Hulver's site || ask Husi: monitors and video cards

Diaries
Everything
Who's Online?
FAQ / Help

ask Husi: monitors and video cards

By clover kicker (Sat Nov 04, 2006 at 08:53:12 PM EST) (all tags)

I'm horribly out of date on video cards and monitors, I haven't bought new video hardware for 5 years.

I found a deal on an off-lease 21" CAD CRT (1600x1200), a nice monitor that might still be running in 10 years. But it only has old fashioned 15 pin VGA inputs.

Question 1 - most video cards have both 15-pin VGA and DVI outputs right now. Anyone care to guess if VGA ports are immortal like PS/2 ports, or going the way of floppy disks?

Question 2 - has anyone used a DVI-VGA converter? Do they suck?

Thanks.

< for tiammoniacal | BBC White season: 'Rivers of Blood' >

Poll

Votes: 4
Results	\|	Other Polls

Related Links

- clover kicker's Diary

Google

Comment Controls

ask Husi: monitors and video cards | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

dvi-vga converters don't suck by trebuchet (4.00 / 2) #1 Sat Nov 04, 2006 at 09:14:58 PM EST

Because they don't actually convert signals. DVI connectors have pins in them for the VGA signal, so all the converter does is arrange the pins properly for the monitor cable.

trebuchet

What's your budget? by chuckles (4.00 / 1) #2 Sat Nov 04, 2006 at 11:23:57 PM EST

You can get a Samsung SyncMaster 204B (20" LCD with 1600*1200 resolution and DVI input) online for less than US$350.

Sent from my iPhone.

wee budget by clover kicker (2.00 / 0) #4 Sun Nov 05, 2006 at 07:04:16 AM EST

The monitor I'm looking at is $114CDN including shipping.

I like LCDs, but I don't like to pay triple.

[ Parent ]

you only pay triple by komet (4.00 / 1) #6 Sun Nov 05, 2006 at 07:35:27 AM EST

if electricity is free. Otherwise, LCDs are both cheaper and better.

--
<ni> komet: You are functionally illiterate as regards trashy erotica.
[ Parent ]

: meh by clover kicker (2.00 / 0) #7 Sun Nov 05, 2006 at 08:26:57 AM EST

I'm gonna be a long time saving $260 worth of electricity.
This will be going in my basement, so whatever waste heat is produced is a good thing.
It's going on a gigantic desk, so saving space is not important to me.
I know that LCDs are better in many ways, but it simply isn't worth the premium to me.

[ Parent ]

i'd go with lcd by Pasofol (2.00 / 0) #8 Sun Nov 05, 2006 at 12:34:28 PM EST

The 20 crt will probably use around 600 watts compared to the lcd which would be aroub 80watt. Depending on how much you use it'll be a better deal or worse.

Keep in mind you can easily move a lcd around, try doing so with a crt. Had a friend who bought a monster like that and it didn't even fit on his desk.

[ Parent ]

Yeah I know by clover kicker (2.00 / 0) #10 Sun Nov 05, 2006 at 06:22:31 PM EST

http://www.hulver.com/scoop/comments/2006/11/4/205312/384/7#7

[ Parent ]

Hmm by Pasofol (4.00 / 1) #11 Sun Nov 05, 2006 at 06:34:44 PM EST

I'm either blind or have really bad timing, you pick.

[ Parent ]

: I do that too by clover kicker (2.00 / 0) #12 Sun Nov 05, 2006 at 06:58:36 PM EST

I open a dozen diaries at once and by the time I read the last one it may have been sitting there for an hour or 2, with a new dozen comments that I haven't seen.

[ Parent ]

Not sure about that power consumption by Cloaked User (2.00 / 0) #13 Mon Nov 06, 2006 at 10:59:31 AM EST

For example, this Samsung 21" CRT has a listed power consumption of 120W. On the other hand, the LCD monitors on that site mostly have power consumptions in the 30W-50W range 19" monitors, so while the saving isn't as dramatic as you quote, it's nothing to be sneezed at either.

As for the weight difference, I have a 19" CRT at the moment, and no, I wouldn't want to move it very often. We used to have hulking great 21" Sonys at work, and we didn't like to move them at all... On the other hand, the 20" LCDs we have at work are surprisingly heavy (which is probably mostly the base), although a damn sight more manageable than a CRT I admit.

--
This is not a psychotic episode. It is a cleansing moment of clarity.
[ Parent ]

: Power by Pasofol (4.00 / 1) #14 Mon Nov 06, 2006 at 03:46:17 PM EST

my watt examples are probably out of date, since I looked at them about 3 years back, and was working off some error prone memory.

[ Parent ]

Id actually start looking for HDMI by LinDze (4.00 / 1) #3 Sun Nov 05, 2006 at 05:08:34 AM EST

I think VGA is going to be around, if you look for it, but it certainly wont be common.

I think HDMI (preferably 1.3) is the interface to bank on. DVI is compatible so thats future proof enough for the video stuff, but you will not be able to play HDCP protected content over simple DVI.

-Lin Dze
Arbeit Macht Frei

I keep hoping someone will crack that HDCP crap by clover kicker (2.00 / 0) #5 Sun Nov 05, 2006 at 07:09:12 AM EST

OTOH I can't see myself bothering to watch HDCP content on a wee 21" screen.

Right now I don't watch anything but pr0n on my current 17" monitor. If I download a movie I burn it and watch it on my TV. I don't think a slightly bigger monitor will greatly change my viewing habits.

[ Parent ]

: fair enough by LinDze (4.00 / 1) #9 Sun Nov 05, 2006 at 02:28:31 PM EST

also HDCP has been shown to be snake oil crytpo. its basically a joke to any serious attack.
there are also a couple of devices on the market that strip HDCP. Theyre sold as HDMI "amplifiers" that just so happen to secure the hdcp on the input and give you full quality HDCPles output.

-Lin Dze
Arbeit Macht Frei
[ Parent ]

ask Husi: monitors and video cards | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

-	I want to spend tons of money for a LCD	75%
-	I want to buy a 21" monitor for $120 CDN	25%


Make a new account
Username:
Password: