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Monitor Cable Types Explained VGA HDMI DisplayPort and More

Summary: Different types of monitor cables including HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA (learn which video cable types of support UHD, FHD, and other resolutions for optimal display performance).

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Instructions

Unable to configure optimal resolution

Modern LCD monitors have greater resolution capabilities than displays manufactured only a few years earlier. The new Ultra-High Definition and High Definition displays require modern cable connections to transmit the ever-increasing volume of data required to support these resolutions.

Modern high-resolution monitor options:

  • 8k Ultra High Definition (UHD) (7680 x 4320)
  • 5k Ultra High Definition (UHD) (5120 x 2880)
  • 4k Ultra High Definition (UHD) (3840 x 2160)
  • Quad High Definition (QHD) (2560 x 1600)
  • Wide Ultra eXtended Graphics Array (WUXGA) (1920 x 1200)
  • Full High Definition (FHD) (1920 x 1080)

Display cable capabilities

Here are the most common monitor cable connection types and the maximum resolution they support:

  • DisplayPort (DP) and Mini-DisplayPort (mDP) 1.3 - 8192 x 4320 @ 60 Hz (Figure 1.)
  • DisplayPort (DP) and Mini-DisplayPort (mDP) 1.2 (Dual Cable Connection) - 5120 x 2880 @ 60 Hz (Figure 1.)
  • DisplayPort (DP) and Mini-DisplayPort (mDP) 1.2 (Single Cable Connection) - 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz (Figure 1.)

    DisplayPort to Mini-DisplayPort
  • High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) 2.0 - 3820 x 2160 @ 60 Hz (Figure 2.)
    HDMI to HDMI
  • Digital Visual Interface (DVI) (Dual Link)- 2560 × 1600 @ 60 Hz (Figure 3.)
    Digital Video Interface (DVI) Dual-Link
  • Digital Visual Interface (DVI) (Single Link) - 1900 x 1200 @ 60 Hz (Figure 4.)
    Digital Video Interface (DVI) Single-Link
  • Video Graphics Array (VGA) - 2048 x 1536 @ 85 Hz (Figure 5.)
    Video Graphics Array (VGA)

Additional Information

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Article Properties
Article Number: 000143545
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 23 Sept 2024
Version:  5
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