Confusion about latest video cards, why do they have different output connectors than the standard 15 pin?

I had my heart set on a 1.5GB ATi Radeon HD 2600XT until my dad realised that the connectors are completely different than my monitor, what modern monitor would I need to purchase so that it will fit the latest graphics card?

Confusion about latest video cards, why do they have different output connectors than the standard 15 pin?
The problem here is that the 15 pin VGA connector you describe isn't really "standard" anymore. CRT monitors (and tvs) were analog devices and took analog inputs, computers on the other hand generate digital signals. Graphics cards then did their thing before converting the digital information (a big table of values for each pixel on the screen) into an analog signal to be sent to the screen. LCD screens however are digital devices, they "know" they consist of a fixed number of finite sized dots and are capable of setting any particular dot to any particular colour. This means that initially computers were generating a digital version of an image, the graphics card was converting it to an analogue signal for the monitor and the monitor was then converting it back again into a block of digital data in order to display it. This was clearly a bit silly and the conversion process led to some reduction in image quality. A DVI connector carries digital information (in a very similar way to an HDMI connector on a new HDTV) avoiding the need for this conversion process and resulting in a better quality image. Monitors are increasingly providing DVI connectors (though not all cheap ones do) and similarly, good graphics cards are also providing these outputs.





However, if you don't fancy upgrading your monitor then don't worry. Most graphics cards (I've not seen a gamer grade one one that doesn't) come with an adapter which you plug into the DVI port and converts it to a 15 pin VGA adapter. The picture quality won't be quite as good as it would have been if you were using a DVI compatible monitor but you're highly unlikely to be able to tell the difference and it won't be any worse than it would have been if the card had a VGA output by default. On the off chance the card doesn't come with one, they're very cheap. To give you an idea, CCL (www.cclonline.com) has some for £3.70, alternatively any computer shop, online computer e-tailer or ebay will have them for next to nothing.
Reply:that probably DVI-D or DVI-A cards. modern cards can support few deifferent resolution plus LCD monitors.
Reply:If you get a modern day video card it will have the converter inside of the box with the card. They know that not everyone has this type of monitor yet and they provide you with the inverter.
Reply:DVI,(Digital Video Interface), it's on LCD's, along with the standard Vga. OR, you could go to Radio Shack,(cheaper to buy online from someone else), and buy a DVI to VGA converter adapter,(about $14.99), and use your CRT monitor you have now!
Reply:Any graphics card you buy nowadays will ALWAYS be supplied with a DVI-VGA adapter unless its 2nd hand of course it could be missing.