Explaining Display Connectors: HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, DVI, VGA & Thunderbolt
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- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- Computer display connector tutorial, detailing VGA, DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C alt modes, and Thunderbolt.
If you find this video useful, you may also like my recent episode on “Explaining USB”:
• Explaining USB: From 1...
The Orange Pi 5 video I refer to is here:
• Orange Pi 800: ARM Key...
Multiple sources were used to verify the information contained in this video, with notable websites and articles including:
Original DVI Specification: www.cs.unc.edu/Research/stc/FA...
HP Teradici “Dual-link DVI, Single-link DVI, DisplayPort and 2560x1600 resolutions with PCoIP products”: help.teradici.com/s/article/1025
Clint DeBoer “Understanding the Different HDMI Versions (1.0 to 2.0), Audioholics [very comprehensive indeed]:
www.audioholics.com/hdtv-form...
HDMI Licensing Adminitrator website: www.hdmi.org/
HDMI 2.1a Specification Technology Overview: www.hdmi.org/spec/hdmi2_1
Amphenol ICC HDMI Type E product datasheet: www.amphenol-cs.com/media/wys...
TE Connectivity “HDMI Type E Connector Portfolio”: www.te.com/content/dam/te-com...
RS Guide to HDMI: au.rs-online.com/web/generalD...
BenQ Knowledge Centre Guide to HDMI 2.0 vs HDMI 2.1:
www.benq.com/en-us/knowledge-...
VESA DisplayPort website: www.displayport.org/
Eaton “DisplayPort Explained”:
tripplite.eaton.com/products/...
VESA, DisplayPort UHBR Certification press release:
www.displayport.org/pr/vesa-r...
Thunderbolt Community website: www.thunderbolttechnology.net/
For additional ExplainingComputers videos and other content, you can become a channel member here:
/ @explainingcomputers
More videos on computing and related topics can be found at:
/ @explainingcomputers
You may also like my ExplainingTheFuture channel at: / @explainingthefuture
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:43 VGA
02:17 DVI
05:20 HDMI
07:53 DisplayPort
10:52 USB-C
12:23 Thunderbolt
13:41 Wrap
#DisplayConnectors #HDMI #DisplayPort # USBC #Thunderbolt #explainingcomputers - Věda a technologie
Greetings All! Some here are noting that I am wrong to state that DVI does not carry audio, but I believe they are mistaken. There is no audio in the DVI specification, and it is technically impossible to plug a DVI cable into a DVI socket on a PC at one end, and into a DVI socket on a monitor at the other end, and transmit any audio. Only a video signal will be carried.
What can occur is that an adapter cable is used to connect a DVI and audio port at the PC end to a HDMI input on a monitor or TV -- meaning that the connection made to the monitor is via HDMI. :) Or, some graphics cards were made that did output audio from a DVI port, but not one that met the DVI specification. And again, the connection will not be DVI to DVI. It will be “DVI with audio” at one end, but HDMI at the other.
Given that any display connector output can be connected to any monitor input with an appropriate adapter, neither of the above scenarious may reasonably be described as being a DVI connection. Call me old fashioned, but a "DVI connection" is one where DVI is used at both ends.
If they put Ethernet built into the HDMI interface, I'll be absolutely pissed. If it happens I'll go back to using CRT. If this happens you know they just want to collect "data" (which is none of their business) about us.
You're correct DVI supports video only & doesn't output audio, one of the reasons for a good sound card, headphones or speakers :) 😉
Hi Chris. I can confirm that it is the case. My 3060 carries out audio from the DVI port with a DVI to HDMI cable. I was shocked when I found out but it does.
@@TronSAHeroXYZ I'm afraid that Ethernet over HDMI is already a thing! :)
@@TronSAHeroXYZ have fun in SD
I love how it's 2023 and his videos still feel like im living in 90's .
Very unique style .....sir, keep up the good work
Greetings!
