Hi all,

I'm building a new gaming system and am planning on purchasing an 8800GTS G92 512MB GPU. Now, I've always been intrigued by the HDMI connectivity and am interested in going with HDMI over DVI. However, this card just has dual DVI and TV connectivity.

My question is: Is it worth the money? I want an impressive looking image and will either be using a 22 or 24 widescreen LCD. That said, what type of card and monitor would you suggest for a mid-ranged budget?

Thanks!

HDMI is an HD connection to an HD TV. don't even worry about it if your using an LCD computer monitor. Now if you eventually want to get a HUGE LCD then look at "dual link DVI"

If you are to use a big screen or TV you have to use HDMI....

The HD 3870X2 comes with a DVI to HDMI adapter. I wonder if you can just buy an adapter like that and use it with any card, like the 8800GTS or 9800GTX.

Personally, I'd rather have the DVI output of the card linked to the DVI input of the monitor, with no adapters in between. The fewer links in the chain, the less chance of introducing noise.

You should probably compare screenshots made with an 8800GTS and an HD 3870X2 and then pick the one that looks best to you. There are people who swear ATI cards make better looking images, but also people who say nVidia is better at it.

HDMI is just an extention of the DVI protocol, so you wont see any difference in picture. What you do gain with HDMI is intigrated sound and some control protocols i think (cant remember beyond sound)

No you don't. You can use a DVI to HDMI adapter.

Bonus points for giving bad advice in a short and 'certain' statement.



If you're just connecting to a monitor you will not see a difference between DVI and HDMI. Manufacturers are putting HDMI in their cards so people can connect their computers to their HDTVs. But, as stated already, you can simply use a DVI to HDMI adapter to do this as well, but sound will not transfer, you will need to run that from your computer to your stereo/tv as well.

HDMI is just DVI w/ 5.1 audio in a smaller connector. Plus I've heard of people having issues using HDMI on some monitors and such. My buddy has issues with Vista 64bit and his HDMI monitor. I have to unplug and plug my video back into my TV with my DVI to HDMI cable if I want to play at 42"

Not worth it really, there are quirky issues. If you are making an HTPC then worry about it.

If you're just connecting to a monitor you will not see a difference between DVI and HDMI. Manufacturers are putting HDMI in their cards so people can connect their computers to their HDTVs. But, as stated already, you can simply use a DVI to HDMI adapter to do this as well, but sound will not transfer, you will need to run that from your computer to your stereo/tv as well.[/quotemsg]

Exactly... further more, it's just logical. I don't know of any video cards that have integrated sound as well, therefore, logically any HDMI/DVI configuration that you have hooked up to your video card is only going to output video. Audio is a whole other story.

On this note, let me pose one question to those with more knowledge than myself (which is probably most of you). Is there a difference, picture-wise, between using HDMI vs component (red, green, blue)?

I have heard mixed reports. Sorry to hijack the thread.

HDMI vs. component is theoretically the same quality. HDMI is digital the entire way, component is analog back to digital. I would challenge anyone to connect 2 identical TVs and DVD players and show us the difference.

Didn't Tom's do a review on this a while back?

HDMI is just one nice, neat cable vs. an octopus of wires.

I actually use the DVI to HDMI converter that came with my HD 3870 on my 8800GTX.

The 9800 has an hdmi out as well...:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Show [...] Video+Card

Does anybody know if the 9800GTX can serve two monitors and a TV all at the same time? Just curious...

Not all 9800's have it. This one by BFG has DVI x2 and.....S-Video....wtf?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Show [...] Video+Card

Yeah, my BFG 8800GTX is like that too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Show [...] Video+Card

I'm guessing there's some advantage to an HDMI output over an S-Video?