

I dont think video cards have HDMI output. I think the HD ATi all-in-wonder does but all others have a DVI-HDMI converter... Its hard to say when theyll actually switch to HDMI out but I dont think itll happen for atleast a year or two.

edit: this belongs in tech too, doesnt it?

Except the All-In-Wonder line was dropped a long time ago, I think even before HDMI made it to PCs...

There are quite a few video cards with built-in HDMI ports, just need to read specs and look at pictures, though honestly, unless you like monitor speakers, there's really no advantage to be had with HDMI over DVI in the PC real.

What I can't understand is why VGA is still as common today as it was 10 years ago...

[AAA]

What I can't understand is why VGA is still as common today as it was 10 years ago...


Seriously....

Can't we just make that switch so everyone can be happy? HDMI is like a revised DVI and I don't understand why they couldn't just throw in a DVI->HDMI converter so people don't have to be held back on their digital experience with high-quality video cards....

[Phopojijo]

Many provide the converters... even though you can pick them up dirt-cheap anyway.

Edit: Oh yeah... and VGA typically allows for much much higher resolution... at least before DualLink took off.

[Amit]

Seriously....

Can't we just make that switch so everyone can be happy? HDMI is like a revised DVI and I don't understand why they couldn't just throw in a DVI->HDMI converter so people don't have to be held back on their digital experience with high-quality video cards....

Not all video cards support HDMI. Only Radeon HD 2000 series video cards and up, some later GeForce 8 series cards, GeForce 9 series cards and up support HDMI through DVI>HDMI adapters.

[AAA]

The fact that its been presented but hasn't bared any news as to the thought to be mainstreamed is almost mind-boggling.

[Amit]

I still agree with your initial thought, though. The only use for HDMI in a video card for me would be for plugging it into my Home Theatre Receiver for HD Video and Audio on my TV. I have no purpose for that anyways since I'd rather have my computer in my room instead of the TV room.

[Phopojijo]

I frankly hope that will change as it'll finally push the videogame market into an open standard...

... as open as windows is at least.

[legionaire45]

I believe that all of ATI's recent cards have had Realtek sound chips built onto them so you can use the DVI -> HDMI adapter that is usually included to have sound outputted over HDMI without adapters and such; I know the HD3 series supported it but I don't remember hearing anything about it for the HD4 series.

For some reason my video card or HDTV doesn't like using any DVI -> HDMI 1.3 cable and simply refuses to output video, so make sure that everything is compatible before you buy the stuff.

To be honest, at this point I don't think it really matters whether you go with a GPU with HDMI onboard because they usually charge more for the cards that have that. Don't choose your card based only off of the output connectors.

[Phopojijo]

For some reason my video card or HDTV doesn't like using any DVI -> HDMI 1.3 cable and simply refuses to output video, so make sure that everything is compatible before you buy the stuff.Did you make sure to set your drivers to the proper signal (resolution/H&V refresh/etc)?

[paladin]

Except the All-In-Wonder line was dropped a long time ago, I think even before HDMI made it to PCs...

There are quite a few video cards with built-in HDMI ports, just need to read specs and look at pictures, though honestly, unless you like monitor speakers, there's really no advantage to be had with HDMI over DVI in the PC real.

What I can't understand is why VGA is still as common today as it was 10 years ago...

l2 newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103063) :p

[legionaire45]

Did you make sure to set your drivers to the proper signal (resolution/H&V refresh/etc)?
Yup, everything software wise should work. I've tried moving it around to different HDMI ports on the TV itself (and also switching the DVI port it's plugged into) and it still doesn't work.

Not sure what the issue is.

[Warsaw]

l2 newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103063) :p


I've not't scrolled down far enough to see the tuner tab under Videocards in aeons :lol:.

Nice find, though the value for that card stinks compared to older All-In-Wonder cards. It has no remote, no component (yes, a lot of people still use component), and just about any card with HDMI can also do audio (it's actually more of a hassle than it is an advantage). To top off, that's not even a recent card :eyesroll:.

[paladin]

Its about 1 year old.