VGA is still known as a connection type from older computers, monitors or projectors. It is an outdated interface for the transmission of moving images.
- VGA is an analog interface for the transmission of moving images.
- VGA resolution means 640 x 480 pixels with up to 32-bit color depth.
- The VGA standard is obsolete these days.
- Modern digital interfaces are HDMI and DVI.
- DVI-A and DVI-I are backwards compatible with VGA.
What is VGA
According to abbreviationfinder, VGA is the abbreviation for “Video Graphics Array”. It is an analog electronic interface that is used to transmit moving images from the graphics card to monitors. It was introduced by IBM in 1987. The VGA standard defines a certain bit color depth of the display with up to 262,144 possible colors and a color palette of up to 256 colors. The VGA resolution for computers was characterized by a very high level of diversity. Today, however, VGA is no longer an issue in the new computing world. Rather, VGA is now used synonymously for a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels in monitors and smartphones.
Technical requirements
The VGA connection is found on computers, monitors, projectors or other display devices. How to find it very easily:
- Look for a port on the side or back of your computer or display that resembles a rounded, compressed rectangle.
- It has 15 pins in three rows of 5 pins each.
- A symbolized monitor can often be seen above the connection.
- The connection with the holes for the pins is always located on the VGA-compatible devices – regardless of whether they are computers or display devices. The VGA cable has a connector with protruding pins at both ends.
Is there a VGA port on every computer or display device?
VGA is an outdated standard. Therefore, in the majority of cases you will no longer find corresponding connections on modern display devices and computers. You only need VGA cables for older projectors, televisions or computer monitors. If your computer does not have a VGA output, you can still transmit the signal with the appropriate adapters.
The VGA resolution
You will currently find the abbreviation VGA more in connection with a specification of the resolution. VGA resolution means 640×480 pixels. However, this low resolution is only really important for PDAs, smartphones or similar devices with a very small display. However, at 32 bits, the color depth is significantly higher than with the original VGA resolution.
If you want to reproduce VGA signals on a television, there were already quality deficits in older models that only had PAL resolution with 768×576 (4: 3).
Today’s televisions with 4k resolution (3840 × 2160 pixels and 16∶9 format) can artificially extrapolate the low resolutions. Even very good graphics cards can scale the VGA resolution. This results in a screen-filling result, but the quality lags far behind a real ultra-high-definition transmission.
VGA compared to modern connection types
Nowadays, moving images are no longer transmitted using the VGA standard. The common interfaces are HDMI and DVI. The decisive difference is the digital data transmission. The digital transmission results in considerable quality advantages – much higher resolutions are possible. The picture is more detailed, sharper and more contrasty. The colors look more plastic and beautiful.
The DVI connection is partly compatible with VGA
The abbreviation DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface. DVI is the digital successor to VGA and is also able to process the analog VGA signal. DVI-A (analog only) or DVI-I (analog and digital) connections are used for this. DVI-D connections are only suitable for digital image transmission.
DVI-I and DVI-D are compatible with HDMI 1.0. You need a suitable adapter for the connection.
HDMI is the modern digital standard
HDMI means “High Definition Multimedia Interface” and is the name of a digital interface for image transmission that was developed in 2002. HDMI offers you the following advantages:
- consistent DRM copy protection concept
- Unification of existing standards in one format
- high transmission quality with excellent image experience possible
Almost every output device and display device today has an HDMI connection. Even some smartphones are equipped with it so that they can be connected directly to the television or a projector to view videos or presentations.
