Today's computer engineering efforts to design thinner, more portable laptops have resulted in less space for various connection ports. This trend has two effects.
On the one hand, despite the limited space, users can still expand hardware connections by purchasing cables and adapters. For example, using an adapter can extend the laptop screen to another monitor, and studies have shown that dual-screen working can effectively improve work efficiency.
On the other hand, users may feel confused by the many different types of accessories and video ports that may be needed on a computer. To this end, we will help users understand the direct video connection ports that a computer may have, and what adapters should be used to meet the needs when certain ports are missing.
First, it is important to determine which direct video connection ports your laptop has. These universal ports are related to visual data transmission and are available on most computers, regardless of brand. Common direct video connection ports include:
HDMI port: High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) allows the transmission of video and audio data to another display via a single cable. The standard HDMI port is a type A connector and is commonly found on laptops, monitors, and TVs.
DisplayPort (DP): DisplayPort allows the transmission of video and audio data over a single cable. It has a higher bandwidth than HDMI, supports higher resolution displays, and is particularly suitable for transmitting video and audio data to multiple external displays.
Digital Video Interface (DVI): Mainly used to transmit high-definition quality video signals in digital format, but is no longer common on newer computers and monitors.
Video Graphics Array (VGA): Older than DVI, it is used to transmit video signals in ana-log format. VGA ports can be found in older technology products such as computers, TVs, and projectors, but the image quality is not as clear as DVI, and no audio signals are produced.
Differences between USB-A and USB-C
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a standardized interface for connecting peripheral devices to computers. USB-A and USB-C are the most common USB types and can be used to connect external audio and video devices such as microphones, headphones, and webcams.
USB-A: A universal connection that is widely available on various electronic devices. If the external display has a direct video port as described above, but the source device only has a USB-A port, a USB adapter is required.
USB-C: The latest universal connection with increased speed and power. USB-C ports are reversible and come in many variants and generations, with Thunderbolt being the fastest at 40Gbps. The most common USB-C is USB 3.2 Gen2, which has a speed of 10Gbps. USB-C highly supports video signals and can be connected to native DisplayPort or HDMI ports using the appropriate USB adapter.
In addition, if the device lacks a direct video port or USB-C port, DisplayLink adapters can solve the problem, allowing USB-A ports to be connected to external displays and supporting video displays up to 4K. Thunderbolt cables are also available for connecting source devices with USB-C ports to external displays.
