Video connections: the main differences
Many video connections exist to transmit image and partly also sound between devices. How to transfer video signals between computer graphics card and monitor, between digital camera and TV or from BluRay player to projector. We give you an overview of the most common video connections and compatibility.
The main video connections - a comparison
Six video connections are very common. The highest quality is offered by the digital connections DVI Dual Link, Display Port and HDMI. Analog and digital cameras have had composite video or S-video connections for years. You can find details in the linked practical tips.
- VGA: The analog VGA connection can transmit 1920 × 1200 pixels with up to 75 Hz. VGA is a bit outdated but still widely used in projectors, monitors and not entirely brand new laptops. Bad cables can affect the transmission clockwise. A special practical tip offers a comparison between VGA and DVI. VGA is compatible with DVI-I via an adapter.
- DVI: DVI is a generic term for analog DVI-A and digital DVI-D transmission. There is also DVI-I, with which a digital and an analog signal can be transmitted. DVI Dual Link can transmit two digital video signals. So you can transmit at a resolution of 2560 × 1600 with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. DVI can be found in modern monitors, laptops and projectors and as a dual link it can easily keep up with the image transmission from the display port and HDMI. You can find more details in the comparison between DVI and HDMI.
- Display port: The digital display port can be found in laptops and good graphics cards and monitors. As with DVI Dual Link, you can use it to transmit video in 4K, for example. The display port output can be transferred to an HDMI input using an adapter.
- HDMI: In contrast to the other connections, HDMI transmits both picture and sound digitally. There are adapters for pure image transmission to DVI-I. In a CHIP article we compare Display Port HDMI. By the way, with a simple D / A converter you can connect the audio via RCA to your speakers via HDMI, if your TV doesn't sound good.
- Composite video: Composite video is often used together with cinch for sound transmission. Digital cameras, analog cameras and video recorders and also many DVD players use this connection. The transmission is purely analog and of poor quality. However, you can use composite video with an adapter cable on Scart and on VGA.
- S-Video: You will find S-Video connections in older cameras and projectors. Analog video transmission via S-Video is of somewhat better quality than composite video. You can also use S-Video via adapter to Scart and VGA.
How to upgrade HDMI and what you have to consider when extending an HDMI cable can be found in other CHIP online practical tips.