This is pure madness. As a young mechanical engineer starting my career back in 1970, I was told that we had to use "standard" fasteners to keep the number of different types of fasteners down to a reasonable number. My boss also said, "What I love about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from!" If he is watching from heaven, he is probably laughing loudly at this mass array of video standards. At least the USB working group attempted to keep some backward compatibility!
yes, the madness of proprietary patents and licences rules...OK
We use projectors at work on bog standard 1080P on 15M HDMI leads. After some trial and error, we get consistent results with Startech at about £60 each. Any other flavour of copper, fibre, active or passive leads has incompatibility either in power signalling, random frame loss or some other issue. Amazon "32K Ultra fast Terabit no noise super flexible platinum plated etc" costing >£100 being no better. This is because the standard changes and manufacturers interpret things differently. It's almost as buggy as Bluetooth used to be!
HDBAseT is great, but the manufacturers ignore it and use dual ethernet as a non-standard 'standard' because splitting and combining video and keyboard and mouse cost s lot more than simply driving each over cat5 separately.
USB isn't bulletproof. If you programme Arduino you will soon find out.
All good fun 🙂
Video signal transmission and equipment compatibility has always been insane. At least we have almost got rid of various video signal standards in different countries (PAL, SECAM, NTSC and exotic derivatives of them, such as PAL60 or MESECAM), as well as non-standard scan frequencies in computers.
Usb is not really backwards compatible as the connectors are all different
@@LOTPOR0402 Eh, that's not entirely true. The point is as long as you have the same head, it will fit into the same size socket and be usable. You can plug in a USB-A 3.0 head into a USB-A 1.0 port (WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!) and it should still work. A microUSB 2.0 head fits into a microUSB 3.0 port, too. The biggest hiccups would be power delivery and data rates.
Thank you once again for the clear explanation of the world of multiple computer "standards."
EC is simply the best source for computer news, history and education. Thank you Chris, I hope your work is immortalised on the internet forever!
Wow, thank you!
I see Chris is a visionary, displaying the need for such explanation videos for the masses.
Leaving humour aside, can I please thank you for giving us this needed video. It can be rather confusing, particularly with things like USB C now carrying displays as well.
Awesome Chris, we should never forget the 101 of computer basics. Love your calm and informative narration! Absolute role model for me! 🙏💪
Classic ExplainingComputers video, giving us the basic knowledge we all need!
Yes, this is one of those "EC back to basics" videos. :)
A welcome update for our beloved video connection cables. One of the many interests of this presentation is that it covers both old and new video interfaces; it's always good to remember that our old equipment can usually still serve us well despite their venerable age... A great way to fight the programmed obsolescence of some manufacturers and the "always new" fashion! Congratulations!
The lovely thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from.
thank you so much for this; you always have such an amazingly-boiled-down way of explaining quite-complex subjects that, while interested in, I personally find challenging to keep straight in my head, and usually give up when trying to compile this information for myself just to make sense of things for myself, and video signal was one I really was at my wit's end this past year, so again, thank you 😃 I really enjoyed your USB-standard video for similar reasons!
and I say this without a trace of sarcasm...You, sir, have a knack of being able to make the most mundane topics very interesting and entertaining!!! Well Done!
I'm looking to upgrade my motherboard soon and have been watching a load of videos only to realise that I only need the videos on this channel to explain everything ! This channel deserves all the subscribers - roll on 2 million ! 👍🙂
Saw this on my feed when it came out but had to hold back watching as I was about to fall asleep. But I knew this video will be solid and great so I left a like before even watching it. And I'm happy to say it is!
Similar to another comment I made on another video of yours before, I think this video should be part of some sort of IT101 course lectures, as with all of your Explaining series videos. It is very well explained, presented, and the graphics and macro camera work that come with it very much aids to the presentation and explanation of the connectors.
I've learned about most of them except USB C and Thunderbolt display from other videos and reading online, but this video showing them all is a vey well rounded approach to introducing them.
This was so packed with information, I must have skipped back or paused at least a dozen times while I dug out cables or looked up various products I've owned over the years.
Thank you sir; this was both informative and a nice trip down memory lane!
Nice seeing an update to your older video about display connectors. Kudos!
I am amazed the other video was from 2013! So maybe I'll do a third video in 2032 . . .
These educational informative videos are always a treat to watch.
Thanks a lot for making these ones, Chris B. 👍
Glad you like them!
