Q: I recently bought a new computer HD monitor with DVI-D and VGA slots at the back of the monitor. I was given both DVI-D and VGA cables. However, I did not change my CPU which has only VGA slots and no DVI-D slots. Is there any way I can make use of the DVI-D cables without changing my CPU or the graphics card?

Kao Chin Wen

A: The DVI or Digital Visual Interface can be quite confusing to the first-time user. It is now the standard interface that comes with most of the new LCD monitors designed to work with PCs.

Although the name implies that it accepts only digital signals, with modifications to the original standards, the interface now accepts analog signals as well. Hence the confusion: DVI-D is for pure digital signals and DVI-A is for analog signals. In other words, one connector can accept both the digital and analog standards.

Read the specifications of your new monitor carefully. If it supports DVI-A, you can purchase a separate DVI-A to VGA cable and connect your old PC to your new LCD monitor.

However, there is no real benefit to be gained in this configuration. The signals are still from your old VGA card and there is no improvement to the clarity of the images on the screen.

In order to get the most out of your new monitor, you need to purchase a new graphics card with the DVI-D output. As the signals are now fully digital, the new card can be maximised to output signals for a pixel-to-pixel match with the resolution of the LCD monitor.

Answer by MK Wong, an IT lecturer with 30 years' experience in the IT industry

This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.

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