VGA versus HDMI: Any important difference for non-gamer?
Oct 6, 2016, 9:34 am
#1
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,026
VGA versus HDMI: Any important difference for non-gamer?
I've always used a VGA cable to connect my laptop to my external monitor.
New laptop has an HDMI connection option.
Is there any reason to make the switch? I'm happy with the monitor's performance on the VGA cable.
I don't do anything like gaming that I assuming requires a really fast monitor and first-quality cables.
New laptop has an HDMI connection option.
Is there any reason to make the switch? I'm happy with the monitor's performance on the VGA cable.
I don't do anything like gaming that I assuming requires a really fast monitor and first-quality cables.
Oct 6, 2016, 10:12 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,785
If your laptop and monitor both got hdmi, you could try it and see if you could see any difference. My work computer got both. I don't see any difference. Eventually you will have to switch to hdmi as newer computer won't have any other type of output anyway. Oh and I guess if your monitor has speaker, you get sound too from the hdmi and not from the VGA..
Oct 6, 2016, 10:13 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,005
If you're happy with it, there's no reason to switch. Unless you want to see if you'll be happier. VGA is an analog signal, while HDMI (and DVI, and DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt) are all digital signals. So in theory they will provide a cleaner picture, less susceptible to EMI, etc. Whether you can see a difference depends on your monitor quality and the sensitivity of your eyes/brain/etc.
There are some other factors - your monitor accepting the resolution of the cable format, trying to send audio to speakers build into some monitors, etc.
There are some other factors - your monitor accepting the resolution of the cable format, trying to send audio to speakers build into some monitors, etc.
Oct 6, 2016, 10:40 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,380
if you watch stuff over iTunes, it may refuse to play on VGA monitors, need digital HDMI with HDCP encryption
(possibly apply for other video streaming services)
(on top of what people say above... there's a noticeable different for analog VGA vs digital HDMI/DVI/DP for me)
(possibly apply for other video streaming services)
(on top of what people say above... there's a noticeable different for analog VGA vs digital HDMI/DVI/DP for me)
Oct 6, 2016, 10:59 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: Dirt
Posts: 949
Go ahead and try HDMI if your equipment got it.
HDMI signal is digital so all dots are exactly they appear. HDMI carries both video and audio signals over a single cable. If your monitor has speakers built-in you can use just one cable to transmit both signals.
HDMI is ubiquitous enough that almost all devices made in the last 5 years have it. VGA is slowly being dropped from new monitors, TVs, display cards, etc.
Don't pay for overpriced HDMI cables. As long as the cable meets the high speed HDMI spec they are as good as you can get.
HDMI signal is digital so all dots are exactly they appear. HDMI carries both video and audio signals over a single cable. If your monitor has speakers built-in you can use just one cable to transmit both signals.
HDMI is ubiquitous enough that almost all devices made in the last 5 years have it. VGA is slowly being dropped from new monitors, TVs, display cards, etc.
Don't pay for overpriced HDMI cables. As long as the cable meets the high speed HDMI spec they are as good as you can get.
Oct 6, 2016, 1:08 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
HDMI isn't particularly about gamers, it's about a crisper picture. Gamers tend to go for high resolution, high refresh screens which make the difference even greater, but it's the screen that matters, not what's on it.
Oct 6, 2016, 3:50 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: United MP
Posts: 7,822
Oct 6, 2016, 9:00 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SEA or BGR, Lower Earth Orbit
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 17,217
If your monitor has built in speakers you won't need a separate cable if you HDMI. That's one of the bigger benefits.
Amazon has their Basics brand at a reasonable price. There's no need to purchase an overly expensive cable. I've had cables just stop working and there's been no plugging or unplugging.
Amazon has their Basics brand at a reasonable price. There's no need to purchase an overly expensive cable. I've had cables just stop working and there's been no plugging or unplugging.
Oct 6, 2016, 9:06 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,689
If your monitor has built in speakers you won't need a separate cable if you HDMI. That's one of the bigger benefits.
Amazon has their Basics brand at a reasonable price. There's no need to purchase an overly expensive cable. I've had cables just stop working and there's been no plugging or unplugging.
Amazon has their Basics brand at a reasonable price. There's no need to purchase an overly expensive cable. I've had cables just stop working and there's been no plugging or unplugging.
Oct 8, 2016, 9:01 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728