Is there a way to convert my computer to digital?

Convert what?

It would help if you gave us the make/model of your current, non-digital computer.



Otherwise, what Mr. Alpha said - what exactly are you trying to convert to digital?

I will take a wild guess on audio. If your onboard sound card (if you have one ) does not have a Digital output on it. You will need to upgrade to an expansion card such as Model from SoundBlaster You can find them Here. If you wan't to do some Video editing you will need to be specific on what you want to do. Theres also the off chance you want to connect a digital monitor to a computer with a DVI cable in which case you will need a video card that supports DVI

Is there a way to tell if my computer is digital or analog?

If it is what most of us call a "PC" then it a "digital computer" - see this Wikipedia article - Central Processing Unit (CPU).


But maybe if you can be more specific, we can help.

For example, what are you trying to do with it that makes it important to you that you have a digital capability?

Unless you do research in some small lab at some university or work at a museum, I doubt you've got an analog computer. I believe the last time there was any widespread use on analog computers was in World War II.

I used my slide rule as late as the early 70's.

[quote name='Sneakycyber' date='Jul 20 2007, 11:00 AM' post='573429']
I will take a wild guess on audio. If your onboard sound card (if you have one ) does not have a Digital output on it. You will need to upgrade to an expansion card such as Model from SoundBlaster You can find them Here. If you wan't to do some Video editing you will need to be specific on what you want to do. Theres also the off chance you want to connect a digital monitor to a computer with a DVI cable in which case you will need a video card that supports DVI


Yes I want to connect a digital monitor to a computer with a DVI cable. How do I know if I have a Digital video card already in my computer?

An analog connector is usually blue and is referred to as VGA. VGA connectors have three rows of fifteen pins and look like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vga

Digital or DVI is typically a white connector with three rows of twenty six pins and a cross of four pins on one side. It looks like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvi

[quote name='arcman' date='Jul 21 2007, 03:12 AM' post='573994']
An analog connector is usually blue and is referred to as VGA. VGA connectors have three rows of fifteen pins and look like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vga

Digital or DVI is typically a white connector with three rows of twenty six pins and a cross of four pins on one side. It looks like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvi


Ok thank you very much. Now how do I know if I have a digital video card in my computer?

I have both connectors-blue and white on the back of my monitor and my computer but don't know if I have a digital video card.

If they have both connectors, then they, the monitor and the card, are capable of using the DVI cable.

You know you have a digital output capable video card because it has the DVI connector.

For what it is worth - even if your card only output the VGA signal, you can get adapters which convert the signal to DVI. I've not used one so I can't remark on how well they work, however.

If your video card has a DVI-I ( digital and analog ) or DVI-A (analog) you can use a DVI cable with a VGA adapter however if it is DVI-D which is digital only it cannot be converted to analog with an adapter and must be connected to a digital monitor. You can tell the type by following arcmans links to the wikipedia definitions. You will notice the 4 pins surrounding the blade pin these are the analog pins without them there is no analog signal.

Here is what I think I have.----

Monitor--DVI-D(DVI Digital Dual Link)

Computer--DVI-I(DVI Digital and Analog) dual Link

the cable that came with the monitor--DVI-D(DVI-Digal) single link

What do I need to make the right connection?

Plug it in and I believe depending on the video card you may need to switch to the Digital output same with the monitor unless its DVI only