高清时代，HDMI和DVI那种更好？编辑本段回目录
Are you confused by the barrage of video cables available today?Let’s take a look at the most important video cables today, HDMI and DVI, and see what’s the differences between the two.
现在市面上随处可见的各种视频线是否让你迷惑？今天，让我们一起来看看这两种最重要的视频线：HDMI 和DVI ，来看看它们有什么不同。
A decade ago, it was much easier to figure out how to get your TV connected to your devices, especially since most people only had a VCR.Our screens were smaller, the quality was worse, but the world was simpler.Today you can hardly walk in an electronics store without getting pressured to buy a several hundred dollar HDMI cable just to connect your devices to your TV.If there’s ever been a confusing time to choose cables and connectors, it’s now.We’ll try to help you wade through this mess and see what’s really important about the two most common digital video cables of today: HDMI and DVI.
十年前，如何把你的电视机和播放设备连接起来更容易，特别是那时候大部分人只有一台录像机。当时我们的电视屏幕也很小，画面质量也是马马虎虎，所以一切都很简单。今天，走进家电子店买上一根好几百美元的HDMI线，仅仅是为了连接你的播放设备到电视机上，很难不让你感到压力重重。如果说为选择设备间的连接线而令人困惑，那么现在就是这种情况。我们这里将帮助你拨开重重迷雾，让你清楚如今HDMI和DVI这2种最常见的数字视频电线真正重要在哪里。
Why Cables Anyhow?
为什么要用线缆？
We’d all love it if you could just zip your video and audio over the air from your devices to your screens.While there’s been some progress in this area, frankly it’s not a viable solution for most today.For now, we’re stuck streaming our media through wires.In general, they all work the same: the connector contains pins that go into ports on your video output device which transmit video, audio, and more over the wires in the middle.If you want to get the entertainment off your files and disks and onto your screen, cables are a necessary evil for the time being.
我们都喜欢这样的情况，从播放设备里通过无线，把视频和音频传送到屏幕上。当然在这方面的研究已经有了些许进展，但平心而论，在大部分情况下，这并不是一种可行的解决方案。今天，我们依然是通过线缆来传输视频流。在一般情况下，它们是构造是一样的：含有针的插头连接到传输视频音频输出端口，中间部分是线缆。如果你想把电影之类的娱乐节目从你的文件夹或硬盘中传输到屏幕上，线缆是种令人生厌但不得不用的东西。
Why not VGA or Composite Video Cable?
为何不用VGA或者复合视频线？
The traditional video cables, including VGA and Composite video, transmit analog video signals only.While this works great for CRT screens, it isn’t preferable for newer LCD screens.While many current LCD TVs and computer monitors still accept VGA input, they generally work best with DVI or HDMI.
传统的视频线，包括VGA和复合视频线，只能传输模拟视频信号。在CRT显示器上使用时，显示效果还不错，但这些不是最新的LCD显示器上的最佳选择。尽管目前许多液晶电视和电脑显示器依然支持VGA输入，但是用DVI或HDMI连接时，显示效果最佳。
Some video cards and video playback devices, including the new Apple TV, don’t even include VGA or composite outputs, and this will be an increasing trend looking forward.Even if your current computer and monitor work fine with VGA cables, you’ll still want to know which digital cable is best for future video equipment purchases.
一些视频卡和视频播放设备，包括新款苹果TV，甚至开始不支持VGA和复合输出，从长远来看，这将是个上升的趋势。即使目前你的电脑和显示器通过VGA连接显示良好，你仍然想要知道，哪种数字视频线对未来采购的视频设备是最好的。
What’s the Difference Between Digital Cables?
数字线缆之间的区别在哪里？
The two main digital connectors used on computers and entertainment systems today are HDMI and DVI.DisplayPort is another newer connector that’s being included on some newer computers, and there are also several mini and micro variants of all three.Confused yet?Here’s how to know which is which:
目前，在电脑和娱乐系统中使用的最主要的两种数字连接线就是HDMI和DVI。DisplayPort只是一些新式电脑上支持的另一种更新的连接端口，当然还有一些这三种线缆的小型和微型的变种。哈，晕了吧？来看看如何知道谁是谁？
DVI
DVI is one of the most common digital video cables you’ll see on desktops and LCD monitors today.It’s the most similar to VGA connectors, with up to 24 pins and support for analog as well as digital video.DVI can stream up to 1920×1200 HD video, or with dual-link DVI connectors you can support up to 2560×1600 pixels.Some DVI cables or ports may include fewer pins if they are designed for lower resolution devices, so you’ll need to watch for this.If your port contains all the pins, however, it can support the max resolution with no problem.The biggest problem with DVI is that it doesn’t support HDCP encryption by default, so if your hardware only includes DVI ports, you may not be able to playback full HD Blu-rays and other HD content.
