Diamond Announces USB to Display Adapters

By Niels Broekhuijsen
published

Diamond Multimedia has released a USB adapter which allows users to connect monitors, TVs and projectors through a USB 2.0 interface.

Diamond has announced the arrival of a USB adapter that terminates in DVI. Not only does it have a DVI output, but users can also just pop DVI-HDMI or DVI-VGA adapters onto it and drive those displays. The BVU165 should consume up to 80 percent less power than a laptop or desktop integrated graphics card.

Using these adapters, users can connect up to six displays. While obviously requiring a USB port and an adapter for each display, the adapters do support up to FullHD resolutions. They are also driven by only USB 2.0, not USB 3.0.

The device will be released in two variants, the BVU165, which is the adapter by itself, and the BVU165LT, which comes with an HDMI and VGA adapter. The two devices will be priced at $39.99 and $49.99, respectively, and should be available as of today at authorized resellers.

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Niels Broekhuijsen
Niels Broekhuijsen

Niels Broekhuijsen is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He reviews cases, water cooling and pc builds.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • jhansonxi
    10650321 said:
    The BVU165 should consume up to 80 percent less power than a laptop or desktop integrated graphics card.
    If power consumption is the only consideration then that would suffice but I suspect performance is more important for most people. I'm waiting for USB 3 devices.
    Reply
  • clifftam
    To be honest, this ain't a big selling feature. If I need to plug my computer to another monitor or projector, there's usually another power outlet available for my laptop (as there's a power outlet for the projector or monitor or tv). I won't be running off my battery for this.

    What's more useful for this adapter is for multi monitor setup with more than dual monitors.

    10650321 said:
    Diamond Multimedia has released a USB adapter which allows users to connect monitors, TVs and projectors through a USB 2.0 interface.

    10650503 said:
    10650321 said:
    The BVU165 should consume up to 80 percent less power than a laptop or desktop integrated graphics card.
    If power consumption is the only consideration then that would suffice but I suspect performance is more important for most people. I'm waiting for USB 3 devices.
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    10650503 said:
    If power consumption is the only consideration then that would suffice but I suspect performance is more important for most people. I'm waiting for USB 3 devices.
    Performance for what?

    USB-to-HDMI/DVI/DP adapters are not intended to replace PCIe-based GPUs for panoramic gaming. People who need to look into USB video adapters usually need them mostly for 2D such as extra text or otherwise mostly static data/graphics displays. For those applications, USB2 is usually more than adequate.

    With 2.5W maximum power on USB2, it isn't really possible to do more than a dumb frame buffer. Even with USB3's high-power profile, you still have less than 5W which still does not allow much of a GPU so USB3 models would most likely be dumb buffers as well.

    If you want a "performance" USB-based display adapter (something with a real GPU), you would need something with its own power brick and that usually is a no-no for most people on-the-go - the fewer power bricks, the better.
    Reply
  • cx1
    Be nice if this works with the Surface.
    Reply
  • jhansonxi
    10650667 said:
    If you want a "performance" USB-based display adapter (something with a real GPU), you would need something with its own power brick and that usually is a no-no for most people on-the-go - the fewer power bricks, the better.
    Exactly, and most external displays already require one. I just thought it was funny that how their marketing was promoting the "power consumption" aspect and obviously ignoring the performance limits. USB 3 will definitely allow for better performance by increasing bandwidth and the GPU/wattage issue is a simple technical problem that is being solved by advancements in mobile tech.
    Reply
  • dalethepcman
    10650667 said:
    USB-to-HDMI/DVI/DP adapters are not intended to replace PCIe-based GPUs for panoramic gaming. People who need to look into USB video adapters usually need them mostly for 2D such as extra text or otherwise mostly static data/graphics displays. For those applications, USB2 is usually more than adequate.

    With 2.5W maximum power on USB2, it isn't really possible to do more than a dumb frame buffer. Even with USB3's high-power profile, you still have less than 5W which still does not allow much of a GPU so USB3 models would most likely be dumb buffers as well....

    Actually 5w is enough to power the GPU in a current iPad or SGS3, while not a serious game chip (for pc standards,) its way better than what USB2's bandwidth can support. Having tried multiple USB to video adapters over the years, I can attest that the USB 3 variants are much better than the USB2 ones. The usb2 adapters usually have tearing when video is being played or when you are dragging objects around. Even though this has DVI and/or HDMI, their max resolution is 2048x1152 which is lower than the lowest standard for either of those connection types. (2560x1600 for dvi and 1920x1200 for hdmi 1.0 or 3840x2160 in 1.4)
    Reply