DVI Cables Price Comparison
Compare 203 DVI cables from Lindy, StarTech.com and more. Find the best price on DVI-D Dual Link and Single Link cables for monitors and displays.
DVI cables occupy a curious position in the market today: technically a legacy standard, yet still very much in demand. A significant number of professional monitors, projectors, and older workstations continue to rely on DVI connections, and finding the right cable at the right price is less straightforward than it might seem. Prices across our 203 listed products range from 11 £ for a basic short run up to 15 £ for premium professional-grade options — a spread that reflects genuine differences in build quality and specification, not just branding.
The single most important decision you'll make is choosing between DVI-D and DVI-I, and between Single Link and Dual Link. DVI-D carries a purely digital signal and is the right choice for virtually all modern flat-panel monitors. DVI-I adds analogue compatibility — useful if you're bridging older VGA equipment. As for Single vs Dual Link: if your display runs at anything above 1920×1200, you need Dual Link. It's a surprisingly common mistake to buy a Single Link cable and wonder why a 1440p monitor won't run at full resolution. Dual Link doubles the bandwidth to 9.9 Gbps, supporting resolutions up to 2560×1600 at 60Hz.
Cable length matters more than most buyers realise. Beyond 5 metres, signal attenuation becomes a real concern — the electrical signal weakens over distance, and a poorly shielded cable will show it in image quality. For runs of 7.5m or 10m, it's worth spending a little more on a cable with proper EMI shielding (braided copper rather than foil alone). KVM cables face the same challenge, and the same rule applies: don't cut corners on longer runs.
Looking at the brand landscape, StarTech.com dominates the most-compared products and consistently sits at the accessible end of the price range — solid everyday performance without the premium. Lindy leads the catalogue by volume and commands a higher average price, reflecting its focus on build quality and professional installations. Vivolink sits at the top of the average price table, catering squarely to AV integrators and permanent installations where cable failure simply isn't an option. Budget-conscious buyers should also look at kenable, whose average price sits well below the market median — decent for short domestic runs, less convincing for demanding professional setups.
One detail worth checking before you buy: gold-plated contacts. They're not marketing fluff — gold resists oxidation far better than bare copper or nickel, which matters in environments with humidity or temperature swings. For a permanent installation behind a desk or in a rack, moulded connectors add meaningful mechanical protection. If you're also sourcing other display or connectivity accessories, our cable gender changers and signal cables categories are worth a look alongside.
How to Choose the Right DVI Cable
Most buyers get tripped up by two things: picking the wrong DVI type (D vs I) and underestimating how much cable length affects signal quality. Get those two decisions right and everything else is secondary. Here's what actually matters.
DVI-D or DVI-I — know which you need
DVI-D is the right choice for the vast majority of modern setups. It transmits a pure digital signal and is compatible with virtually every flat-panel monitor made in the last fifteen years. DVI-I adds analogue pins, making it backwards-compatible with VGA equipment via an adapter — useful if you're connecting older hardware or need flexibility. The physical connectors differ: DVI-I has four extra pins around the flat blade, so a DVI-D cable won't fit a DVI-I port (though a DVI-I cable will fit a DVI-D port). Check your graphics card and monitor ports before ordering. Getting this wrong means a return trip to the retailer.
Single Link vs Dual Link — the resolution question
This is the most consequential spec decision. Single Link (18+1 pins) maxes out at 1920×1200 at 60Hz — fine for standard 1080p monitors. Dual Link (24+1 pins) doubles the bandwidth to 9.9 Gbps and supports up to 2560×1600 at 60Hz, which covers 1440p and WQXGA displays. If you're running a high-resolution monitor and experiencing a capped refresh rate or a refusal to display at native resolution, a Single Link cable is almost certainly the culprit. Dual Link cables typically cost a little more — but the price difference is modest compared to the frustration of a mismatched setup.
