Even though VGA connection is an older type of connection, it is still commonly and widely used. That said, if you have come across such cables and are wondering what are VGA cables used for, you have arrived at the right place. In this article, we will get into more detail about what this connection type offers and what advantages it provides.
What Are VGA Cables Used For?
The video graphics array (VGA) cables connect the video graphic card to the computer monitor to carry visual display data. These types of cables transmit analog video signals between two compatible devices, which is also the case when connecting your PC to a TV or a projector.
VGA Cable Uses
Computers
The complete VGA cable consists of a cable and two connectors, which are typically blue. One connector is attached to the back of the computer, and the other end of the cable is attached to a port on the monitor.
The most common use for these types of cables is connecting the computer’s graphic card with the display device. Hence, the graphic card displays video signals to the monitor carried with the VGA cables.
Additionally, you can use such a cable to connect a laptop to a monitor in case the laptop screen needs to be repaired. These types of cables display both pictures and videos.
Nowadays, most computers support the usage of VGA cables, but some use more advanced systems depending on the monitor model and the graphic card.
Game consoles and TVs
If you are playing video games using game consoles, you can connect them to a computer monitor via VGA cables and receive good picture quality. Moreover, high-definition TVs also support the use of VGA cables for carrying analog video signals. Moreover, this type of cable can also work as a link between the computer and the TV screen.
Projectors
VGA is the most common input type for digital projectors. Hence, you can easily connect your PC to the projector if they both support a VGA port. However, if one of the devices supports another type of port, an adapter needs to be used to be able to establish a connection.
Other uses in the electronic field
A VGA cable is used as a connector to electronic devices, including video cards. This type of connector can be both input and output, as it is a graphic card output when connected to a monitor but an input when you connect a device with a projector to receive a video.
VGA converters
With so many monitor models, you may also need a VGA to HDMI adapter cable if your monitor or TV supports only HDMI connection. That said, if your video card supports HDMI, but the monitor supports VGA cable, you can also find an HDMI to VGA converter as well.
VGA Cables – Specifications
VGA cables display 16 colors and provide 640×480 resolution. The VGA cable refreshes at a rate of 60GHz. If the resolution is lowered (320 x 200), 256 colors will be shown. However, such cables don’t transmit audio cables, so if you need to hear the audio, you will need a separate audio connector.
Read more: How To Connect Projector To Laptop Without VGA Port
How to Identify a VGA Cable
VGA cables are easy to identify, and you can recognize them by the electronic connector with a set of 15 pins inside arranged in three rows of five pins.
They come in several variations, such as male-to-male connectors, female-to-female connectors, male-to-female connectors, male to HDMI, female to HDMI, etc.
Each pin has a different function; for instance, one pin is for moving red, the other one green, the third one for blue, another one is for monitor ID0, another one displays blue analog ground, etc.
Such cables also have a screw on each side and can be connected to a port that has the same number of holes. There are also variations of VGA cables in terms of size, such as full-sized cables and small and mini VGA cables.
You can also find such cables in two colors, beige and black, and some even have features such as gold plating and double and triple shielding.
Comparison to HDMI cables
The VGA cables provide an RGB video signal, whereas the HDMI ones offer digital audio and video signals. As mentioned, they feature 15 pins, whereas the HDMI ones have 19 or 29 pins. These two types of cables also differ in the fact that the HDMI cables are hot-pluggable, but that is not the case with the VGA cables.
Advantages and Disadvantages of VGA Cables
Now that you know what are VGA cables used for, let’s briefly talk about the advantages and disadvantages they provide.
Advantages
In comparison to other computer cables, VGA cables are easy to use, and they transmit analog signals smoothly when in good condition. They transmit all of the five primary colors and can work as universal analog cables.
Due to the screws on the connectors, these cables can not disconnect easily, so they are designed to provide a stable connection. Moreover, their range can be extended using an amplifier and can be split into different wires for usage on other devices.
VGA cables are often more affordable than other types of cables and can last for a long period of time before they start degrading.
Disadvantages
One of the main disadvantages of such a cable is that the video signal decreases as the cable length increases. They also have limited usage due to the fact that they have become outdated technology.
This type of cable is also unsuitable for gaming as you won’t get a good number of FPS, and the signal is much slower compared to the HDMI signals.
Also read: How to Connect a Laptop to a Projector With HDMI
Conclusion
VGA cables were introduced in 1987, and they have been widely used ever since. So if you have been wondering what are VGA cables used for, hopefully, you have found what you looked for in this article, as I have talked about all the uses of such cables. There are several variants of VGA cables, and they are all available for purchase at different price rates.