This is such an important video, I’ve spent my life juggling video and cables professionally so an overview is quite relaxing to watch 😂
Brilliant!!! This is the kind of teaching videos that I personally LOVE watching!! I watched every last second of this video!! Keep up the FINE WORK Mr. Barnatt!!
Do do I !
Thanks for watching! :)
Even though I have worked on/with computers since the 1980's (I used to service Mac's & IBM pc's at University), I find your information about different aspects of computers VERY useful! Keeping up with all the latest & greatest technology trends/changes is exhauting. So... Thank You so very much for your content!!
BTW, I enjoy your "outro". You sound like several friends I have in Britian. 🙂🙂
Thank you very much for systemizing this bunch of cables! Even for tech fans it sometimes difficult and concentrate on task of absorbing a wide range of knowledge 🙂
Excellent video, as always. It brought back a memory of the time I went to a Best Buy store looking for a dual link DVI cable. I couldn’t find one on display, so I went to ask the “expert” at the Geek Squad desk. He told me that there was no such thing as dual link DVI!
Good times 🙏
Omg I remember having to use a DL DVI cable for a gift 1440p dell or something maybe higher very early when 720 and 1080p was the main thing. It felt like it didn't stick around for long though. Actually looking it was 1600p
Yeah the Dork Patrol has never been very good.
When you said that VGA is the oldest display connector in common use I started to reminisce about the Hercules Graphics Card and CGA based systems I used to have in rescued old computers. 30 years later and I'm in the same room watching CZcams in HD.
aah, the Hercules Graphics Card and CGA adapters brought tears to my eyes
Great video Chris, clear & concise. Learned something about inter-compatibility (or not) that I wasn't aware of!
Highly comprehensive and informative.
Thanks, Chris, for the clear and memorable explanation of decades old complications... (cough) er, advancements.
Thanks for the memory refresh. Swapping out newer/older monitors and computers, video connections are always challenge. I have a big collection of various cables and adapters. Good episode. 🚀👍
An absolute watershed of knowledge. Thank you Chris for unmasking the world of display connectors and all the associated information. Brilliant!
Thanks for your kind feedback. :)
This is so good and informative. The most comprehensive I have seen yet on Display Connectors. Thank you very much.
After going to Rolex 24 at Daytona Saturday, getting up at 9am was out, but I had a great time. This was all fantasia information and expelling load of need display info I did not know and need to know!! Great Job!! Chris!! I'm not going back for today ending run, my legs can't take it.
Thanks for the explanation... I could never understand why I couldn't get certain video cables to work properly.... now I do. GREAT Video!
Cristal clear explanation. Thank you Christopher. Cheers from Argentina.
Greetings from the UK. :)
Great job! Straight to the point, no nonsense presentation.
Thank you > Yet another Video which will last for many years. Great stuff ☘
This was a lot more complicated than I thought it would be. Thanks for making it all clear
I knew it was going to be confusing. That's why I watched the video. Now I still don't understand but at least I've some idea of just how much there is. It looked like every connector has about 4 versions?
Amazing video. While I knew most things, it's a great refresher and long term reference, and I still learnt a couple of things...
I learn something new every time i watch your videos. Excellent as always
EC videos always worth a watch for learning and entertainment purposes. These videos are to me what Soaps are to the masses.
I would love to hear your take on the move from expensive dedicated monitors to cheap tv's. My £300 Samsung 4K panel replaced my two 1080p monitors and gave me double the real estate.
Thank you Chis, as things change videos like this help to really demystify many of the guesswork concerning connectors. In addition, I now have three tubs full of connectors and I struggle if I should keep them all going forward. As you know this is just part of the connectors universe (I appreciate your earlier videos also concerning other connectors) now it seems there is a bunch of power plugs and banks I also have extra of!!!!
Thank you for all you do, been following you going back to your teaching days! You are my go to guy on the future of things as well as exciting news in computers especially those tiny systems!!!
Rich USA
Greetings Rich. :) We have indeed been exchanging comments here for a long time.
I've shared this video with a CompTIA A+ study group as this information is covered on the core 1 exam and is presented brilliantly.
Thanks. :)
Thanks Chris.
