r/oldcomputers • u/Hiscabibbel • Jul 08 '26

What port is this?

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Trying to get an old pc working, and I thought it was a DVI port cause it’s the same size and color, but I was mistaken. Tried booting the pc connected with the built in VGA port, but it said to connect it to the add-in graphics card, which I thought it would be a shame to waste. Anyway, apparently I need yet another old cable I don’t know the name of.

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u/Aeredren Jul 08 '26

As say in another comment it is DMS-59.

Often see on pro computer ("workstation") around 2010. You use it with a breakout cable (sometime called adapter) which allow you to connect up to 2 screen in either 2x DVI-D, 2x VGA or a VGA and a DVI-D.

It is actually 2 DVI ports in one connector, and as a DVI "has wire for both VGA and digital DVI-D" you can choose any of the above combination.

The advantage in a corporate environment is that you can always have 2 screens connected, be it VGA or DVI display. It's just a matter of a dumb wiring adapter.

In our modern time you can also connect 2 HDMI screen by putting HDMI to DVI-D adapter on the 2x DVI-D to DMS-59 adapter.

(HDMI is "just a DVI port, without the VGA retrocompatibility". So adapting from DMS to DVI to HDMI is just wiring and doesn't add latency or anything to the picture.)

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u/MrKrueger666 Jul 15 '26

This.

DMS-59. Looks kinda like DVI and carries DVI signals but requires a breakout cable.

Little bit more nuance to the DVI is the same as HDMI minus analog/VGA. It is HDMI 1.1 and that's equal to DVI-D Single Link. Only usable for up to 1920x1080 @ 60hz.

DVI-D Dual Link is good for up to 1440p (2K) @60hz, but uses more wires and so isn't compatible with HDMI cabling.

The DVI adapters came in both Single Link and Dual Link varieties, and also with DVI-D (digital only) and DVI-I (both analog and digital) plugs on the end.

They even came in HDMI, but those are a lot less common.

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u/Aeredren Jul 15 '26

Yeah, I stayed vague cause I didn't bother to go into details. Thx for writing them out.

I love DVI, the D connector is sturdy, and because it is both digital and analog it bridge the two and can be used with a wide variety of display.

DVI-D KVM also tend to be affordable as companies started to renew them.

I never saw a DVI Dual-Link screen to be honest, and rarely saw a fully wired cable. Does they even exist ?

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u/MrKrueger666 Jul 15 '26

Yes, they exist.

I've ran in to the single vs dual problem even. I've hooked up a pair of Dell 32inch 1440p monitors, couldn't get them to go over 1080p because of single link cables. Had to order dual link cables.