Monitor Cables - The Various Methods Of Connecting A Monitor

When it comes time to purchase a new monitor cable for a desktop or laptop computer, an individual will likely be faced with three choices. The three most common types of monitor cables on the market are the VGA cable, the DVI cable, and the HDMI cable. Choosing which of these is best for a particular application requires an individual decide how much money they want to spend, what type of cable is supported by their device, and how much value they place on image quality. There are positives and negatives associated with each of these types of cables.

The VGA cable is the type of monitor cable that has been used the longest and is, therefore, the most popular. VGA stands for video graphics array and was first put in use about 15 years ago. This type of cable and the connectors it utilizes have proven to be dependable and reliable even in less than ideal conditions. These types of cables are not likely to come disconnected but they do not provide the kind of high definition video that is possible with other, more it advanced cables. VGA cables are also incapable of providing any audio. This is something to consider if an individual does not intend to use an external set of speakers when connecting the computer to a monitor.
The DVI cable was intended to replace the VGA cable and it provides stunning graphics for reasonable prices. DVI, or digital video interface, excels at providing high definition graphics but was not embraced by consumers or manufacturers the way that VGA was. This has made it less popular than both VGA and HDMI in many applications. Also, like VGA, DVI cables are not capable of transferring audio information from a computer to a television or monitor. This is a drawback that has made many opt for HDMI cables instead.

The type of monitor cable that is growing the most in terms of popularity is the HDMI cable. HDMI, or high definition multimedia interface, is quickly becoming the industry standard for television, audio, and computer manufacturers. This is because HDMI, unlike the other types of cables, is capable of transferring both digital audio and video at incredible speeds without losing any quality in the process. In fact, the latest iteration of HDMI is capable of Ethernet speeds and can transfer 3-D video beautifully. Unfortunately, older computers and monitors are not likely to support HDMI