Question about GTX 1070 ports

There are generally three types of DVI ports: DVI-D, DVI-I, and DVI-A. The DVI-D accepts Digital signals, the DVI-I is Integrated (accepts both Digital signals and Analog), while the DVI-A only accepts Analog signals. DVI-D and DVI-I can be Single Link (3.96 Gbps max. data rate) or Dual Link (7.92 Gbps max. data rate).

Shown below at the left column are the types of DVI male connectors while at the right column are the DVI female connectors:


Your BenQ XL2411 has the DVI-D Dual Link input, so, such cable that came with your monitor is also compatible with your GTX 1070's DVI-D Dual Link slot. The DVI-D Dual Link can output 1080p at 144Hz refresh rate.

HDMI is newer than DVI. But HDMI has several versions/speeds over the years, from HDMI v1.0 to HDMI v2.1. Most computer components use the typical Type-A size single-link, standard connector, whichever the version (though there are other sizes of connectors, such as Type-D in mobile phones, but rarely used in PCs).


The different versions of HDMI ports are similar in concept with the USB ports -- all are backward-compatible -- but will only run in speeds/bandwidth/max. resolution of the least/slowest version.

Your BenQ XL2411 has the HDMI input as well, but it is only v1.4, such that the cap is limited to 1080p resolution at 60Hz (or ~75Hz) refresh rate. Refresh rate can only increase with the lowering of the resolution, if the monitor supports it, due to bandwidth limits of the HDMI version. So, even though your GTX 1070 has an HDMI v2.0 which can output 1080p/144Hz, the monitor could not via HDMI.

Though, the HDMI has the ability to transmit audio signals in the same cable, unlike the DVI which transmits video signals only.



As mentioned above, you can use any HDMI cable (as long as it is a standard HDMI cable, size-wise) and plug it in any version of HDMI port (backward-compatibility). If your AOC monitor has a lower HDMI version, the cap/limit of the lower version will govern despite your GPU having a newer/faster version.



Displayport is the newest among the three cable/port types (developed after HDMI and DVI were released). It has certain similarities with the HDMI, being able to transmit both Digital video signals and audio signals as well. Like the HDMI, the Displayport (DP) had also gone into several versions/speeds, from DP v1.0 to v1.4. It has a higher data rate than HDMI, and thus, would be able to transmit higher refresh rates at higher resolutions. Standard DP (female socket and male plug) looks like this (although there are also mini-DP ports, and DP++ ports, in rare instances):


In your case, you won't be concerned with using the DP as your BenQ XL2411 doesn't have a DP input port, nor your AOC monitor. So, you can leave those 3x DP ports in your GTX 1070 unplugged, for now (you'll use it should you decide on getting another monitor with a DP port).