Have you ever felt the hassle of playing a video originating from a source and displaying on a separate display, or even connecting your laptop to the projector or monitor device? If the answer is yes, a DVI cable can fix the unwanted situation. It is most likely to HDMI cable, but better. Here, you can find the best DVI cable that serves your needs.
What is a DVI cable?
As the name suggests, digital visual interface interconnects the source and display to show video. For example, the video source may be a video display controller, the display may be a computer monitor and DVI cable connects the two. The best DVI cable should have some greatly useful features as well as it should be compatible with your device. You can have great quality video source and display but just a bad quality DVI cable can ruin your video watching experience! So, here we come to guide you.
Product Reviews
It is quite a task to choose the best DVI cable among all the cables out there with various features. We gathered some of our preferred DVI cables and reviewed them. The cables we reviewed mainly feature 1080p to 2K resolution video with amazing bandwidth (up to 9.9 Gbps) in a compact package. Some of them serve great for the value and some of them are average. Our recommended best DVI cables:
1. BlueRigger DVI to DVI Cable
You can have an old fashioned CRT television or a flat computer screen or even the latest model laptop screen, you can easily connect them with your source. Also, it has a dual-link configuration that supports higher bandwidth.
A unique feature of this product is RFI and EMI interference protection. Due to protected shield, RFI and EMI interference protection does not take place and does not interrupt transmission.
Gold plated DVI is used for better connection and it transfers signal seamlessly. It also resists corrosion because of the material used. It also complies with DVI DDWG standards.
If it comes to satisfaction of data transmission, Bluerigger cable satisfies the most. Its digital transmission speed is up to 4.95 Gbps and resolution up to 1080p at the refresh rate of 144 Hz which is admirable.
It is compatible with both PC and Mac. The product is user-friendly and its installation is also easy with the thumbscrews provided with them.
The manufacturer also provides limited lifeline warranty and lifeline support.
Its built quality and price is great for overall admirable data transmission speed. Somehow, if you manage to put two screens connected with it, your experience will be slightly bitter. Some noise, video artifacts, and interference happen due to connecting a secondary screen with it.
2. Cable Matters DVI to DVI Cable with Ferrites
If you feel cable length is a matter for you, you’ll consider Cable Matters as a choice. It provides cable of a wide variety of lengths. You can choose between 6/10/15/25 or even 50 feet.
It provides great performance with the DVI-D Dual link for video editing, gaming, and projection of video. Supports video resolution up to 2560*1600 (2K). You can easily play your Full HD (1080p) using it. Even your gaming experience can be better with a resolution of up to 1440p at 144 Hz.
It has a combination of gold plated connectors, bare copper conductors, foil and braid shielding which improve the performance. To take the standard to the next level, dual ferrite cores are used in the cable.
One of the best features is, you can connect two monitors without compromising the video quality and speed.
Although the price is a bit higher than most of the products available, it should not be an issue because of how much you get from this cable. You can a package of great transmission quality with fair bandwidth and excellent performance.
Sometimes ghosting occurs using the cable as the users experience the reception of the same channel at two or more different times, which is a bit annoying.
Sometimes it can not handle dual-layer and the bandwidth performance is not as expected.
3. BENFEI DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Dp Display Port to DVI Converter Male
It connects DisplayPort part compatible PCs and transmits data at a fair speed. It supports 1080p video at the rate of 60Hz and up to the resolution of 2048*1152 at the rate of 60 Hz which is quite workable.
An interesting fact is that the cable features a Quad Shielded cable and PVC jacket. It does not only prevent signal loss but also provides and ghosting free transmission. Overall it makes the user experience of video watching more delightful.
The cable has a DisplayPort connector with latches. It ensures a secure connection with a release button that facilitates unplugging. It ticks almost all the boxes and is user-friendly with a comparatively low price.
Anyone having refresh rate monitor which is above 60Hz will not be able to experience the advantage of higher refresh rate as it only supports video up to 60Hz and screening problem is also an issue.
After using it for a long period or so image or video may flicker sometimes.
4. AmazonBasics DisplayPort to DVI Display Cable – 6 Feet
It connects DisplayPort part compatible devices with ease. The main attraction is it also supports the connection of secondary monitor for extending a desktop or creating a mirrored display.
It supports video resolution up to 1080p (Full HD) and provides reliable connectivity with great design quality. Also, it delivers user-friendly performance with video streaming, gaming, or extending workstations or even showing a presentation.
Provides a 1-year limited warranty.
The cable uses a gold plated connector, bare copper connector, and braid shielding for great performance and optimal signal transmission, which most of the users will find satisfactory. Latching and screw- locking is used so that the user experience can be smooth with no accidental disconnection.
Apart from the great features, there are some drawbacks. The refresh rate is 60 Hz which most of the users will find a bit disappointing because the latest model monitors are compatible with a refresh rate higher than 60Hz.
Some users experience a locking issue. For this reason, the connection can be loose and it can affect video quality, and video distortion is observed. But you can escape the unwanted situation by using it correctly and carefully.
5. C2G 26942 DVI-D M/M Dual Link Digital Video Cable, Black
If you are looking for a cable that is compatible with the 2K resolution screen, this cable can meet up your needs. It is also compliant with the DVI standard defined by DDWG. DDWG stands for Digital Display Working Group.
It supports up to 2560*1600 (2K) and the video transmission speed is up to 9.9 Gbps. The speed combined with the high resolution is perfect for gaming, streaming video. It has a DVI-D dual link configuration to provide the facilities.
