ExplainerAudio, Displays and Accessories
HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA and USB-C video explained
Learn how to tell HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, DVI and USB-C video ports apart, what each one carries, and which cable or adapter you need to link a screen.
- Any device
Computers, monitors and TVs connect with several different video ports, and the cables look alike at a glance. Learn to recognize each port, understand what it carries, and choose the right cable or adapter before you buy.
The ports you are likely to meet
A video port sends the picture from a computer, console or streaming box to a screen. Some ports also carry sound. Newer laptops often have only one or two of these, so adapters are common.
- HDMI: picture and sound on TVs, monitors and laptops
- DisplayPort: common on computer monitors and graphics cards
- VGA: older analog port with 15 pins and two screws
- DVI: older digital port with a wide plug, picture only
- USB-C: oval port that carries video only on some models
Text version of this diagram
A row of video ports on a computer or monitor, left to right: HDMI (flat top, two cut lower corners), DisplayPort (one cut corner), VGA (blue-style trapezoid with three rows of pins and screws), DVI (wide, with a flat blade and a grid of pins) and a small oval USB-C port.
- HDMI: picture and sound on TVs, monitors and laptops
- DisplayPort: common on computer monitors and graphics cards
- VGA: older analog port with 15 pins and two screws
- DVI: older digital port with a wide plug, picture only
- USB-C: oval port that carries video only on some models
| Connection | Type of signal | Sound | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI | Digital | Yes | TVs, monitors, laptops, game consoles, streaming boxes |
| DisplayPort | Digital | Yes | Computer monitors, desktop graphics cards, some laptops |
| USB-C | Digital, on ports that support it | Yes, when video is supported | Newer laptops, tablets, phones, some monitors |
| DVI | Digital (DVI-D) or digital plus analog (DVI-I) | No | Older monitors and computers |
| VGA | Analog | No | Older monitors, projectors and computers |
Analog means the picture is sent as a varying signal, so it can look softer, especially on a modern flat screen. Digital signals stay sharp as long as the link works.
HDMI
HDMI is the usual choice for TVs and home equipment. One cable carries both picture and sound. The cable name matters because HDMI.org, the organization behind the HDMI standard, sorts cables by how much data they can carry.
| Cable name | Maximum data rate | What it handles |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Not stated | 1080i or 720p video |
| High Speed | 10.2 Gbps | 1080p and beyond, including 4K at 30 Hz |
| Premium High Speed | 18 Gbps | 4K at 60 Hz and HDR |
| Ultra High Speed | 48 Gbps | 8K at 60 Hz and 4K at 120 Hz |
HDMI.org also lists a newer Ultra96 cable at 96 Gbps. Most people do not need it. Premium High Speed cables carry an HDMI certification label. For Ultra High Speed and Ultra96 cables, HDMI.org says you can scan the QR code on the label with a standard QR code app to check the cable was certified. A cable cannot add features that the ports on your devices lack, so a costly cable will not make an older TV show 4K.
Where the sound goes
With HDMI or DisplayPort, the sound travels to the screen. If the monitor has no speakers, you hear nothing until you choose other speakers or headphones. See No sound on Windows.
DisplayPort
DisplayPort is the display standard from VESA, an industry group. VESA describes it as the replacement for DVI and VGA. It is common on computer monitors and often handles high refresh rates well. Its full-size plug has one notched corner. VESA certifies cables labeled DP40 and DP80 for the newer DisplayPort 2.1 products, which refer to up to 40 or 80 Gbps. Older DisplayPort devices work with older cables.
USB-C video
USB-C is only the shape of the connector. Two USB-C ports can behave differently. Video can travel over USB-C as DisplayPort Alt Mode, or through Thunderbolt and USB4, but only if the port and the cable both support it. Apple notes that on some Macs only the ports marked with the Thunderbolt symbol are meant for displays, and that a USB-C or Thunderbolt adapter used to connect a display must be compliant with DisplayPort Alt Mode, Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4.
Check the laptop's manual or the maker's specification page for words such as "DisplayPort Alt Mode", "video output" or "Thunderbolt". For cables, docks and charging, see USB-C, docks, hubs and cables explained.
VGA and DVI
VGA is an older analog connector. DVI is an older digital one that carries picture only. Neither carries sound. If you must use them, a direct VGA-to-VGA or DVI-to-DVI cable is the simplest. Converting between types needs a converter, and direction matters: an adapter that turns a laptop's HDMI output into VGA will not work backward to send VGA into an HDMI port. Read the product description to confirm which end is the input.
Choosing a cable
Text version of this diagram
- Start: Check the ports on your computer and your screen
- Question 1: Do both have HDMI? If yes: Use an HDMI cable. If no, go on to the next item.
- Question 2: Do both have DisplayPort? If yes: Use a DisplayPort cable. If no, go on to the next item.
- Question 3: Does the laptop have USB-C video and the screen a USB-C input? If yes: Use a USB-C cable that supports video. If no, go on to the next item.
- Question 4: Do both have DVI or both have VGA? If yes: Use a matching cable. If no, go on to the next item.
- If nothing worked: Use an adapter or converter made for your two ports
- Look at the back or side of the computer and the screen. Write down the port names or take a photo.
- Match them using the ladder above. If you must convert, use an adapter that names both ports and the direction.
- Check that the adapter supports the resolution of your screen. The product description should say so.
- Turn the screen on, select its input (for example HDMI 1) with its remote or buttons, then check the computer's display settings.
If the screen stays blank
Try another cable, then another port on the screen. Check that the right input is selected. If the picture still does not appear, follow External monitor not detected.
What this means for you
- Use the same port type on both ends when you can. HDMI to HDMI is the simplest for a TV.
- Check the cable name against the screen you have. High Speed is enough for many 1080p uses, while 4K at 60 Hz needs at least Premium High Speed.
- Do not assume a USB-C port outputs video. Check the symbol or the manual.
- Buy cables that carry a clear name and, where offered, a certification label.
Frequently asked questions
Can an HDMI cable plug into a DisplayPort port?
No. The plugs are different shapes. You need a cable or adapter made for DisplayPort on one end and HDMI on the other. Check that it works in the direction you need.
Does a more expensive HDMI cable give a better picture?
Not for a cable that already meets what your devices need. A digital signal does not get sharper because the cable cost more. What matters is that the cable is rated for the resolution and refresh rate you want.
Why is there no sound through VGA or DVI?
These connections carry picture only. Use the computer's headphone jack or a separate speaker connection for sound.
Is a USB-C to HDMI cable the same as an adapter?
It does the same job. Both need a USB-C port that supports video, and Apple says display adapters must comply with DisplayPort Alt Mode, Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4.
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