Can these two interfaces, DVI-D and DVI-I, be used interchangeably?

The universality of DVI-D and DVI-I interfaces lies in their ability to be used for connecting display devices.

The DVI-D interface is specifically designed for transmitting digital signals. It has only 3 rows and 8 columns, totaling 24 pins. One of the pins on the upper right corner is left empty and is incompatible with analog signals.

The DVI-I interface is more comprehensive. It can not only receive digital signals but also be compatible with analog signals. Therefore, when the DVI-I interface is used to connect VGA devices, it functions like the DVI-A interface, while when connecting DVI-D devices, its function is equivalent to that of the DVI-D interface.

To ensure compatibility with traditional analog display devices, most graphics cards adopt a design with 24 digital signal pins and 5 analog signal pins in the DVI-I interface. Such a design enables the DVI-I interface to have the ability to support both analog and digital signals, thus providing greater flexibility in connecting display devices.

In summary, there is universality between the DVI-D and DVI-I interfaces, but the DVI-I interface, due to its ability to be compatible with analog signals, shows greater applicability when connecting different types of display devices. Therefore, in practical applications, the DVI-I interface is more commonly used.