DVI Connectors

The Digital Visual Interface (DVI) standard is based on transition-minimised differential signaling (TMDS). In a typical single-line digital signal, voltage is raised to a high level and decreased to a low level to create transitions that convey data. To minimise the number of transitions needed to transfer data, TMDS uses a pair of signal wires. When one wire goes to a high-voltage state, the other goes to a low-voltage state. This balance increases the data-transfer rate and improves accuracy.

There are four types of DVI connectors: DVI-D, DVI-I, DFP, and EVC. DVI-D is a digital-only connector. DVI-I supports both digital and analogue RGB connections. Some manufacturers of video displays and graphics accelerators are offering the DVI-I connector type on their products instead of separate analogue and digital connectors. DFP, like DVI-D, was an early digital-only connector used on some displays; it’s being phased out. EVC (also known as P&D) is similar to DVI-I, only it’s slightly larger in size. It also handles digital and analogue connections, and it’s used primarily on projectors.