Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
BecauseHDMIisessentiallyasupersetofDVI,itisbackward-compatiblewithDVI.This
means that using a simple and inexpensive adapter, you can connect an HDMI source to
a DVI display and connect a DVI source to an HDMI display. However, unless both the
source and monitor support HDCP, you might not be able to play premium HDTV con-
tent, or the resolution might be reduced. Although some graphics cards claimed HDCP
supportasearlyasthefirstpartof2006,changesintheHDCPstandardmaypreventearly
cards from working properly. You should contact your graphics card and monitor vendor
to determine whether a particular device supports HDCP.
Current HDMI cables correspond to HDMI Type A, Type C or Type D (introduced with
HDMI 1.4). Type A is a 19-pin connector. Type C is a smaller version of Type A, origin-
ally designed for use in DV camcorders or other portable devices, but also used on some
video cards. It uses the same pinout, and Type A-to-Type C adapters are available from
various vendors. HDMI version 1.0 also defined a 29-pin Type B dual-link cable that has
not been used in products. Type D is also a 19-pin connector that is about half the height
of Type A and less than half the width of Type A, and is also shorter and narrower than
Type C connectors.
Figure 12.7
illustrates a typical HDMI Type A cable and the location of pin 1 on the cable
and connector.