DVI是现在使用于台式电脑和液晶显示器上最常见的数字视频线之一，外形上最接近于VGA线缆，有24个针，能够同时支持模拟和数字视频信号。DVI能支持高达1920×1200分辨率的高清视频流，或者使用双连接DVI时，分辨率可以达到2560×1600像素。一些DVI线缆或者端口，为低分辨率设备设计的时候可以少几针，所以你要仔细查看针数。如果你的端口包括所有的针，它支持最大分辨率毫无问题。而DVI最大的问题是，默认情况下它不支持HDCP 加密，这样如果你的硬件只有DVI端口，你可能就不能播放全高清的蓝光影片以及其他高清内容。
You can connect DVI to an HDMI port on a newer monitor with a small digital convertor.However, since DVI doesn’t support audio, you’ll need to use a separate cable for audio when connecting to an HDMI port.This makes DVI one of the more versatile newer connectors.It’s both backwards and forward compatible, though at the loss of some convenience.You can also connect an older monitor that only includes a VGA port with a DVI port easily via a similar DVI to VGA converter if your video output supports analog video.
你可以使用一个小的数字转接头来连接DVI端口和新显示器带有的HDMI端口，因为DVI不支持音频，所以当连接HDMI端口时，你还要单独的一根音频线。这就使得DVI在连接功能上更灵活。它既向下兼容又向上兼容，当然向上兼容的时候有些不方便。如果你的视频输出支持模拟视频信号，你可以用DVI转VGA转换器，轻松的连接DVI端口和只有VGA端口的旧式显示器。
HDMI
HDMI is the default cable on newer HDTVs, Blu-ray players, Apple TV, many new computers and video cards, and a multitude of other video devices.HDMI cables and ports are very easy to use, and are almost as easy to connect as USB devices.No more bent pins just push and play.HDMI cables can stream digital video and audio simultaneously over the same cable.HDMI cables support up to 1920×1200 HD video and 8 channel audio.They also support HDCP encryption for the newest HD content.For almost all purposes, a single HDMI cable is all you’ll need to connect your computer or video device to your monitor or TV, and it’s almost the absolute standard digital cable.
HDMI是最新的高清电视，蓝光播放机，苹果TV，许多新式电脑和视频卡，以及其他众多视频设备默认连接端口。HDMI 线缆和端口使用方便，几乎就像是连接USB设备一样。没有弯针，即插即用。HDMI 线缆能够在同一线缆上同时传输数字视频流和音频流，最高支持1920×1200分辨率的高清视频和8声道音频。同时，它还支持最新的HDCP加密的高清内容。几乎所有的功能，连接电脑或视频设备到显示器或电视上，一根HDMI 线就能解决，并且这几乎是根绝对标准的数字线缆。
DisplayPort
DisplayPort is another new video connector that’s being included on newer equipment, especially laptops.It was designed as the successor to DVI and VGA on computers, but hasn’t seen as much adoption as either DVI or HDMI.However, it is being included on all newer Macs and many Dell, HP, and Lenovo computers.It is actually very similar to HDMI, so it streams both HD video and audio on the same cable, and can output up to 1920×1080 resolution and 8 channels of audio on a single cable.
DisplayPort 是另外一种最新的视频连接端口，是配备在新式的设备中，尤其是笔记本电脑上。它作为电脑上的DVI 和 VGA 端口的继任者，但目前还不像DVI 或 HDMI那样常见。然而，在最新的所有的苹果电脑，部分戴尔，惠普和联想电脑上都标配这种端口。它和HDMI极其相似，也能在同一根线缆上传输分辨率是1920×1080像素的高清视频和8声道音频。
On the good side, DisplayPort does support HDCP, so you can use it to playback protected HD content from Blu-rays and more.You can also connect it to an HDMI or DVI port with aconvertor, since the digital signal is compatible.The problem is, few monitors and TVs include DisplayPort ports, so you’ll almost have to have a convertor if you want to connect your laptop to a larger screen.