Hugely enlightening, especially the thunderbolt at the end.
Thank you, this thorough elaborated explanation certainly is very helpful for clearing up quite the jumble...
Fantastic summary of video connectors. This will be useful for all households.
Thanks.
Another useful video. Thanks for having all this information in one useful video. Looking forward to your next video!
Greetings Perry.
This is another watch over and over till I really get it video. Thank you for your clear explanations and visuals.
Thanks for watching -- there is indeed a lot of information in this one! :)
As always, great job Chris. Thank you for these videos along with the hard work you put into them. Also, thank you for taking the time to clear up any confusion.
Chris, your demeanor reminds me of that one kind and patient Boolean Geometry instructor from my Coast Guard tech school days. Thanks, as always, for a great video.
Very helpful explanation of the capabilities of the HDMI and Display port and Thunderbolt. Helpful to make choice for new Laptop PC.
This video really exemplifies everything that is great about EC. I never knew I needed a systematic review of display connectors, but when it came up in my feed I clicked on it instantly, and I had all these "aha!" moments throughout. Thank you Christopher for making sense of what appears to be a chaotic and complex world. Did you know that your videos actually have a soothing quality? 🙂
Thanks for your kind feedback. :)
Oh cable time ! Love the topic of the day have a nice week always love your videos
I never realized that DVI had that many different versions. I suppose I was just lucky that when I ordered a DVI cable that it was compatible with my computer and monitors. I still wish HDMI had some sort of locking mechanism. That's the main reason I still cling to DVI cables when I can. Thanks again for another informative, well-made video! I'm off to inspect my cables and ports now.
I suspect the differences occur at the device socket and all DVI-DVI cables are straight through
Oh no, DVI-DVI cables come in all the different versions . .
Just use Display Port if you can.
Very informative, thank you again, Chris
Informative as always, thank you for combining them all into one simple video :)
The first audio device I had was a wind-up gramaphone! Oh how times have changed. It is good that old codgers like you and I are keeping up with it all! Thanks for uploading.
:)
Thank you for the detail explanation of the different display ports.
Thank you so much I was searching for these connectors you explained very well.
Very informative and a ready reference video on modern display options.
Wow, thank you for that Chris! I was always confused by the various DVI permutations in particular.
Greetings Chris.
Thank you for a quick overview of the dizzying array of display connectors.
Thanks for a very informative video clearly explaining a complexed and confusing issue.
A great overview (and answered some questions I had about HDMI vs. DP).
Now I'm waiting for a video on describing the "wireless video & audio" standards--sometimes my Smart TV permits a computer to connect, and other times not so much.
Another video topic, certainly! :)
The lack of standardisation for wireless AV is frustrating. It's more like a collection of walled gardens belonging to their proprietary ecosystems. Like the need for a Chromecast dongle for the Google/Android world, an Apple TV for iOS/macOS, and an Xbox for Windows. And Miracast seems more or less stuck in the past since it was not embraced by the industry. That is just sad.
Video would be one thing over wireless but even surround sound can fall prey to proprietary marketing as per a video by Linus from LTT on his brand-new home wireless sound system. Interesting to check out for anyone considering such a setup.
This is an amazing archive
Very good explanation, thanks Chris! 👍
My pleasure!
Excellent and helpful video. Thanks!
This is very timely Chris. I discovered that the video card I am using (a disused one of my brothers) had only one HDMI and 3 DP sockets but my new monitor does not have DP input!
A very useful guide Chris, thank you!
lots of work and great job detailing all this. excellent teacher
Many thanks!
I like your way of delivering contents, You do all the research and package the whole thing in an easy to understand videos with high quality graphics, Thank you so much.
I appreciate that!
Thanks for the updated display video. :)
A very useful video for many people for sure! Even if I am familiar about that topic , I learned a thing or two.
Just for nostalgia I'd have enjoyed seeing BNC cables mentioned
Very, very usefull is an understatement.
Thank you!
My pleasure.
Thanks for the detailed explanation!
thank you, it's good to know this even though cable descriptions tell you what they do!
Very useful Chris, thanks!
Oh man, time goes by so fast, I still remember hooking up my machine to my B/W TV using RF cable.
