HDMI vs VGA

[J.Dre]

Hey everyone, as you may have noticed, I've been around these forums asking for advice and help lately, because this forum is great. But I have another question:

Which is better for a monitor setup (up to two additional monitors), a good HDMI cable or a good VGA cable?

I'll either be using a good laptop as a desktop replacement or a nice desktop. If I get the laptop, I want to be able to use the laptop screen, as well as the other monitors - together - not one blacked out while the other works.

Thanks for taking the time to answer, if you decide to post! :thumbsup:

 

[okerproker]

what about displayport and dvi?

 

[J.Dre]

Haven't ever used those two. If they're better, please explain.

 

[Matt1970]

Use HDMI if you can. 9 times out of 10 it will give you a better picture at higher resolutions. Are you looking to run 2 monitors as well as the laptop?

 

[Anteaus]

HDMI=DVI-D > VGA. Why would anyone want to use an analog signal (VGA) over a digital signal (DVI/HDMI)?

5 years ago you might have found a display that looked better with VGA, but all displays made today are optimized for digital inputs. VGA is an option of last resort. Unfortunately, many laptops still ship with only a VGA port as secondary video.

 

[mikeymikec]

I agree with the general opinion of HDMI / DVI > VGA. However, I rarely see quality issues on VGA-connected screens, but I've never seen a quality issue on a HDMI/DVI connected monitor, except when connecting computers to televisions.

Straying off-topic a little:

More often than not (in my experience) there's always something wrong when connecting a computer via HDMI to a television. The typical thing I've seen (when it's not right) is that the television is missing the outer edges of the screen contents, so the clock in the bottom-right corner is obscured, as is part of the Start menu on the left side, for example. Not a huge amount, but enough to make me wonder "why the heck is this happening?". The aspect is correct btw. I must try connecting my dad's laptop up to his television via VGA to see if that's any better. I've tried getting the TV to auto set-up, messing with the resolutions, etc, but to no avail.

My ageing server is hooked up to my LCD TV with a res of 2048x1536 (IIRC), and looks pretty decent. On close inspection there's a small amount of noise, but I have no complaints with that in comparison to my dad's laptop with HDMI connected to his television (which has the same features as my TV does).

 

[J.Dre]

Use HDMI if you can. 9 times out of 10 it will give you a better picture at higher resolutions. Are you looking to run 2 monitors as well as the laptop?

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping to do. Run the Laptop with two additional monitors. I'll get a good "HD" HDMI cable from Best Buy or something, they're like $30-$50.

@Mike,

I've noticed that with my current laptop hooked up to my TV (to watch movies), the screen in the middle lags a little every now and then. I suppose it's because my HDMI cord was purchased from Monoprice, a wholesaler, ha ha.

 

[N4n45h1]

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping to do. Run the Laptop with two additional monitors. I'll get a good "HD" HDMI cable from Best Buy or something, they're like $30-$50.

@Mike,

I've noticed that with my current laptop hooked up to my TV (to watch movies), the screen in the middle lags a little every now and then. I suppose it's because my HDMI cord was purchased from Monoprice, a wholesaler, ha ha.

You have to realize that HDMI uses a digital signal. An expensive cable will not change the signal that your television receives. A comparison between a monster cable and one from monoprice should result in no differences.

In fact, I believe they tested a coat hanger at some point, finding it to effectively transfer digital video.

I think your lag might be from other reasons. If you could describe the kind of lag you're seeing in greater detail, it would help us provide you with further troubleshooting steps.

 

[J.Dre]

You have to realize that HDMI uses a digital signal. An expensive cable will not change the signal that your television receives. A comparison between a monster cable and one from monoprice should result in no differences.

In fact, I believe they tested a coat hanger at some point, finding it to effectively transfer digital video.

I think your lag might be from other reasons. If you could describe the kind of lag you're seeing in greater detail, it would help us provide you with further troubleshooting steps.

It's in the center of my TV and my TV is newish. It's a Samsung LED TV. I notice a "split", per say, during videos while using the HDMI cable I have. It doesn't do this with DVD's, Xbox, Netflix, etc.

Perhaps it was the video itself? I watch torrents and live stream stuff from those "free movie" sites. Maybe their quality is so bad it reflects on the TV.

 

[kommisar]

More often than not (in my experience) there's always something wrong when connecting a computer via HDMI to a television. The typical thing I've seen (when it's not right) is that the television is missing the outer edges of the screen contents, so the clock in the bottom-right corner is obscured, as is part of the Start menu on the left side, for example. Not a huge amount, but enough to make me wonder "why the heck is this happening?". The aspect is correct btw. I must try connecting my dad's laptop up to his television via VGA to see if that's any better. I've tried getting the TV to auto set-up, messing with the resolutions, etc, but to no avail.

I had a similar problem when I hooked up my laptop to my 46" Samsung tv using an HDMI cable. The problem is being caused by "overscan". The tv was, by default, applying overscan to the HDMI input that was connected to the laptop. You can read more about it here:

http://hd.engadget.com/2010/05/27/hd-101-overscan-and-why-all-tvs-do-it/

I fixed this problem by going into an onscreen menu and selecting an option "fit to screen" or "screen fit" or something to that effect for the HDMI input I was connecting to the laptop. This removed overscan and the desktop was displayed without any parts being cutoff.

 

[Matt1970]

More often than not (in my experience) there's always something wrong when connecting a computer via HDMI to a television. The typical thing I've seen (when it's not right) is that the television is missing the outer edges of the screen contents, so the clock in the bottom-right corner is obscured, as is part of the Start menu on the left side, for example. Not a huge amount, but enough to make me wonder "why the heck is this happening?". The aspect is correct btw. I must try connecting my dad's laptop up to his television via VGA to see if that's any better. I've tried getting the TV to auto set-up, messing with the resolutions, etc, but to no avail.

My TV does that with my laptop in both 1080 or 720 but not with my old HTPC. However, my laptop is just fine on my Girlfriends TV.

 

[Cogman]

It's in the center of my TV and my TV is newish. It's a Samsung LED TV. I notice a "split", per say, during videos while using the HDMI cable I have. It doesn't do this with DVD's, Xbox, Netflix, etc.

Perhaps it was the video itself? I watch torrents and live stream stuff from those "free movie" sites. Maybe their quality is so bad it reflects on the TV.

What you are seeing is likely tearing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_tearing

It has nothing to do with the cable and everything to do with the software you are using.

Try looking here http://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=71816 if you use VLC.