Cable length and signal integrity
For runs up to 3–5 metres, almost any decent cable will perform reliably. Beyond that, signal attenuation becomes a genuine concern. At 7.5m or 10m, you want a cable with double shielding — braided copper over a foil layer — to resist electromagnetic interference. Brands like Lindy and Vivolink engineer their longer cables specifically for this, which explains their higher price points. Avoid very cheap unbranded cables for long runs; the image degradation may be subtle at first but tends to worsen. If you need to go beyond 10–15 metres, consider an active DVI extender rather than a passive cable alone.
Build quality: contacts, shielding, and connectors
Gold-plated contacts are worth having — not because gold is a dramatically better conductor, but because it resists oxidation. In a damp server room or a cable run that gets disturbed regularly, nickel or bare copper contacts will corrode over time, causing intermittent signal issues. Moulded connectors (where the boot is integrally formed around the plug) offer superior mechanical protection compared to screw-on hoods — important for permanent installations. For desktop use where the cable rarely moves, this matters less. The gaine material also varies: PVC is standard and adequate; nylon-braided outer sleeves are more durable and look better in visible installations.
HDCP compatibility for protected content
If you're connecting a Blu-ray player or a device that outputs HDCP-protected content (certain streaming boxes, for instance) via DVI, both the cable and the display must support HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). Most branded cables from StarTech.com, Lindy, and Digitus are HDCP-compatible, but it's worth confirming in the product spec — particularly with very cheap options. This is less of a concern for PC monitor connections, where HDCP is rarely enforced, but it matters for home cinema or professional AV setups.
- Budget picks (From 11 £ to 12 £) : Short cables from kenable, VCOM, and entry-level Digitus lines. Perfectly adequate for a 1–2m desktop run on a standard 1080p monitor. Build quality is basic — PVC jacket, no premium shielding — but for a cable that rarely moves, it does the job. Not recommended for long runs or professional environments.
- The sweet spot (From 12 £ to 13 £) : Where StarTech.com, Microconnect, and ProXtend sit. You get reliable Dual Link performance, decent shielding, and moulded connectors at a sensible price. This is the range we'd recommend for most home and office users. StarTech.com's 1m and 3m Dual Link cables are the most-compared products in the entire category for good reason.
- Professional grade (From 13 £ to 14 £) : Lindy's Anthra Line and longer Black Line cables, plus Kramer Electronics and Black Box. Better shielding, more robust construction, and typically longer lengths (5m–10m). The right choice for AV installations, multi-monitor workstations, and environments with significant electromagnetic interference.
- Specialist and long-run (Over 14 £) : Vivolink and DeLOCK dominate this tier, along with Lindy's longest cables. These are engineered for permanent AV installations, conference rooms, and broadcast environments. DeLOCK's average price reflects highly specialised configurations. Overkill for a home desk setup — but if you're running 15m+ or need guaranteed signal integrity in a professional context, this is where to look.
Top products
- StarTech.com 3m DVI-D Dual Link Cable – M/M (StarTech.com) : The most-compared cable in the category, and for good reason — 3m Dual Link at a price well below the market median. The go-to recommendation for most desktop setups. Not the most premium build, but reliable and widely available.
- StarTech.com 1m DVI-D Dual Link Cable – M/M (StarTech.com) : Best value for a short desktop run. Dual Link at 1m covers virtually every standard and high-resolution monitor setup. Buy this if your PC and monitor are close together and you don't want to overspend.
- Lindy 7.5m DVI-D Dual Link Cable, Anthra Line (Lindy) : The right choice for longer professional runs. Lindy's Anthra Line has noticeably better shielding than budget alternatives at this length — worth the premium if signal integrity matters. Overkill for a home desk, but excellent for AV or office installations.
- Digitus DVI Connection Cable (Digitus) : The cheapest entry in the top-compared list. Adequate for basic short-run use, but Digitus's budget line cuts corners on shielding. Fine as a temporary fix or for a low-demand setup; we'd spend a little more for anything permanent.