The future may hold more madness.
Suggestion: I wish you could put these comparison tables somewhere on your website so they can be easily referenced when needed.
Thanks Chris
You are absolutely right -- the tables should be on the website. I have a note to do a major update to the EC website to incorporate a lot of new video and related content. I will take you comment as a reminder to make this happen! :)
@@ExplainingComputers Much appreciated :)
The Commodore Vic-20 looked great at it's 22 character per line resolution. Tune your TV to channel 2 and turn on the computer. 4k RAM was the bomb.
@@Musicman-50 That was the golden age of computing when creating a little BASIC program would make you happy the whole day and maybe excited for a week or so,
I never had a Commodore but an MSX1 and I got it when it was outdated (1994), anyway it gave me a huge push towards programming.
@@Musicman-50 So true. Those were the days! You may appreciate next week's video, where we return to such resolutions with a modern take on old BASIC computing . . .
I have always liked the look of your videos.
Everything is super simple, clear and very pleasant to look at.
Thank you for this video.
☮
Thanks for your kind feedback. :)
@@ExplainingComputers 👍
☮
I bet you were glad when this one was a wrap. There are so many connectors our there. Have you ever thought of the power adapters supplied for a multi voltage wall-wart. WOW it's staggering too. Thanks for sharing Chris your content is always very much appreciated.
Greetings Brian. :)
Very cool video. I remember the first time I saw HDMI at CES 2003. There was a monitor with this small cable connected playing video and audio. I was amazed how clean the set up was - one small cable and a power plug. I disconnected that cable and the picture and sound disappeared, proving that it was the source. I plugged the HDMI back in but the video and audio didn't come back and I panicked. Maybe it would've come up again if I waited long enough, but I quickly walked away.
finally! a resource that adaquate and "simply" discusses all these interfaces. I'm pretty computer savvy, but am not skilled in the art of these. Thanks (please pass the advil)!
USB-C will be heavily driven by hybrid office arrangements without fixed desks where employees use notebooks. The ability to use a monitor as a dock with the display connection doubling as a charging lead is unbeatable. With DP and HDMI, a separate dock becomes necessary that increases the cost of a workstation and needlessly takes up additional desk space.
Very informative.
I have a couple of monitors with DVI and VGA terminals, and I'm contemplating building a new computer. The motherboards I find have various combinations of DVI, DP and HDMI outputs, even the occasional VGA. I finally found one with DVI and HDMI outputs so I can make that work with a simple adapter.
The only video that has it ALL 🎉
Great explanation. I tended to upgrade my personal electronics only at multi year intervals. My last desktop was 2012 and last week I completed a new build, my first and likely last. Enjoyed it greatly. With long intervals, one tends to skip over frequent changes of cable specs. Those cables are expensive. I should do some housecleaning to throw out my ancient box of cables.
Happy Sunday. As always yet another Great video
Greetings!
So many display connectors! My favorite one is HDMI. Thanks for another great, informative video! :D
Thanks for your support. And I agree -- we know where we are with HDMI, especially full-size.
@@ExplainingComputers Yeah! It's gotten as universal as USB. Speaking of which, I was surprised to hear that USB-C is also a display connector! It really is versatile and honestly, I'm glad it's becoming more common on modern devices. Even the Nintendo Switch powers up and charges with USB-C!
@@Praxibetel-Ix Yeah, and the USB-C adapter works as a second monitor for Raspberry Pi, too!!
There are a lot of moving parts with video cables. Those charts tho, they are the best thanks for all your work! This was utter simplicity for a time, now it's complicated by versions. I had one of the Nvidia graphics cards that did DVI + audio, it played movies direct from the computer to the display up above with WMP. I left that setup running a playlist continuously for over a year just to have something playing on the TV in the room. It was a good stable system that just worked, was fairly low-cost too.
Great video! Keep up the good work! Out of all the display connectors, I like HDMI most, as it carries both audio and video through it, and it is the standard display connector on most PC's, laptops, and monitors. Many display adaptors, switches, and splitters use HDMI by default.
