The option for connecting a laptop to a TV is almost always HDMI. The problem however comes in when you have to choose a connection. Between HDMI, VGA, DVI, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort(DP) video displays, which one should you choose? Confusing right?
In this article, we’ll help you decide on a better connection if you’re looking to connect a computer to a TV or monitor.
HDMI is the most popular connector for televisions. However, the choices usually are HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, and occasionally the vintage VGA if you wish to connect a computer to your TV (or you have a new computer monitor).
Truthfully speaking each of these connections has something to like about it and maybe something not to. Therefore there may be more than one cable that works better with your display than the one that came with it.
The Differences between HDMI, VGA, DVI, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort(DP) video displays
Before we start marking out the differences, it’s best to point out that, the only analogue connection here is VGA; all other connections are digital.
While the potential for pixel resolution varies with each connection, the quality itself does not. In other words, 1,920×1,080/60 over HDMI will seem the same as 1,920×1,080/60 over DVI and DisplayPort (provided all other settings are the same). All in all, the “quality” of the image is unaffected by the wires themselves.
HDMI
HDMI is a component found in every TV and the majority of computer monitors. It is simple to use, the wires are inexpensive, and most importantly, it transmits audio.
Your initial option should be HDMI if you’re connecting a PC to a TV. You will avoid a great deal of problems.
Though not always the best option, HDMI has several restrictions. Consider the HDMI 1.4 connectors on your TV, which have a maximum resolution of 3,820 by 2,160 pixels at a frame rate of 30 fps. Your frame rate is restricted to 30fps if you recently purchased a 4K monitor. 4K at 60 frames per second over HDMI won’t be possible until HDMI 2.0. New hardware (and possibly a new TV) are also required.
HDMI is therefore usually sufficient, but one of these other choices may be preferable for exceptionally high resolutions and frame rates.
DVI
The Digital Display Working Group (DDWG) created the Digital Visual Interface (DVI), a video display interface. A visual source, like a video display controller, is connected to a display device, like a computer monitor, using a digital interface. It was designed mainly to establish an industry standard for the transfer of uncompressed digital video footage.
Even though DVI is most often connected to computers, it can also be found in other consumer gadgets like DVD players and televisions.
Display Port(DP)
A group of PC and semiconductor manufacturers created the DisplayPort (DP) digital display interface, which the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) then standardized.
It is mainly used to link a video source to a display device, like a computer monitor. Along with other types of data, it can also transport audio and USB.
VGA, FPD-Link, and Digital Visual Interface (DVI) were designed to be replaced by DisplayPort. It can be used with either active or passive adapters to connect to various interfaces, including HDMI and DVI.
You can forego using a DisplayPort if you want to connect a computer to a display. The price of the cables is comparable to that of HDMI.
VGA
VGA, which stands for either video graphics adapter or video graphics array, is a well-liked display standard created by IBM and launched in 1987. VGA offers colour display panels with 640 x 480 resolution, a refresh rate of 60 Hz, and a maximum of 16 colours visible at once. The display of 256 colours comes about when the resolution is reduced to 320 x 200.
VGA only supports lower resolutions and lower-quality screen displays since it uses analogue signals.
A computer can be connected to a monitor, projector, or TV via a VGA connector, which is used for display devices. A computer can be connected to a monitor, projector, or TV via a VGA connector, which is used for display devices.
Modern PCs, monitors, projectors, and TVs frequently still come with a VGA connection and adapter. But the DVI (digital visual interface), HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface), and DisplayPort cable and connection are quickly displacing this style of connector as being outdated.
Thunderbolt
The hardware interface known as Thunderbolt is used to connect external peripherals to computers. It was created by Intel and Apple in partnership.
Thunderbolt integrates DC power into a single cable along with PCI Express (PCIe) and DisplayPort (DP) conversion into two serial signals. Depending on the connector’s layout, up to six peripherals may be supported. In contrast to Thunderbolt 3, 4, and 5, which use the USB-C connector, Thunderbolt 1 and 2 use the Mini DisplayPort (MDP) connector.
Is it possible to convert a cable?
Most of these cables are transformable into other cables. Using a straightforward converter, for instance, DVI and HDMI can typically be converted. However, not all DisplayPort connections will function with DVI and HDMI when using an adaptor.
The True Resolution of Your TV
The term “true resolution” describes a specific resolution at which a device’s display operates most effectively and produces the sharpest images. Another word for “true resolution” is “native resolution.”
This is 1,920 by 1,080 pixels on most TVs. Therefore, if you provide 1,920×1,080 resolution TV content, it will upconvert it to 1,280×720. TVs typically handle this well (though not all resolutions will be supported) You’re better off, though, changing your computer’s resolution to match that of your TV, that’s if it doesn’t do it automatically, as expected.
For pixel-for-pixel precision and the absence of blurring or imperfections during upconversion, resolutions must match. This is especially true of computer displays, which rarely have the high-quality conversion processing found in their TV cousins. It will function if you provide a computer monitor with a non-true resolution, but it won’t appear as good as expected.
Conclusion
Generally, HDMI is acceptable. Consider using DisplayPort if you are using a monitor with a very high resolution. If not, all of the solutions begin to have significant disadvantages.
The only hard part of this is that not all of your equipment may be able to deliver the true resolution you wish. Since nearly all TVs are 1,920 by 1,080, this is probably not a problem, but with monitors and their more inconsistent real resolutions, it becomes a little more challenging.
To find out what your monitor’s true resolution is and to be sure it can accept that resolution with the cable you want to use, review your owner’s manual first.
