Maximum PC

I am using a DVI-I to HDMI adapter as my GPU doesn't have a direct HDMI indput.
Is this going to lower quality?

I assume you're talking about video...

In theory there shouldn't be any since they're both digital inputs.

Not in my experience. I've had computers hooked up to 1080p monitors and a 720p TV without suffering any quality loss (as far as I can tell). I used an HDMI-DVI cable, not an adapter, but it shouldn't matter.

If HDMI and DVI cables are technically the same why is one not flushed out? Is there any point in having both? It seems odd to me that we would have the same cable created twice in different forms.

They're not entirely the same.

The video signal passed through HDMI and DVI ought to be of the same quality. The two principle differences are the connector (HDMI is far superior in the regard, IMO, I hate the screws on DVI!) and HDMI is also capable of passing digital 5.1 (or greater) audio through the same cable. So you'd only need one cable running from your Blu-Ray box to your HDTV, for example. Many modern graphics cards are capable of pulling the audio signal from the Mobo's onboard audio and porting it through the HDMI port, which is especially helpful for a Home Theater PC.

So if your'e hooking up a monitor w/out speakers to your computer, either cable will work fine.

If my history is correct, DVI was originally designed to replace VGA in the computer scene, while HDMI was developed in the Home Theater world.

So to sum up: HDMI=Digital Audio+Digital Video, while DVI=Digital Video.

Jaseclimb7 thank you very much for you reply makes sense

Yup. No problem.

This might be theoretical more than reality based. No, nothing should change...but...

I'm using two DVI-to-HDMI converters and it's obvious to me that the quality is different. I sat them all up on DVI, calibrated to the best of my ability, switched cords, and it was day and night and needed re-cal on them. Switched brands of adapters hand over fist and just found that they were lesser no matter the cost. Happens on all cards too, so it can't be the card mucking it up. I can recalibrate out of this and get back to a good picture (80%?), it's not lost hope, but the adapters did do something that dictated this action.

I'd just suggest to stay pure as possible. Your computer and monitor has DVI, so use that. Why use HDMI in this case?

Chumly brings up a good point. If possible, always use a single cable with no adaptors.