Video Connectors

DisplayPort is technically superior to HDMI for computer use, with higher bandwidth, daisy-chaining support, and royalty-free licensing. However, HDMI dominates consumer electronics. DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB-C is increasingly common, making USB-C the de facto DisplayPort connector on modern laptops. DisplayPort 2.1 with UHBR 20 mode offers nearly 4x the bandwidth of HDMI 2.1.

DVI was the bridge between VGA and HDMI, introduced in 1999. It's largely obsolete now - most new equipment uses HDMI or DisplayPort. However, it remains common on older monitors and is still found on some professional equipment and KVM switches. The lack of audio support and bulky connector size contributed to its decline.

HDMI has been the dominant consumer A/V connector since the mid-2000s. The transition to HDMI 2.1 has been confusing because manufacturers can implement subsets of features. When buying a TV or monitor for gaming, verify specific feature support (VRR, ALLM, 4K@120Hz) rather than just checking for 'HDMI 2.1' branding.

VGA was introduced by IBM in 1987 and became the universal PC video standard for nearly 30 years. Despite being obsolete, it persists in projectors, older displays, and legacy equipment. As an analog standard, it's susceptible to interference and signal degradation - problems that digital connections like HDMI and DisplayPort solved. The 'VGA' name technically refers to the original 640x480 standard, but the connector is used for much higher resolutions.