HDMI, DVI and VGA - What's the difference? by Kim Komando ~ High Tech House Calls

Sunday, July 27, 2014

HDMI, DVI and VGA - What's the difference? by Kim Komando

6:19 PM High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting

The tech world is full of TLAs, or three-letter acronyms. Sometimes they're even four or five letters.
If you aren't sure what these acronyms stand for, you can easily get lost in a conversation with a salesperson or get a headache looking through product specs. You might end up buying something you don't need, or even the wrong thing.

Today, I'm going to clear the air around video connectors. It can mean the difference between a glorious high definition picture and crummy low-resolution video.

I'm also going to talk about the cables. Do you really need cables that cost almost as much as your TV or monitor? I'll put the debate to rest.

VGA

VGA or Video Graphics Array is the oldest of the video connectors. It's been around since 1987, if you can believe it, but it just won't go away. It's on many TVs, monitors and computers.

Unlike the other video connectors, VGA is analog. That means not only does it not support high definition, it doesn't have as clear of a picture.

If VGA is your only option, then go ahead and use it. Otherwise, you'll want something a bit better.

DVI

You've most likely linked your home PC's monitor to a digital video interface port at some point. The signal is basically the same as an HDMI port, but DVI cables generally don't support audio. Most modern TVs will probably have a DVI port, but DVI cables aren't going to plug all of your gadgets into your TV.

DVI cables come in single and dual links. Single links can support resolutions up to 1900 x 1200. Dual links can support higher resolutions and multiple screens at the same time.

The biggest reason that DVI ports didn't exactly catch on was the lack of a standard feature-set. Different DVI cables can do different things, and that's confusing for most people.

HDMI

High definition multimedia interfaces are the standard for any gadget that plugs into your TV. HDMI cables play both audio and video through your TV, though you might have to do a little fiddling with your audio settings if you're running a media center PC to your TV.

As with most gadgets, even HDMI cables have generational differences. HDMI 2.0, released in 2013, boasts support for 4k video formats and stronger signal strength. This basically means that you'll be seeing more frames on the biggest TV you can get your hands on.

If you bought an HDMI cable before 2013, you're using version 1.3 or 1.4. HDMI 1.4 supports 3-D TVs and streams data to and from your TV more quickly.

You can pick up the latest generation of HDMI cable is available for about $10 on Amazon, but only the most detail-oriented of living room cinephiles will notice the difference.

DisplayPort

DisplayPort is slowly taking over the market by the power of simplicity. There's only one DisplayPort plug. Oh, and it runs your gadgets through your TV at 60 frames a second.

It handles audio, too. The only real limitation of the DisplayPort tech is that its ability to ferry information to and from a TV dips as the cable lengthens.

For most everyone's purposes, though, it's a single dongle that will connect all of your gadgets straight into your TV at the highest possible quality. If your computer doesn't have a slot for DisplayPort connections, you can find adapters online for relatively cheap (at the cost of some quality).

The other limitation of DisplayPort is market penetration. It's a relatively new format, and it will take most tech manufacturers a hot minute to warm up to it. Like I said, though, adapters are cheap and easy to find.

How much to pay for cables

Don't let yourself be upsold on overpriced cables. Any electronics store is going to have run-of-the-mill cables, but many of them also have "gold-plated" cables at an insane mark-up.

Speaking of gold, here are my tips on how to protect your valuables from burglars by getting in their heads.

The concept that lets the retailers justify the insane price is that specific (and expensive) materials transmit video faster than others. The packaging of these expensive cables doesn't really explain this, and usually boasts about massive quality increases.

The truth is that any cable will probably work. Compare prices online and look for a cheap, well-reviewed cable to suit your needs.

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