Here is everything you need to know about HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA cables.
Depending on what year your product was manufactured in and what performance you’re searching for, any of these cables could be the right choice for you.
Each cable is based off industry-leading connection technology. Here are the differences between each connector.
VGA Cables
VGA cables, aka Video Graphics Array, are an older standard.
VGA uses a 15-pin connector, based in analog technology as opposed to digital. In fact, they are among the oldest video cables you will find still on the market.
If you’re looking for the best video quality, you wouldn’t normally use VGA. The only reason to is if you’re working with a device where there’s no other option but to use a cable of this standard. Some may choose to search out a VGA adapter in its place.
VGA has been mainly replaced with DVI cables, however, that doesn’t mean VGAs don’t have their place.
Some products still use VGA connectors, including older CRT monitors, projectors, and other hardware.
DVI Cables
DVI cables, aka Digital Visual Interface, was developed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It is a precursor to today’s HDMI cables.
DVI technology uses a 29-pin connector, is capable of handling both analog and digital signals, and is backward-compatible with VGA connectors which makes it a very diverse type of computer cable.
DVI cables don’t work as well over long distances, however, over shorter distances they’re a superior choice.
Unfortunately, DVI as a standard is non-existent in today’s products but is still used in older hardware.
HDMI Cables
HDMI, aka High-Definition Multimedia Interface, is the most popular cable used today on televisions, Android boxes, gaming consoles, and video.
Inside an HDMI cable is a 19-pin plug. Plugging it in is easy. Over time, new versions with more advanced technology have come out under the banner of HDMI.
First released in 2002, then HDMI was very similar to DVI in video quality. Since then, we’ve gone from HDMI 1.0 to HDMI 2.1 cables which were released in 2017 and have 4K capability and beyond.
HDMI cables have done a great job at building something that’s largely future-proof in many ways.
DisplayPort Cables
DisplayPort cables are computer-based. First released in 2006, it was comparable and also compatible with HDMI and DVI connectors.
DisplayPort has developed to be the ultimate AV interface for computer monitors, with a 20-pin connector and the ability to run multiple screens through a single connection – something an HDMI cable cannot do.
Though not as popular as HDMI, when it comes to computer connections, DisplayPort is the preferred choice.
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