It has copper conductor which are insulated. So it provides high speed and error-free transmission and minimizes crosstalk. Also, the shields used for built quality protects against unwanted EMI and RFI interference. EMI and RFI interference mainly causes disturbance in your operating frequency so eliminating them is a great advantage.
The manufacturer claims to use gold plated contacts for no data loss and full connectivity.
The cable is PC and Mac compatible, so, you don’t have to worry about connecting either of them with your source.
The refresh rate is not specified by the manufacturer but some customers faced problems playing a video of higher refresh rate. With this much resolution and transmission speed, the lower refresh rate is a slight disappointment.
The manufacturer claims it as dual-link cable but some customers don’t agree with that. Sometimes the resolution also can not cope up with as mentioned.
Comparison
| Manufacturer Name | BlueRigger | Cable Matters | BENFEI | AmazonBasics | C2G |
| Customer Reviews** | 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,675Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,109Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 858Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 637Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 672Reviews |
| Length of cable | 3/6/10/15/25 feet | 6/10/15/25/50 feet. | 6/10/15 feet | 3/6/10 feet | 1/2/3/5 meters |
| Supporting Resolution (highest) | 1080p (Full HD) | 2560*1600 (2K) | 2048*1152 | 1080p (Full HD) | 2560*1600 (2K) |
**Till 6 January 2020
Best DVI cable buying guide
Things to keep in consideration before buying a DVI cable:
Resolution: You should check the resolution of your video source and destination device and buy a DVI cable to match with them. Maybe you have a PC supporting 2K video but your cable is 1080p, you won’t be able to watch 2K video in your PC then, as simple as that.
Bandwidth: Data transmission rate of a cable is important for playing high-quality video and especially for gaming. Most video game console manufacturers recommend at least 3 Mbps. Mbps stands for megabits per second or the measurement of how much data can be moved in a second. The higher the bandwidth, the better.
Also, keep in mind if the bandwidth is compatible with your other devices connected. Also, if you need more bandwidth you should look for dual-link DVI cable. One the other hand for fair bandwidth, a single link will work fine.
Build Quality: For loss-free transmission and good performance you should check the connector material. Gold plated and copper is preferable here as material for a great connection, static-free transmission, and noise suppression. Also, check for shielded cable for durability.
EMI and RFI resistance: EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) and RFI (Radio frequency interference) signals come from external sources and interferes with your original signal. This causes disturbance in the original signal and video quality degrades.
You should check whether the cable you are buying is EMI and RFI resistant or not. If it is, you will experience noise and distortion-free transmission.
Warranty and servicing facility: Warranty will assure you against defective products. It also assures you that you can get a functioning cable in exchange for your existing defective cable. So you should check whether the manufacturer provides a warranty or not.
How to use a DVI cable
If you are going to use a DVI cable, you should keep in mind the following instructions:
- If you are looking for a DVI cable, you must have a video source and display. For example, your display could be your projector or LCD monitor and the source may be a video display controller or graphics card. The source should have a DVI socket.
- If your graphics card is quite an old one check and double-checks if it has a DVI socket because most of the devices ones don’t have one. Also check your monitor specification list to check if your monitor accepts DVI-I, DVI-D, or DVI-A. DVI-I means the monitor can accept a digital and analog signal, can support dual-link. DVI-D accepts only digital signals. DVI-A is only available as a male connector.
- To set up, find the input socket of the monitor for DVI cable. Plug the cable into the input socket of the monitor.
- Plug the other end with corresponding ports of your video source.
- DVI cables have two screws, either side of the connector having one. You should check if the cable screws line up properly.
- Make sure to alternate turning each screw for a secure connection and to avoid accidental disconnection.
- Turn on the monitor and the computer. Finally check the video on monitor if the cable works or not.
FAQ:
Q: How many connectors does a DVI connector have?
Ans: Most of them have 24 pins arranged in three horizontal rows. DVI-I has 4 extra pins.
Q: Do DVI cables support sound?
Ans: No, DVI cables do not support sound. They only support video.
Q: Are DVI cables supported by the USB port?
Ans: No, DVI cables are not supported by USB ports. There is a separate connector socket dedicated to the DVI cable connection.
Q: What is the difference between single and dual-link DVI cable?
Ans: Single link DVI supports a maximum bandwidth of 165 MHz (1920*1880 at 60 Hz, 1280*1024 at 85 Hz). Dual-link DVI supports a maximum bandwidth of 2*165 MHz (2048*1536 at 60Hz, 1920*1080 at 85 Hz).
Q: What DVI cable do I need for 144 Hz?
Ans: You will need a dual-link DVI cable.
Conclusion
Whether you use television to entertain or projector for presentation in office, you need a DVI cable as a connector. Most people struggle to choose one from a variety of them thinking whether it’ll suit you or not. Here we picked some of the best DVI cables available and reviewed them based on their built quality, resolution, material, bandwidth, and compatibility. We also reviewed both single and dual-link DVI cable as for the customer interest. If you want great bandwidth for gaming, Cable Matters is a good choice at a fair price. If video resolution is a matter C2G will suit you. And for overall good video watching experience with quite a low pricing and fair resolution, we suggest BlueRigger. Some of the cables have unique and greatly useful specs like EMI and RFI resistance. Some feature gold plated connections for better transmission. But as we said, all five of them are quite good and have versatile features. You can choose one according to your need and device compatibility.
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