With the rapid development of 4K/8K ultra-high-definition display technology and high-speed 5G communication technology, video cables play an increasingly important role in connecting hosts, monitors, and various computer peripherals. To keep pace with the digital age and achieve higher standards of video transmission, video interface technology has undergone multiple iterations and upgrades. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the main types of video interfaces currently available on the market, including HDMI, DP, USB C, mini DP, DVI, and VGA, helping you better understand these ports and their connection requirements.
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
HDMI is currently the most common port on the market, widely used in consumer televisions, projectors, Blu-ray players, monitors, desktop computers, and gaming consoles. HDMI signals are transmitted in digital format, supporting both audio and video, while employing HDCP technology to prevent piracy. The latest version, HDMI 2.1a, has increased bandwidth to 48Gbps, supporting video output resolutions and refresh rates such as 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz, and has introduced powerful technologies like dynamic HDR and variable refresh rate.
DP (DisplayPort)
The DP interface is designed for PCs and monitors with high-end graphics processing capabilities, primarily used for visually intensive tasks such as gaming and video editing. DP also uses digital signal transmission, supporting audio and video data streams, and can connect multiple monitors in a daisy chain configuration. The latest version, DP 2.0, has a theoretical bandwidth of up to 80Gbps, supporting up to three 10K screens at 60Hz or dual 8K displays at 120Hz, and also supports HDR and higher bit-depth color representation.
USB C
The USB C interface is easy to plug and unplug, highly compatible, and supports multiple transmission protocols, including USB transfer, PD fast charging, DP Alt Mode, and Thunderbolt. For example, the Thunderbolt 4 interface uses a USB C physical connector, supporting 40Gbps data transfer and external displays with a maximum resolution of 6K at 60Hz. USB C monitors can also power connected laptops, while portable monitors can be powered entirely by a single USB C port from the host device.
Mini DP (Mini DisplayPort)
Mini DP is commonly used in laptops, especially Apple MacBook Pro/Air models. It is a smaller version of the standard DP connector, with the same functionality. However, note that not all Mac models support audio, and while the mini DP connector physically fits Thunderbolt ports, its functionality may differ. When connecting a monitor, you may need to use a mini DP to standard video port cable or adapter.
DVI (Digital Visual Interface)
DVI is a type of video-specific cable commonly used with older monitors and graphics cards. There are five specifications of DVI, with DVI-I and DVI-D dual link supporting higher bandwidth for higher resolution video output. However, DVI transmits digital signals and does not support audio.
VGA (Video Graphics Array)
The VGA interface is the "veteran" among video interfaces, commonly used with older monitors and projectors. It transmits ana-log signals, supporting resolutions from 640x480 to 2560x1600, but does not support audio. Due to susceptibility to signal interference leading to image distortion, it is recommended to use the VGA interface at a resolution of 1920x1080P or lower; for higher resolutions, it is advisable to choose the HDMI interface.
