Abbreviated VGA, Video Graphics Array is a standard connection type for video devices such as monitors and projectors.
Generally, VGA refers to cables, ports, and connectors used to connect a monitor to the video card.
Although VGA is still in use today, it was quickly replaced by newer interfaces like DVI and HDMI.
VGA Specifications
Here are some of the technical features of VGA, useful for identifying VGA cables and VGA ports:
VGA Pins
VGA cable has a 15-pin connection: 5 pins at the top, 5 in the middle, and the other five ends at the bottom. The image at the top of this page is an example of a VGA cable displaying all 15 pins.
A VGA port on a desktop or laptop naturally has the same number of battery holes so that a VGA cable can plug directly into it.
Each battery has its function. For example, the first pin is turning red, while the second and third are green and blue. Computer Hope has more information on the purpose of the other twelve pins.
Male vs. Female VGA connection
All computer cables are of a specific gender – male or female. A male cable is one that has its connections protruding or glued out of the cable. The female connection is the opposite, having an inner hole that allows the male cable to match the female connection.
VGA cable is no different.
The picture at the top of this page shows a VGA cable with two male ends. The cable goes from the monitor to the computer. It’s met with a female connection from the video card.
VGA converters: HDMI and DVI
With VGA, DVI, HDMI, and monitors all combined in the real world, you’ll want a VGA adapter if all you have is a VGA monitor or graphics card. VGA.
For example, if your computer has a video card that only supports VGA, but you just bought a new monitor with DVI and/or HDMI ports, you must replace your video card to get a new port. , various monitors support VGA or buy a VGA adapter.
Likewise, if your video card only supports HDMI and/or DVI, but all you have is a monitor that accepts VGA cables.
It cannot be obvious to understand what type of converter you need. Do you need a VGA to DVI or a DVI to VGA converter? An HDMI to DVI converter, or is it called DVI to HDMI? Please continue reading for more clarification.
VGA and HDMI adapter
A VGA to HDMI converter is what you need to convert VGA signals from your computer to an HDMI port on a monitor or TV. Get this if your computer has a VGA port on the video card, but you want to use an HDMI monitor or TV as the monitor.
Some VGA to HDMI converters even have a USB cable embedded with the converter that carries the audio along with the video signal (since VGA doesn’t transmit audio), so you can play audio through the screen with the embedded speakers. TV, such as HDMI.
The HDMI to VGA converter is the opposite: connecting a video card with HDMI output to a monitor or TV with a VGA input connection.
Since HDMI is newer than VGA, this converter type is useful when connecting a new desktop or laptop computer to an older monitor.
Both converters are available online and at electronics stores. Amazon sells several VGA to HDMI converters, as well as HDMI to VGA converters.
VGA and DVI converter
As you know, a DVI to VGA converter is required if you need to connect a video card with DVI to a monitor with a VGA port.
DVI to VGA converters are usually DVI male to VGA female converters. This means that the DVI adapter terminal plugs directly into the DVI port in your video card, while the VGA end of the converter is used with a male to male VGA cable to connect the converter to the Women’s head of display device.
These types of converters are easy to find and relatively inexpensive. Amazon sells several DVI to VGA converters, but you’ll find them everywhere.
VGA to DVI converters also exist but can be quite expensive and hard to find. This type of conversion is necessary if you need to move video from a VGA video card to a DVI monitor.
DVI to VGA converters work because the signal switches from digital to analog. This is just a matter of translation in the DVI pins since DVI carries analog and digital signals. VGA has only analog signals, so switching from VGA to DVI requires a converter to change analog signals into digital signals.
Amazon sells this Monoprice brand to VGA but is still expensive. Upgrading your video card to support newer ones is probably cheaper and a smarter choice in the long run.
More information about VGA adapter
Some VGA converters require you to have a VGA cable in addition to the adapter, something to keep in mind if you are shopping around for one.
For example, this is common with HDMI to VGA converters. The adapter can be made with an HDMI cable with a VGA converter box all in the same cable, but the VGA box has the same connection as your monitor or TV, so you need a male to male VGA cable to the end.
VGA and Mini-VGA
Instead of the standard VGA connector, some laptops and other devices may use what is known as mini-VGA, although it has never been as popular as the standard VGA connector.
Mini-VGA looks more like a USB port than a VGA port (here’s a photo of one), but it’s still used for video, just like the standard VGA port.
There are also mini-VGA for VGA adapters that allow a standard VGA display device to connect to a computer with a mini-VGA port.
Similar to DVI replacing VGA, mini-DVI is now more widely used than mini-VGA.
More information on VGA
If your display settings are set up incorrectly, causing your monitor to display nothing, you can boot into Windows using a lower resolution.
Windows 10 and Windows 8 users can do this through Startup Settings via Enable low-resolution video view.
In Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP, this option is found in the Advanced Boot Options Menu (called Advanced Boot Options in XP). It’s listed as Enable VGA Mode in Windows XP.
