Monitor connections: All options at a glance
Most PC monitors have many different connections. At least one of them is responsible for image transmission. In addition, there are often audio outputs and USB ports. We present the most common screen connections, their function and their advantages and disadvantages.
Overview of analog monitor connections
Analog monitor connections are no longer up-to-date, especially for image transmission. Due to copy protection, you can no longer play BluRays via non-digital outputs.
- VGA / D-Sub: The VGA connection for image transmission (right) is still very widespread, but no longer up-to-date. Maximum resolution and refresh rate are lower here than with modern connections such as DVI-A.
- DVI-A: The analog DVI-A (right) has similar properties to VGA and is compatible with VGA via an adapter, but cannot keep up with DVI-I and DVI-D when it comes to image transmission and compatibility. You can find a comparison between VGA and DVI in this practical tip.
- Video and S-Video: You will come across the composite video and S-video input more when buying a projector than with monitors. In order to quickly play videos and pictures from a digital camera, the ports can still be very practical.
- Line: If you connect your monitor to the output of your sound card via a 3.6 mm jack, you can either play the sound from monitor boxes or connect headphones directly to your monitor. If there is no sound coming from your monitor, this practical tip will help you.
Digital monitor connections - these models are available
Because of the high resolution and refresh rate of today's graphics cards, only modern digital connections can deliver optimal image transmission. Modern laptops have less and less analog video connections.
- Display port: Display port (left) is particularly popular for image transmission. The mini display port has now developed into a Thunderbold connection, but is still compatible with the display port and HDMI.
- HDMI: HDMI ports are standard in laptops, TVs and BluRay players. They transmit image and sound digitally and in the highest quality. In a practical tip, we will introduce you to the differences between HDMI and DVI. If your TV or screen does not receive any sound via HDMI, we will help you with this article.
- DVI-D: DVI-D (right) digitally transmits high-resolution images. DVI-D can be connected to HDMI connections via an adapter - however, no sound is transmitted in this way.
- USB: It is very practical if you connect your monitor to your PC via USB-B connection (the left of the two USB connections). So you can often connect multiple USB devices to your monitor. This is particularly practical for peripheral devices such as keyboards and mice. However, since several devices now share a USB port, transmission speed and power supply can get to their knees.
Of course, you will also find instructions on how to connect a monitor to your laptop, how to correctly set and clean your screen.
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The analog VGA / D-Sub input and the DVI-I connection, which can transmit the image both analog and digital, are widespread. The composite video input often occurs together with [[//praxistipps.chip.de/iffere- Zwischen-cinch-und-klinke_19233|Cinch]]. S-video is rather rare in Europe.
HDMI (left) can transmit both sound and image digitally. Line ports (right) are responsible for analog sound transmission.
Digital display port connections offer the same quality as HDMI, but only transmit images.
With an adapter you can transfer HDMI to DVI-I and DVI-D (left), composite video to S-Video (top left), DVI-A or the analogue part from DVI-I to VGA (middle) and jack to RCA (right).
