Need Help With Selection of CORRECT DVI Cable for AIW X800..

Recently bought an ATI All-In-Wonder X800-XT graphics card,
which as you may know has DVI and VGA connectors on the
back. (Currently, am using the VGA connector to a CRT-monitor).

Today, am buying the Dell 24" UltraSharp 2405FPW flat panel
LCD monitor. Want to use the DVI connection, not the VGA
connection.

I started to buy it, but decided to check with Dell to see
if it came with any DVI or VGA cables. Dell said it only
comes with a VGA cable, and that you have to buy a DVI cable
separately.

My ATI card documentation says the X800-XT has a DVI-I
connection, but doesn't say "how many pins" or mention
anything about "Dual Link", or HDTV, or male/female, etc..

When shopping for DVI cables, I'm finding many different
types, such as DVI-I and DVI-D, some mention Dual Link, some
don't. Some say MALE to MALE, I think others have something
different.

I guess I thought DVI was DVI, and didn't realize there was
such a large selection. CAN ANYONE HELP IN ADVISING WHICH
IS THE RIGHT TYPE OF DVI CABLE FOR THIS CARD?

Dell offers a "PureAV by Belkin High Performance HDTV DVI
Video Cable (8ft)" for $89.00. But it doesn't say if it's
DVI-I or DVI-D, but it does say that it's Dual Link
(whatever that means). Dell told me this cable would work,
but I'd rather hear it from someone who is using DVI with
one of these ATI or similar cards.

Does anyone know if Dell was right, and if this particular
cable will work with the DVI connection on the back of my
card? And is this a reasonable price for a good DVI cable?
Do good ones run about this price range ($89)?

Again, I don't need the HDTV and not sure what Dual Link
means. My ATI card says the DVI connector supports a DVI-I
cable. But not sure if this is compatible with the Belkin
cable mentioned above. Does anyone know?

I think it's the use of the terms "HDTV and Dual Link" that
is confusing. And the male/female thing, and the # of pins
that concerns me. When searching on CompUSA's web site for
"DVI Video Cables" I find all kinds. But I just want to get
the RIGHT cable from the get-go.

Also, are most DVI cables about $90, or is the Belkin one
offered by Dell considered an expensive one?

Thank you very much for any advice/help in getting the right
DVI cable "the first time."
Gary

"gary" <gary.nospam.TakeThisOut@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:ZFCRf.4072$k75.2501@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> Recently bought an ATI All-In-Wonder X800-XT graphics card, which as you
> may know has DVI and VGA connectors on the back. (Currently, am using the
> VGA connector to a CRT-monitor).
>
> Today, am buying the Dell 24" UltraSharp 2405FPW flat panel LCD monitor.
> Want to use the DVI connection, not the VGA connection.
>
> I started to buy it, but decided to check with Dell to see if it came with
> any DVI or VGA cables. Dell said it only comes with a VGA cable, and that
> you have to buy a DVI cable separately.

The Dell 2405fpw I bought just a few months ago came with both a VGA AND a
DVI cable which, of course, works with my AIW ATI x800xt.

mxh

> My ATI card documentation says the X800-XT has a DVI-I connection, but
> doesn't say "how many pins" or mention anything about "Dual Link", or
> HDTV, or male/female, etc..
>
> When shopping for DVI cables, I'm finding many different types, such as
> DVI-I and DVI-D, some mention Dual Link, some don't. Some say MALE to
> MALE, I think others have something different.
>
> I guess I thought DVI was DVI, and didn't realize there was such a large
> selection. CAN ANYONE HELP IN ADVISING WHICH IS THE RIGHT TYPE OF DVI
> CABLE FOR THIS CARD?
>
> Dell offers a "PureAV by Belkin High Performance HDTV DVI Video Cable
> (8ft)" for $89.00. But it doesn't say if it's DVI-I or DVI-D, but it does
> say that it's Dual Link (whatever that means). Dell told me this cable
> would work, but I'd rather hear it from someone who is using DVI with one
> of these ATI or similar cards.
>
> Does anyone know if Dell was right, and if this particular cable will work
> with the DVI connection on the back of my card? And is this a reasonable
> price for a good DVI cable? Do good ones run about this price range ($89)?
>
> Again, I don't need the HDTV and not sure what Dual Link means. My ATI
> card says the DVI connector supports a DVI-I cable. But not sure if this
> is compatible with the Belkin cable mentioned above. Does anyone know?
>
> I think it's the use of the terms "HDTV and Dual Link" that is confusing.
> And the male/female thing, and the # of pins that concerns me. When
> searching on CompUSA's web site for "DVI Video Cables" I find all kinds.
> But I just want to get the RIGHT cable from the get-go.
>
> Also, are most DVI cables about $90, or is the Belkin one offered by Dell
> considered an expensive one?
>
> Thank you very much for any advice/help in getting the right DVI cable
> "the first time."
> Gary