[crazybeckhams]

Can I connect my dvi-i equiped powerbook via dvi-d dual link cable to an external monitor that utilizes only a dvi-d input? I have read up on it www.comsol.com.au/dvi.asp but the technical jargon confuses me.
I have a Mitsubishi 19" DiamondPoint NX85 LCD which has both a dvi-d and analog input(connected to a PC at the moment). I've used the dvi to anolog adapter before, but connecting and disconnecting the cable gets a little tiresome after a couple of days.
I've seen several dvi-d dual link cables for cheap on ebay; would these be a reliable place to buy one?

[MaxPower2k3]

DVI-I is only necessary if you want to use the analog portion (i.e. convert it to a VGA signal). If you're going to a digital display such as your LCD, a DVI-D cable is fine.

Cheap cables of all sorts can be had at www.pacificcable.com and www.cablesamerica.com. Don't be taken in by all of Monster Cable's marketing jargon-- it's a digital signal, so either it'll work or it won't. no need to spend $200 on one of their cables (i've got a 16' DVI cable I got for $40 from cablesamerica that works perfectly)


edit: looking at the specs for that display, the resolution is 1280x1024- well within the abilities of a single-link DVI cable. You can save some time looking for a dual-link in particular; the single-link will work fine. Dual-link supports some higher resolutions that require newer video cards and newer displays (such as Apple's 30" Cinema Display), but it doesn't have any advantage for the vast majority of displays on the market now.

[crazybeckhams]

Thanks for the quick response Max. I'm going to go ahead and order one from ebay.

[riverfreak]

Originally posted by MaxPower2k3:
DVI-I is only necessary if you want to use the analog portion (i.e. convert it to a VGA signal). If you're going to a digital display such as your LCD, a DVI-D cable is fine.

Cheap cables of all sorts can be had at www.pacificcable.com and www.cablesamerica.com. Don't be taken in by all of Monster Cable's marketing jargon-- it's a digital signal, so either it'll work or it won't. no need to spend $200 on one of their cables (i've got a 16' DVI cable I got for $40 from cablesamerica that works perfectly)

Thanks! This is a great tip. The price of those Monster cables was freaking me out.

[tooki]

Well, it's absolutely false that cable quality is irrelevant for digital signals. That is patently false.

But I don't buy Monster's hullabaloo, either. A generic cable is just fine, so long as it has adequate shielding and the right type of twisting, etc for the signal type.

tooki