DVI vs. DP on Nvidia GeForce GT 120

[macmesser]

Standard equipment on 2009 models like mine. Just wondering if connecting by either way has any advantages. My new monitor Dell U3014 has mini DP, DVI and HDMI. Would I be better off using DVI or DP (with a mini-DP to DP cable) when connecting to my GT 120? Also, I noticed that the card did not see the monitor when connected by a mini DP to DP cable. Could it be that DP drivers need to be installed for the monitor?

Thanks for any insights.

 

[MacVidCards]

Standard equipment on 2009 models like mine. Just wondering if connecting by either way has any advantages. My new monitor Dell U3014 has mini DP, DVI and HDMI. Would I be better off using DVI or DP (with a mini-DP to DP cable) when connecting to my GT 120? Also, I noticed that the card did not see the monitor when connected by a mini DP to DP cable. Could it be that DP drivers need to be installed for the monitor?

Thanks for any insights.

Make sure it is snapped in all the way. (DP and MDP)

 

[macmesser]

Make sure it is snapped in all the way. (DP and MDP)

Thanks. I had made sure the mini DP was inserted all the way in to the card. It seemed to snap so I assumed The DP connector was properly inserted into the monitor but will check.

 

[flowrider]

When I had my 3,1 Mac Pro with a flashed Radeon HD6870 with Mini DP ports I used a MonoPrice Mini DP to DP cable to connect to my HP ZR24w monitor. I had no issues. As fas as insertion, the DP end has a button on the connector, if inserted properly it can't be pulled out without depressing the button. The mini DP side has no such safeguard, just be sure it's pushed in tight.

Lou

 

[xcodeSyn]

... I noticed that the card did not see the monitor when connected by a mini DP to DP cable.

Which DP port did you use? You have to use the one next to the power plug, not the other one which is an output used to daisy-chain another monitor, according to the 2nd feedback post on this page.

 

[macmesser]

When I had my 3,1 Mac Pro with a flashed Radeon HD6870 with Mini DP ports I used a MonoPrice Mini DP to DP cable to connect to my HP ZR24w monitor. I had no issues. As fas as insertion, the DP end has a button on the connector, if inserted properly it can't be pulled out without depressing the button. The mini DP side has no such safeguard, just be sure it's pushed in tight.

Lou

Thanks Lou. I had the right DP port after trying the other to no avail and realizing it's an output. Thought my DP connector was all the way in but must not have been.

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Which DP port did you use? You have to use the one next to the power plug, not the other one which is an output used to daisy-chain another monitor, according to the 2nd feedback post on this page.

Thanks. I finally figured that out. It would have been nice of Dell to have provided a user manual.

Still didn't work though. I must have a bad port on the card or monitor, or at least a bad cable. I will give it one more shot and make sure I have the thing pushed all the way into the DP connector on the monitor.

 

[velocityg4]

Most of the advantages of Displayport aren't pertinent in your situation. Such as being able to handle higher resolutions, multiple video feeds, transmit bidirectional data (touchscreen), handle multiple video streams, &c. As the DVI connection already handles everything that monitor is capable of.

The only advantage that may be a factor is color depth. As I understand it DisplayPort can handle higher color bit depths than DVI, 12 bits per channel vs 10 bits per channel. That is only a factor if your video card actually provides those with DP and your monitor can handle it.

As to your Displayport problems try a different cable. Here are some mini displayport to displayport cables so you don't need an additional adapter. At this point you can also get a longer cable than the standard 6ft which can be quite convenient.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10246&cs_id=1024606

 

[macmesser]

Most of the advantages of Displayport aren't pertinent in your situation. Such as being able to handle higher resolutions, multiple video feeds, transmit bidirectional data (touchscreen), handle multiple video streams, &c. As the DVI connection already handles everything that monitor is capable of.

The only advantage that may be a factor is color depth. As I understand it DisplayPort can handle higher color bit depths than DVI, 12 bits per channel vs 10 bits per channel. That is only a factor if your video card actually provides those with DP and your monitor can handle it.

As to your Displayport problems try a different cable. Here are some mini displayport to displayport cables so you don't need an additional adapter. At this point you can also get a longer cable than the standard 6ft which can be quite convenient.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10246&cs_id=1024606

Thanks for response. I picked up a new cable locally and it works.

Will check into bit depth supported by the GT 120. Since my monitor supports 1.07 billion colors I'm sure that 12 bits per channel would be utilized.