Frame Grabber Specification Comparison Table Updated
July 3, 2009 by Victor · Leave a Comment
One of the most visited pages on our site is our massive and extremely informative feature comparison table for the world’s best VGA and DVI frame grabbers. Since it was created, some manufacturers have changed the specifications for their devices, while Epiphan Systems introduced the VGA2Ethernet frame grabber, which is now part of the table.
The first thing that you may notice is that the VGA2Ethernet has much higher specifications than any other frame grabber on the market. This is due to the fact that the VGA2Ethernet is a much more sophisticated device and, as such, is not really comparable to the other grabbers.
Why is the VGA2Ethernet different?
You can think of the VGA2Ethernet as a separate small computer equipped with a frame grabber. As such, it is able to function remotely. In other words, the VGA2Ethernet does not have to have close proximity to the target computer, as is the case with PCI or USB based frame grabbers. As shown below, the only requirement for the VGA2Ethernet is that it be on the same network as the target computer, and within proximity of the source that it is capturing the VGA signal from.
The fact that the VGA2Ethernet can be separated from the target computer distance-wise is not the only thing that makes this device different from others, however. By using the Gigabit Ethernet bus to transfer the images and a PowerPC processor paired with an advanced FPGA, the VGA2Ethernet is able to digitize images at resolutions up to 2048 x 2048 and, depending on the change in content from frame to frame, transfer them at up to 120 frames per second, making the VGA2Ethernet significantly faster than other any frame grabber available on the market.
Please click here to go to our complete VGA frame grabber review and specification page. Do not hesitate to contact us should you wish another product to be added to the table.
Mini DVI, what it is and how to capture it
Mini DVI is a common connector found on Apple’s Macbook, Macbook Pro and Intel-based Powerbook G4 laptops that have been produced prior October 2008. A Mini DVI port can also be found on Apple’s Intel-based 1U XServe servers.
According to Apple, the creator and sole manufacturer of computers with Mini DVI ports, Mini DVI, like Mini VGA, was implemented to save space and allow for the production of smaller laptops. This, however has been disproven by other manufacturers like Dell or Toshiba which have all made notebook computers with similar sizes, form factors, and specifications to Apple’s, yet have been able to implement a full-size DVI port. The relatively steep price of the adapters manufactured by Apple to work with the Mini DVI port (over $50 for some models) hint at the real (financial) motives behind Apple’s decision to equip its computers with Mini DVI ports.
While the way that the port is named suggests that Mini DVI is just a miniature version of the full-size DVI port, the Mini DVI port actually carries three different signals:
- Single-link DVI (Digital)
- VGA (Analog)
- TV (Analog)
In order to convert the Mini DVI signal to any of the three signals mentioned above, a special adapter is required for each application.
1. Mini DVI to DVI (Single Link)
2. Mini DVI to VGA
3. Mini DVI to Video (TV RCA + S-Video)
A Mini DVI to HDMI adapter is also available on the market, but, unlike the three adapters shown above, is not manufactured by Apple.
Capturing Video from the Mini DVI Port
Since the Mini DVI port can be easily converted to DVI, VGA, or TV-out using adapters manufactured by Apple, a Mini DVI signal can be captured using a DVI or VGA frame grabber or a video capture card for TV/S-Video signals. Note that, since the DVI signal is single link, Mini DVI does not support resolutions higher than 1920×1200 @ 60Hz.
Please refer to our Frame Grabber Comparison Table to evaluate possible alternatives for VGA and DVI frame grabbers.
Technical Information and Specifications
For advanced users doing custom product development based on Mini DVI, below is a pinout of the Mini DVI port. Source.
| Pin 1 | Dat2_P | Data 2 + |
| Pin 2 | Dat2_N | Data 2 - |
| Pin 3 | Dat1_P | Data 1 + |
| Pin 4 | Dat1_N | Data 1 - |
| Pin 5 | Dat0_P | Data 0 + |
| Pin 6 | Dat0_N | Data 0 - |
| Pin 7 | CLK_P | Clock + |
| Pin 8 | CLK_N | Clock - |
| Pin 9 | DGND | |
| Pin 10 | DGND | |
| Pin 11 | DGND | |
| Pin 12 | DGND | |
| Pin 13 | DGND | |
| Pin 14 | DGND | |
| Pin 15 | DGND | |
| Pin 16 | DGND | |
| Pin 17 | +5 V | |
| Pin 18 | DCC_DAT | |
| Pin 19 | spare | |
| Pin 20 | BLUE | Analogue blue |
| Pin 21 | not installed | |
| Pin 22 | GREEN | Analogue green |
| Pin 23 | not installed | |
| Pin 24 | RED | Analogue red |
| Pin 25 | Detect | |
| Pin 26 | DCC_CLK | |
| Pin 27 | spare | |
| Pin 28 | DGND | |
| Pin 29 | HSYNC | Horizontal sync |
| Pin 30 | DGND | |
| Pin 31 | VSYNC | Vertical sync |
| Pin 32 | DGND |