它好的地方还在于，DisplayPort支持HDCP，这样就能播放蓝光或者其他的受保护的内容。当然，由于数字信号都是相互兼容的，你也可以用转接头把它和HDMI或DVI端口连接起来。问题是，很少有显示器或电视机配有这个端口，如果你想把笔记本连接到一个大屏幕时，不得不用转接头。
Do I Need Expensive Cables?
我真需要这种昂贵的线缆么？
Cables are often one of the biggest ripoffs in electronics stores today.You’ve likely noticed HDMI cables in stores that were higher than the TVs they were hanging beside.So do you need to get a fancy cable for the best HD experience?
目前，这些线缆经常是电子店中最暴利的商品。你可能会注意到，商店中HDMI线缆比挂在它们旁边的电视机都贵。为了有最好的高清体验，你真需要这种高档的线缆么？
No.Back in the days of VHS tapes and analog TV, a higher quality cable could definitely mean the difference between a clear and a fuzzy picture.But with digital video and audio, a cable is a cable.Your cable will just be transferring bits like your Ethernet or other computer cables, and a cheap HDMI cable from Amazon will serve you as well as a Monster cable.Standard HDMI cables today can be up to 49’ long without any signal loss, so just look for the cheapest cable, plug in your equipment, and enjoy.
不需要。想想当年VHS磁带和模拟信号电视的时代吧，那时候一根线缆质量的高低，肯定意味着画面清晰或模糊，线缆质量越高画面越清晰。但是现在，使用数字视频和音频，线不过是根线。这种线就像网线或其他电脑线一样都是传输数据的。在亚马逊上购买的便宜的HDMI线对你来说效果一样。目前，标准的HDMI线即使长达49米，其信号也不会有任何的衰减，所以就去看看那些最便宜的吧，连到你的设备上，去享受吧。
So Which Digital Cable is Best?
那么，那种数字线是最佳的呢？
In our opinion, HDMI is the cable and connector to stick with.It’s the default connector on most devices and screens, compatible with HD content including HDCP protected Blu-ray, and can carry video, audio, and more all on one cable.One cable and you’re done.For now, it’s the cable and connector we recommend you standardize on.
我们看来，HDMI 是最佳的而且转接头也是必不可少的。在多数的设备和显示器中，它是标配的，能够兼容包括受HDCP保护的蓝光高清内容，能够在一根线上传输视频，音频。有这一根线，一切问题解决。目前，我们向你推荐这种线缆和与之对应的转接头都是标准化的。
Now, if you already have equipment using DVI, VGA, or other cables, and it works fine for you, don’t feel like you need to rush out and change it, because you don’t.You might get better quality from using digital cables if your devices support it, but unless you have a very large monitor or TV it can be hard to tell the difference.Technology companies thrive on making people feel like they constantly have to upgrade, but often if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it is a good policy to follow.
目前，如果你的设备上已经在使用DVI, VGA, 或者其他线缆，而且它们目前还能正常工作，不要感觉你必须要更换它们，因为你确实不需要。如果你的设备是支持数字接口的，那么使用数字线缆能够使质量得到些许的提升，但是除非你使用一个非常大的显示器或者电视机，否则你根本看不出有什么明显区别。技术公司要依靠让人们感觉必须要升级来赚钱，但是目前来说，如果设备没有坏，那就不要修确实是种明智的选择。
The good thing is, now if you buy a new TV, computer monitor, video card, or other video device, you’ll know what you’re looking for.Make sure your new devices support HDMI, and you should be able to use them with a wide range of video equipment for years to come.And don’t fall prey to the high-pressure sales tactics trying to get you to buy a $2,200 HDMI cable a cheap one from Amazon will usually be all you need, so you can save your cash for more HD content to pump through that shiny cable.
好了，现在如果你去买一台新电视，电脑显示器，视频卡或者其他视频设备，你清楚你需要的是哪种了吧，确保你的新设备要支持HDMI，这样你就能够在未来的几年内，在不同的视频设备间都能使用它们。并且，不要上了高压销售策略的套，试图让你购买一根2200美元的HDMI线，从亚马逊上买一根便宜的线通常就能满足你的需要，这样你就能省下你的钱来购买更多的高清内容而不是把钱耗费在这根金光闪闪的线缆上。
