DVI - Digital Visual Interface

The bridge between analog VGA and digital HDMI: three variants (DVI-A, DVI-D, DVI-I), Single Link or Dual Link, up to 2560 x 1600 at 60 Hz.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface, 1999) was the first widely adopted digital video connector for PCs and monitors. It bridges the analog VGA era and the modern HDMI / DisplayPort generation. DVI exists in three electrical variants: DVI-A (analog only, RGB), DVI-D (digital only, TMDS) and DVI-I (integrated - both analog and digital pins). All three share the same 24+5-pin connector mechanically, but the centre cross of pins on the C1-C5 block decides which signals are present.

For higher resolutions (above 1920 x 1200) Dual Link doubles the digital data rate by activating the second TMDS link in the connector - a Dual Link DVI-D cable supports up to 2560 x 1600 at 60 Hz, the same as later WUXGA workstation monitors.

Technical Specifications

Standard	DDWG DVI 1.0 (1999)
Variants	DVI-A, DVI-D, DVI-I
Single Link	up to 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
Dual Link	up to 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz
Pin count	24 (digital) + 5 (analog)
Bandwidth Single Link	3.96 Gbit/s
Bandwidth Dual Link	7.92 Gbit/s
Successor	HDMI / DisplayPort

Matching products in the shop

DVI cables
DVI-to-HDMI adapters
DVI-to-DisplayPort adapters

Frequently Asked Questions

DVI-D vs DVI-I - can I tell from the connector?

Yes. DVI-I has a horizontal flat pin and four small pins around it (analog block); DVI-D has only the flat pin (no analog). DVI-A has the four small pins but no digital block.

Is DVI-D electrically compatible with HDMI?

Yes - the digital TMDS signalling is identical between DVI-D Single Link and HDMI 1.0. A passive DVI-D-to-HDMI adapter works in both directions, but only video (no audio, no CEC).

Why do some monitors require Dual Link?

Resolutions higher than 1920 x 1200 at 60 Hz exceed the 165 MHz pixel clock of Single Link. Dual Link doubles the available bandwidth to 330 MHz - mandatory for 27 inch and 30 inch 2560 x 1600 monitors.

Related connectors in the glossary

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