- StarTech.com 10m DVI-D Dual Link Cable – M/M (StarTech.com) : Solid option for a 10m run without jumping to Vivolink prices. StarTech.com's shielding at this length is competent rather than exceptional — works well in low-interference environments. If your installation is in a busy electrical environment, consider Lindy instead.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DVI-D and DVI-I cables?
DVI-D carries a digital signal only, while DVI-I supports both digital and analogue signals. In practice, DVI-D is what you need for connecting a modern flat-panel monitor to a PC or graphics card — it's cleaner, more common, and slightly cheaper. DVI-I is useful when you need to use a DVI-to-VGA adapter, as the analogue pins are required for that conversion. Physically, DVI-I has four extra pins surrounding the flat blade; a DVI-D cable will not plug into a DVI-I socket, though the reverse works fine.
Do I need a Dual Link cable for a 1440p or 4K monitor?
Yes — for 1440p (2560×1440) you need a Dual Link DVI-D cable; standard 4K is not supported over DVI at all. Single Link DVI maxes out at 1920×1200 at 60Hz. Dual Link doubles the bandwidth to 9.9 Gbps, which covers 2560×1600 at 60Hz — enough for 1440p. True 4K (3840×2160) exceeds what DVI can handle regardless of link type; for that you'll need HDMI or DisplayPort. If your 1440p monitor isn't displaying at native resolution, a Single Link cable is the most likely culprit.
How long can a DVI cable be before the signal degrades?
Up to 5 metres, a quality passive DVI cable will perform reliably without signal degradation; beyond that, shielding quality becomes critical. At 7.5m and 10m, look for cables with double shielding — braided copper over foil — from brands like Lindy or Vivolink. Beyond 15 metres, a passive cable alone is risky; an active DVI signal booster or extender is the more reliable solution. Cheap unbranded cables at longer lengths are a false economy — subtle image artefacts or intermittent signal loss are common.
Are gold-plated DVI connectors actually worth it?
Gold-plated contacts are genuinely useful, though not for the reason most marketing implies. Gold doesn't conduct significantly better than copper, but it resists oxidation far more effectively. In a humid environment, a rack installation, or any cable that gets unplugged and replugged regularly, nickel or bare copper contacts will corrode over time — causing intermittent signal issues that are frustrating to diagnose. For a cable that stays plugged in permanently on a home desk, the difference is minimal. For professional or semi-permanent installations, it's worth having.
Can I use a DVI cable with an HDMI monitor or vice versa?
Yes, with a passive adapter or adapter cable — but only for the digital signal, and with limitations. DVI-D and HDMI both carry digital video signals that are electrically compatible, so a DVI-to-HDMI adapter works without any active conversion. However, HDMI also carries audio, which DVI does not — so you'll lose audio over that connection. HDCP compatibility is also required on both ends for protected content. These adapters are inexpensive and widely available; check our cable gender changers category for options.
Which DVI cable brands should I avoid buying cheap from?
Unbranded or very cheap no-name DVI cables are worth avoiding for anything beyond a basic 1m desktop run. The risk isn't that they won't work at all — most will — but that quality control is inconsistent. Poorly crimped connectors, inadequate shielding, and substandard conductors are common in the lowest price tier. For budget-conscious buyers, kenable and StarTech.com both offer genuinely affordable cables with consistent build quality. Spending a little more on a known brand from 12 £ upwards eliminates most of the reliability risk.
Is DVI still worth buying in 2026, or should I switch to DisplayPort or HDMI?
DVI is worth buying if your existing hardware has DVI ports — replacing working monitors or graphics cards purely to switch connector type rarely makes financial sense. That said, if you're building a new system or upgrading a monitor, DisplayPort or HDMI is the better long-term choice: higher bandwidth, audio support, and broader compatibility with modern displays. DVI tops out at 2560×1600 and carries no audio. For legacy setups, professional AV equipment, and older workstations, DVI cables remain a practical and cost-effective solution.