Quick answer: A DVI to DVI monitor cable is either single link or dual link. Single link carries 3.96 Gbit/s of TMDS payload, enough for 1920×1200 at 60 Hz. Dual link doubles the pairs to reach 2560×1600, but only if the cable, the source port and the monitor are all dual link. The plug shape does not tell you: a dual link connector has a full set of pins, while a single link one is missing the middle block.
DVI is obsolete on new equipment and still common on installed monitors, projectors and industrial panels. Buying the wrong variant produces a working picture at a lower resolution, which is easy to accept by mistake.
Telling them apart
Pin blocks
A dual link connector has 24 pins in three rows plus the analogue cross; a single link connector has 18 pins and no middle block of six. Looking into the plug with good light is enough to identify it, and it is worth doing before ordering.
What dual link adds
A second set of TMDS data pairs, which doubles the pixel rate. That is how 2560×1600 at 60 Hz is carried, at a pixel clock around 268 MHz. Above that, DVI stops and DisplayPort takes over.
Resolution limits
| Link | Payload | Maximum |
|---|
| Single link | 3.96 Gbit/s | 1920×1200 at 60 Hz |
| Dual link | 7.92 Gbit/s | 2560×1600 at 60 Hz |
| DVI to HDMI adapter | Single link only | 1920×1200 |
| Length, passive | Any | About 5 m |
What goes wrong with DVI
A cable with a bent pin produces one missing colour or no picture at all. A loose plug causes intermittent sparkles, because TMDS has no error correction. A monitor that supports analogue on a DVI-I port may show no signal if the source outputs digital only, since the two sections are separate.
Long cables are the other common failure: beyond five metres, a passive DVI lead at 1920×1200 may drop pixels. A fiber or active extender is the answer, not a thicker cable.
Buying and testing
Match the cable to the weakest link: if the graphics card is single link, a dual link cable gains nothing. Check the monitor’s native resolution and its maximum pixel clock, then confirm the source can produce it. For a 1920×1200 panel, any single link cable is enough.
Where the hardware allows, move to a modern interface: the HDMI cable rating categories guide covers the HDMI alternative, the DisplayPort cables page covers DP, and an HDMI extension cable is the usual replacement for a long DVI run in a meeting room.
Practical scenarios
- Old 1920×1200 monitor: a single link cable is sufficient; dual link adds cost with no benefit.
- 30 inch 2560×1600 panel: dual link cable, dual link source, and check the pixel clock in the monitor menu.
- Projector in a ceiling void: keep the run under 5 m or use an extender; a longer passive lead will sparkle.
- KVM with DVI ports: match the link type of the KVM, which is often single link even when the monitor is dual link.
FAQ
Can I use a dual link cable on a single link port?
Yes. The extra pins simply remain unused, and the link runs at single link rates. It is the reverse that fails: a single link cable cannot carry a dual link signal, so the resolution drops.
Does DVI carry audio?
No. DVI has no audio pins, although some graphics cards can output audio over a non-standard pin for a proprietary adapter. A standard DVI monitor needs a separate audio cable.
Why is my screen pink or missing a colour?
One TMDS pair is not connected, usually a bent or recessed pin in the plug or a broken conductor. Try another cable first, then inspect the socket on the monitor for damage.
