Connector Types on a Standard PC
Contents
D-Sub Connectors
VGA and DVI-A
Video Graphics Array (VGA) (also known as PC-RGB, D-sub 15) is an analog computer display standard and is a type of Standard Video Device Connector.
(D)igital (V)ideo (I)nterface is also a type of Standard Video Device Connector. A - High-Res Analog
VGA is analog. DVI digital. VGA analog cannot be converted to DVI digital with a cable. DVI-A is an odd animal, using a DVI style plug for an analog signal. It is not digital. A video card may have a DVI-A output in addition to a DVI-D output, the first being for people that have an analog only monitor. A specific cable connects to the DVI-A analog output on the card and the VGA input on the monitor while traditional analog video cables are D-sub 15 on both ends.
DVI-D Digital
(D)igital (V)ideo (I)nterface D - True Digital Video. This is the standard for modern Personal Computer systems.
DVI-D and DFP
Digital Flat Panel (DFP) is a video connector for flat panel displays
DVI-I
(D)igital (V)ideo (I)nterface I - Integrated
- capable of transmitting either a digital-to-digital signal or an analog-to-analog signal.
Illustrated DVI Connector Diagrams
DMS-59
Molex's DMS-59 system interface is a connector for connecting both digital and analog monitors to low-profile PCI and AGP graphic cards. ATI Radeon 6350 DMS59 cards are an example that have a single DMS-59 connector with an adapter that splits the DMS-59 into two DVI connections. The DMS-59 looks similar to a low-force helix (LFH) connector with one difference, the DMS-59 has one less pin. On the bottom row the third to the last pin hole is blocked. LFH has 60 pins. The DMS-59 connector is missing pin 58.
LFH60F
Low-Force Helix (LFH) LFH-60F or LHF60F / Low Force Helix. A 60-pin video connector with signals for two digital and analog connectors. It can connect a single computer graphics source to up to four different monitors. The standard interface is a 60-pin LFH connector with two breakout VGA or DVI cables. The LFH interface requires a graphics card with multi-monitor capabilities and an LFH port. Currently, NVIDIA, Matrox and BFG Technologies manufacture such cards. Besides video, the LFH connector is present as a serial interface on Cisco 1000 series routers.
HDMI
HDMI is a type of Standard Video Device Connector that carries the same video signal as DVI, but instead of using the remaining pins for an optional video signal, pins are used to carry seven digital audio channels. HDMI is a method for connecting a video and audio source device such as a set-top box or DVD player to a display device using a single cable. HDMI connectors are now appearing on some computers, typically on new video cards and video capture devices.
Unlike PC VGA, HDMI is all digital. HDMI has superior video quality when compared to Component Video, S-Video, and Composit. HDMI includes the audio as well as video, unlike the aforementioned video cable types.
HDMI handles both Video and Sound. With 19 wires wrapped in a single cable, HDMI is able to carry a bandwidth of 5 Gbps (gigabits per second). This is more than twice the bandwidth needed to transmit multi-channel audio and video.
DRM
Because all HDMI devices are HDCP compliant, the HDMI advantage is overshadowed by anti-copy technology that cripples video equipment with HDMI connectors. Consumers should understand the dirty tricks being imposed by Intel, the MPAA, and manufacturers pushing for HDMI dominance.
High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), as mentioned above, is a technology that prevents you, the consumer, from backing up or making copies of your video media that you own. All HDMI devices have built in HDCP anti copy technology.
Dish Network and DirecTV are now using HDMI connectors with HDCP copy protection. Many new video processors support DVI, but cannot display that content to the component video output due to the HDCP anti copy system.
The goal of HDMI is:
- One cable, one connector that does high quality video and sound.
- Prevent consumers from backing up or copying satellite TV programming and DVD, Bluray, and HD-DVD video and movies.
- Force the industry to adopt bastardized technology with built-in usage restrictions.
Pioneer Electronics is one of the culprits pushing HDMI technology, and their DV59-AVi was one of the first to market with HDMI jacks.
HDMI has supported HDCP since the beginning, starting at HDCP 1.1 and reaching HDCP 2.2 with HDMI 2.0. HDCP can cause issues with longer cables, and ultimately it appears to annoy consumers more than the pirates. At present, known hacks / workarounds to strip HDCP 2.2 from video signals can be found.
Cable Size
Wikipedia describes HDMI as "compact," however, with 19 wires wrapped in a single cord it is actually quite heavy and stiff, being somewhat difficult to work with in "in wall" applications, and limited in transmission range. The concept is primarily for simplicity so the consumer only has one cable to connect for all video color bands as well as high definition audio.
