Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Geek Speak => Topic started by: chris on 19/05/2018 08:14:13
-
I am trying to move into 21st Century display technology after about 30 years of using VGA connectors!
However, I'm a bit under-educated about HDMI and display port specifications. From my reading, HDMI is largely a consumer specification that carries audio tracks too; display port is an independent spec that doesn't do audio?
But are the connectors between the two interchangeable? Can I plug an HDMI cable into a display port "out" on a computer?
-
VGA is quite capable of supporting HDTV (1080p). So unless you are planning to go to a new 4k TV, you could stay with VGA.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Graphics_Array
HDMI and DisplayPort are mechanically incompatible, but the protocol between computer and display is compatible, so you can get adapters.
My old work laptop (about 5 years old) had DisplayPort - but things have moved on from then.
- 2 years ago, when I needed to buy a new home laptop, it had HDMI only
- Last year, when I wanted to buy a new, larger, screen, economical models had HDMI & VGA, but not DisplayPort.
- My new work laptop (this year) has a HDMI connector, but not DisplayPort.
- So I think HDMI has won, and DisplayPort has lost
- You can also get USB to graphics adapters, and this bypasses some limitations in Windows, and lets you run 3 screens at once - so you get an even tan on all sides of your face ;)
For the year when my work computer had DisplayPort and the display had HDMI, I saw that you can get quite economical video converters on eBay (but I bought a somewhat more expensive one the same day from my local office supplies warehouse).
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort#Comparison_with_HDMI
-
I made an error above saying that display port won't do audio. It does, to equivalent spec as HDMI.