There are two major types of computer monitors used these days CRTs, which are based on the old Cathode Ray Tube technology, and LCDs, which stands for Liquid Crystal Display and is a newer technology.
Manufacturers are now putting both an analog and a digital connections on LCD monitors. When you connect your computer to your LCD with an analog connection, your LCD is vulnerable to the same distortions that affect CRT monitors. If you use a digital connection, often called a DVI cable (Digital Visual Interface), there is no digital-to-analog conversion and there should be no corruption of the signal. An LCD should give you a cleaner and crisper image than you'd see on a CRT when you use a DVI connection.
To use your LCD monitor with a DVI connection, you will need a video card that has a DVI connector. You will also need a DVI cable. There are 2 types of DVI cables, DVI-D and DVI-I. DVI-D refers to a digital-only connection, and DVI-I means that the connector can carry either digital or analog signals. Below is an example of a video card with both connections along with an S-Video connection to plug into a TV.
So the bottom line is that if you have an LCD and it has a digital connection and so does your video card, you want to use it. Digital to digital will look better than digital to analog any day. You will especially notice it on text. It will look sharper and be easier to read.
Related Tips:
PCI vs. AGP vs. PCI Express Video Cards
Installing Components Such as Video, Sound or Network Cards
Buying a New Computer Thats Right for You