Ha! I think your displaying your age. Sadly I've so much VGA stuff kicking around because that was the standard when I was in IT. Only the other day needing to interface to a Rasp Pi that I did not have a HDMI cable for, I thought "Oh yes I've got a spare KVM in the garage...I'll use that" only to remember its got VGA video connectors and PS2 mouse and keyboard ports, not even USB. One day you'll find yourself in the same situation but littered with HDMI cables that no one uses any more. It is only a matter of time.
@@alexwild4350 VGA and DVI will probably be gone before that! XD
I don't see HDMI dissapearing anytime soon
@@alexwild4350 omg I still have two monitors using VGA.
I had to go out of my way to buy a x370 am4 board that still had VGA in it.
I got one by a Chinese brand.
The thing is, I think it's like some sort of internal conversor, cause my Linux lists that port being a Displayport. (but it does capture the name of my monitor, and the correct supported refresh rates of it)
It's absolutely wild to think that not a single modern board has a VGA connector.
Something that, back in 2011 I would Deem impossible.
@@CodexSan there's Intel 12th gen 6XX boards with VGA and DVI connectors on them, wdym?
@@goldenpanda7004 but I use AMD.
VGA on AMD seems like long gone.
You can search through the whole array of motherboards, from last and current gen, from after x370, not a single one has VGA.
This one I have is a Colorful X370M.
Interesting video as always!
A few years ago, I needed three types of monitor cables due to work-dictated hardware. I take these into considerations when buying hardware now. Thank you for the video!
Whenever I buy something I always make sure I get the right cables for it because I know just how diverse the landscape is. So the odds of me having what's right are non-existent. Really a lot of these connectors look alike so how do you even know what version they support by just looking at them? Are they labeled what they are?
A lot of confusion to be had on this topic (it's the case for any discussion of computer/electronics port 'standards'). Thanks for another great video to help clear it up.😎👍
Greetings Steve. :)
Thanks for the video. I've been using them for decades but never understood whats "under the hood". You do amazing work and I surely appreciate it.
Thanks. :)
Thanks for this. I'm not one for bleeding edge equipment. My personal and work computers just use bog standard 1080p HDMI cables and I don't think much about them. Regardless, it's just good have this as back-pocket knowledge in the inevitable event that hardware gets upgraded to something new. For example, I didn't realise that DVI to SVGA could require more than a passive adapter. That being said, I'm unlikely to use either going forward. It doesn't negate the knowledge though.
Always grateful for your Sunday morning briefings and happy new year.
Greetings Jenn. :)
Super clear, as usual.
Wow .. now I'm perfectly clear with everything.. Thanks a lot ..
Anyways .. This is my one of the most favourite CZcams Channel.. ❤️💫
Great to hear this, thanks for watching. :)
oh, really? Which dvi connector has two vertical contacts above and below the main? ;-) You can use simple unpowered converter to convert hdmi to dvi, what would happen if you then plug a dvi to vga converter to it? ;) Why some hdmi cables carry additional protection barrels on both ends of the cable and some do not? Why "gold plated" hdmi connectors were considered to deliver better quality of signal if the signal in question is _digital_? ))) See... you still know very little, but yeah this channel is awesome!
as always, you're the best, well done Sir!
Thank you for all the information is very helpful, thank you again
Great stuff!
I do miss the big, secure connectors of the earlier types, but that's progress for you.
Those big connectors are too bulky to ship halfway around the world I guess.
Your videos are very useful for beginners and people who are trying to get familiar with computers I can see myself linking this video to some people in the future, you should also make one about obsolete and rarely used connectors from scsi/ide to firewire esata serial etc
You are awesome Chris!
Thank you for going over these. I had some knowledge, but it was good to learn more. I'm also ok with leaving out other oldies such as cga/ega, and 13w3.
What a mind boggling array of cables & standards, I've watched the video twice over just to make sure I understand, now I need a cuppa & a biscuit. A shame that HDMI plugs aren't fitted with a locking mechanism, I'd accidentally nudged the HDMI cable so at the next switch on I had a blank screen, a quick dive underneath the desk problem spotted & sorted!! Thanks Chris for an interesting Sunday afternoon video
Greetings Alan. I am now going to have a cuppa and biscuit too! :)