HDMI vs DVI, what is the difference? Which is better? Are DVI and HDMI compatible? And of course, given the choice, which one should you use? The differences (or lack thereof) may surprise you. Let’s take a look at each of them and then evaluate the differences.
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) is a digital standard introduced in 1999 by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). It is primarily designed to carry uncompressed digital video data to a display. Originally the display was a computer monitor, but now DVI is also commonly used for television. One of the main areas of confusion with DVI is the number of different connectors available, representing different functionality. There are three main connection types for DVI, DVI-D (digital only), DVI-A (analog only), and DVI-I (digital and analog).
High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), released in late 2002, is an all-digital audio/video interface capable of transmitting uncompressed data streams similar to DVI. However, HDMI also provides the ability to carry audio signals, as well as video, as well as incorporating HDCP, which is a digital rights management technology.
So what is the difference?
Looking at the differences between HDMI and DVI, we find that they actually have more in common than differences. Both support digital streaming; they are also based on similar specifications, as HDMI was derived from the DVI specification. There are two big differences:
HDMI incorporates a content protection called High Definition Content Protection (HDCP).
HDMI supports audio in addition to digital video. (DVI only supports digital video)
Are DVI and HDMI compatible?
Is HDMI compatible with DVI? Since DVI is the predecessor to HDMI, HDMI and DVI are identical when it comes to video. Therefore, there is compatibility with previous versions of video. However, DVI will not support digital audio. For example, if you have an older DVI connection on your source and an HDMI connector on your display, all you need to view video is an HDMI to DVI cable. A separate audio cable (TOSLINK or SPDIF) will be needed to carry the digital audio.
Cable Length Warning
The HDMI specification does not define a maximum cable length. HDMI 1.3 defined two cable categories: Category 1 (standard or HDTV) and Category 2 (high speed or higher than HDTV), regardless, neither HDMI nor DVI work well at distances greater than 15 feet. If you need a cable longer than 10 feet, you’ll definitely want to consider high-quality cables. For anything larger than 15 feet, some companies offer boosters, equalizers, and repeaters that can help bridge longer distances.
Which one should I use today?
If available, we recommend HDMI. This is not because it is better than DVI, but because the industry will heavily push HDMI due to HDCP digital rights management technology. However, you shouldn’t expect any difference when moving from DVI to HDMI, so if you already have DVI, keep it until the next standard arrives. A little off topic, but still relevant is that you may be able to get similar quality video using your existing component connections. A common misconception is that Component cannot transmit HDTV-quality video, which is incorrect. Depending on the components in your system, you may get the same or better performance with a component connection than with an HDMI or DVI connection.