Critics point out that besides putting additional stress on the female socket of video equipment, connections from A/V equipment (like a Blu-Ray Player) to audio only equipment (stereo receiver separate from TV) is more complicated. Many experts believe that audio should not be carried by the same cable.
DVI is an alternative to HDMI, except there lacks a single DVI standard. DVI to HDMI converters are inexpensive, but some small degree of quality is lost in the conversion process. A newer technology called HDBaseT looks to possibly replace HDMI, which will be a welcome improvement.
Cable Advancements
The new HDMI specification for High Performance HDMI includes an over 75% increase in the bandwidth requirement, from 10.2Gbps to 18Gbps. High Speed HDMI Cables are engineered to deliver a full 18Gbps data required by the new HDMI specification.
Cables have also improved in physical flexibility. The original HDMI cables that hit the market were very stiff and difficult to work with. Quality manufactures are now producing HDMI cables that put less stress on the socket of video equipment.
CEC
CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is the control protocol found in HDMI. If you've not heard of CEC, you may have heard of it in another form, Sony call it Bravialink, LG call it Simplink and Samsung call it Anynet+ . This allows HDMI devices to control each other and allows the user to operate multiple devices with one remote control handset or device interface.
HDMI-CEC is a one-wire bidirectional serial bus that uses the industry-standard AV.link protocol to perform remote control functions. CEC is carried on pin 13 in the HDMI cable connector.
Media center systems XBMC and MythTV already support HDMI-CEC. The specifications have been revised since the original HDMI and some manufacturers deviate from the specs. Complete compliance is not always available. CEC wiring is mandatory, although implementation of CEC in a product is optional.
A common example of CEC use is a feature called "One Touch Play." By pressing the play button on a DVD player, a command is issued to a downstream A/V Receiver to automatically power on, switch to the active HDMI input, and similarly send the same power on and input switch commands to the HDTV.
DisplayPort
DisplayPort (DP) is primarily used to connect a video source to a display device such as a computer monitor, and it can also carry audio, USB, and other forms of data. DisplayPort was designed to replace VGA, DVI, and FPD-Link. The DisplayPort uses an LVDS signal protocol that is not compatible with DVI or HDMI. However, dual-mode DisplayPorts are designed to transmit a single-link DVI or HDMI protocol (TMDS) across the interface through the use of an external passive adapter.
DisplayPort permits the use of internal and external display connections, and unlike legacy standards that transmit a clock signal with each output, the DisplayPort protocol is based on small data packets known as micro packets. DisplayPort can be used to transmit audio and video simultaneously, although each is optional and can be transmitted without the other.
DisplayPort first appeared in 2006, while HDMI came out in 2002. The DisplayPort and HDMI digital signals use bitrate encoding of some form — 8b/10b for most of the older standards, 16b/18b for HDMI 2.1, and 128b/132b for DisplayPort 2.0. 8b/10b encoding for example means for every 8 bits of data, 10 bits are actually transmitted, with the extra bits used to help maintain signal integrity (eg, by ensuring zero DC bias).
HDMI is a licensed brand and specification, whereas DisplayPort is a royalty-free standard. DisplayPort has typically offered higher maximum bandwidth than HDMI. While HDMI 2.1 does beat DisplayPort 1.4, DisplayPort 2.0 is faster yet. The original Display 1.0-1.1a spec allowed for RBR (reduced bit rate) and HBR (high bit rate) cables, capable of 5.18 Gbps and 8.64 Gbps of data bandwidth, respectively. DisplayPort 1.2 introduced HBR2, doubled the maximum data bit rate to 17.28 Gbps and is compatible with standard HBR DisplayPort cables. HBR3 with DisplayPort 1.3-1.4a increased things again to 25.92 Gbps, and added the requirement of DP8K DisplayPort certified cables.
Unfortunately for consumers, DisplayPort also fully supports High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) just like HDMI.
Universal Serial Bus aka USB
six most common types
- Type-A -- rectangle type on computers
- Type-B -- device connectors almost-square
- Mini-USB -- also known as Motorola connector, PlayStation 3 controller, MP3 players
- Micro-USB -- Android phones
- Type-C -- Newer Android phones, modern laptops and smartphones, including MacBooks, Pixel phones, and controllers for the PlayStation 5
- Lightning -- Apple's proprietary connector for the iPhone, AirPods, some iPad models
