Which display cable do you need?
A HDMI cable (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) carries the display signal as well as the sound signal between devices. HDMI cables are used to transmit both video and audio signals, allowing only one cord for audio and video to be transmitted. HDMI supports standard, enhanced or high definition video, as well as multi-channel digital audio. A standard HDMI cable will carry 1080p high-definition signals and support 8 channels of uncompressed audio.
An HDMI port is often located at the back or side of your device, usually with multiple ports. A stand-alone HDMI switch is available if you need more than the amount of ports provided.
There are various types of HDMI Cables. This includes, Standard, Standard with Ethernet, High speed, and High speed with Ethernet. Choosing the right type of HDMI cable is important, as there are four different types; Mini & Micro HDMI Cables, Regular HDMI cables, Mini HDMI cables, and Micro HDMI cables.
The type of cable you will need will be dependent on the equipment you are using. You will want to choose a high-quality HDMI cable, as different cables use different materials and construction techniques, with some rating higher in maximum signal quality over longer cable lengths.
Another type of cable is the DVI (Digital Visual Interface), which is a video display interface used to connect a video source such as a video display controller, to a display device such as a computer
monitor. A DVI cable is designed to transmit uncompressed digital video, and can be used as a DVI-A (analog only), DVI-D (digital only) or DVI-I (digital and analog). It carries video signals only,
with no audio, and is not capable of 4K resolution.
DVI is often used in consumer electronics such as television sets and DVD players. There are three different types of DVI cables, DVI-I (Integrated) combining digital and analog in the same
connector; DVI-D (Digital) supporting digital signals only, and DVI-A (Analog) supporting analog only.
VGA (Visual Graphics Array) is a connection used for video only, and often used in older laptops, projectors and displays. It is used to connect an analog PC monitor to a PC or laptop, and
utilises an HD15 connector to connect the monitor and PC/laptop. VGA can support resolutions up to 640×480 in 16 colours, and can carry RGBHV video signals: red, green, blue, horizontal sync, and vertical sync.
Containing 15 pins in three rows of five pins, and typically coloured blue, the cable socket is securely attached to the device using two screws, one on each side of the socket.