What is the difference between HDMI and DVI ?
Both are closely related to each other in that HDMI and DVI both use the same digital encoding scheme used by DVI-D in the transport of digital video signal.
This further supports how normal DVI devices can be connected to HDMI devices by simply using an DVI to HDMI Cable Adapter, however in this case the digital audio will have to be transferred separately since DVI does not support audio over the same cable interconnect. This is not the case with a HDMI to HDMI cable connection in which the audio signal is carried along with the digital video signal over the same cable interconnect.
Another major difference between HDMI and DVI is that HDMI does not have multiple configuration standards like DVI — DVI-A, DVI-D, DVI-I, DVI-Dual link, etc. The HDMI Connection simplifies the connection by providing one standard connection type with all HDMI compatible devices. The fact that HDMI is equivalent to DVI-I imples that HDMI is limited to that format only and that there is no way to adapt an analog VGA signal through a HDMI connection which is common using a DVI connection interface.
Other important differences include the following:
- HDMI interconnects are substantially smaller than the 37.0mm wide DVI plug
- The DVI Standard was originally developed to be used by PCs, while the HDMI Standard was developed by major electronic mfg to be used specifically in consumer electronic devices such as DVD players and digital TVs
