D-sub connector and what can be connected to it. What is a DVI connector? Connectors for connecting output devices VGA d sub connector

It is designed for connecting a PC or laptop to monitors, TVs, etc. The D-SUB connector (also known as VGA) was present on all computer video cards, but recently it has been replaced by a new standard - the DVI interface. Nevertheless, this type is still common in the filling of “old iron”.

Interface description

The D-SUB connector contains a block with pin contacts arranged in two, three or four rows. The number of pins in the first row is one more than in the second. The contacts are protected by a special metal casing, the profile of which resembles the shape of the letter D. This eliminates the possibility of incorrect connection of the connector.

Connectors of this series (both socket and plug) can have a different number of contacts:

As a rule, D-SUB connectors (to ensure a reliable connection) undergo additional processing. Thus, the contacts of this device can be coated with gold or tin (tinning). This interface is installed on a block, board or cable. In the latter case, use different types buildings. Such connectors are widely used for data transmission in many interfaces, as well as for supplying power to a variety of devices.

D-SUB connector: classification

• DRB - horizontal (right angle). There are three modifications: A = 7.2 mm, B = 9.4 mm, C = 13.8 mm. These values ​​correspond to the distance from the edge of the connector to the first row of contacts.
• DBB - vertical. On the inside of the connector there are cylindrical leads that are soldered into the board.
• DRN - paired (combined). They are a single block that consists of 2 or 3 D-SUB connectors with different numbers of pins. The compact size of the connector saves space on printed circuit boards.

D-SUB MIL-C connectors

This type of connector is intended for use in military equipment. Such connectors are considered power connectors and can be mounted on cables of various sizes. There are modifications with replaceable crimp terminals. Connectors in this series have more stringent requirements for technical specifications. They have a very durable body that is resistant to environmental influences. These devices meet high reliability requirements, but their use is very limited due to their high cost.

The standard provides simultaneous transmission of visual and audio information over a single cable; it is designed for television and cinema, but PC users can also use it to output video data using an HDMI connector.

HDMI is another attempt at standardization universal connection for digital audio and video applications. It immediately received strong support from the giants of the electronics industry (the group of companies developing the standard includes companies such as Sony, Toshiba, Hitachi, Panasonic, Thomson, Philips and Silicon Image), and most modern devices high-resolution output has at least one such connector. HDMI allows you to transmit copy-protected audio and video in digital format over a single cable; the first version of the standard was based on a bandwidth of 5 Gb/s, and HDMI 1.3 expanded this limit to 10.2 Gb/s.

HDMI 1.3 is the latest standard specification with increased throughput interface, increased clock frequency up to 340 MHz, which allows you to connect high-resolution displays that support more colors (formats with color depths up to 48-bit). New version The specification also defines support for new Dolby standards for transmitting compressed audio without loss of quality. In addition, other innovations appeared; specification 1.3 described a new connector, smaller in size compared to the original.

In principle, the presence of an HDMI connector on a video card is completely optional; it can be successfully replaced by an adapter from DVI to HDMI. It is simple and therefore included with most modern video cards. Moreover, on video cards of the HDMI series, the connector is in demand primarily on mid- and low-level cards, which are installed in small and quiet barebones used as media centers. Because of the built-in audio, the Radeon HD 2400 and HD 2600 graphics cards have a definite advantage for builders of such multimedia centers.

Based on materials from the company's website iXBT.com

Probably every user of a personal computer or laptop has encountered issues with connecting a monitor or TV to it, as well as the quality of the resulting image. And if earlier getting a high-quality picture on the screen was quite problematic, today this problem does not exist at all. Of course, if your device has a DVI connector. This is what we will talk about, and also consider other existing interfaces for displaying images on the screen.

Types of connectors for displaying images on a computer monitor or screen

Until recently, everything personal computers had exclusively analog connection to the monitor. To transfer images to it, a VGA (Video Graphics Adapter) interface with a D-Sub 15 connector was used. Experienced users still remember the blue plug and 15-pin socket. But, besides this, video cards also had other connectors designed to display images on a TV screen or other video device:

• RCA (Radio Corporation of America) - in our opinion, “tulip”. An analog connector designed to connect a video card to a TV, video player or VCR using a coaxial cable. Has the worst transmission characteristics and low resolution.
• S-Video (S-VHS) is a type of analog connector for transmitting a video signal to a TV, VCR or projector, dividing the data into three channels responsible for a separate base color. The quality of signal transmission is slightly better than “tulip”.
• Component connector - output to three separate “tulips”, used to output images to the projector.

All of these connectors were widely used until the late 1990s. Of course, there was no question of quality, since both televisions and monitors at that time had very low resolution. Now we cannot even imagine how it was possible to play computer games while looking at a TV screen with a cathode ray tube.

With the advent of the new century, thanks to the introduction of digital technologies in the development of video devices, RCA, S-VHS and component output began to be used less and less. The VGA interface lasted a little longer.

A little history

The operating principle of a conventional video card was that the digital image output from it had to be converted into an analog signal using a RAMDAC device - a digital-to-analog converter. Naturally, such conversion already deteriorated the image quality at the initial stage.

With the advent of digital screens, it became necessary to convert the analog signal at the output. Now monitors have also begun to be equipped with a special converter, which again could not but affect the image quality.

And here, in 1999, seemingly out of nowhere, DVI appeared - the latest digital video interface, thanks to which we can enjoy today perfect picture on the screen.

The development of this interface device was carried out by a whole group of companies, which included Silicon Image, Digital Display Working Group and even Intel. The developers came to the conclusion that there was no need to convert digital signal to analog, and then vice versa. It is enough to create a single interface, and the image in its original form will be displayed on the screen. And without the slightest loss quality.

What is DVI

DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface. The essence of its work is that a special TMDS encoding protocol, also developed by Silicon Image, is used to transmit data. The method of signal transmission through a digital video interface is based on the sequential sending of information pre-implemented by the protocol, with constant backward compatibility with the analog VGA channel.

The DVI specification allows for a single TMDS connection to operate at up to 165 MHz and a transfer rate of 1.65 Gbps. This makes it possible to obtain an output image with a resolution of 1920x1080 with a maximum frequency of 60 Hz. But here it is possible to simultaneously use a second TMDS connection with the same frequency, which allows you to achieve a throughput of 2 Gbit/s.

Having such indicators, DVI left far behind other developments in this direction and began to be used by everyone without exception. digital devices Oh.

DVI for the average user

Without delving into the jungle of electronics, a digital video interface is just a special encoding device that has a corresponding connector on the video card. But how do you know that a computer or laptop has a digital output?

Everything is very simple. The connectors of video cards with a digital interface cannot be confused with others. They have a specific appearance and shape, different from other nests. In addition, the DVI connector is always white, which makes it stand out from the rest.

In order to connect a monitor, TV or projector to a video card, you simply plug in the plug of the desired wire and secure it using special hand-screwed bolts.

Resolution and scaling

However, neither digital coding nor special video card connectors have completely solved the problem of computer-monitor compatibility. A question arose about image scaling.

The fact is that all monitors, screens and televisions that already have a DVI connector are not capable of producing a higher output resolution than that provided by their design. Therefore, it often happened that the video card produced a high-quality picture, and the monitor showed it to us only in a quality limited by its capabilities.

The developers caught on in time and began equipping all modern digital panels with special scaling devices.

Now, when we connect the DVI connector on the monitor to the corresponding output on the video card, the device instantly self-adjusts, choosing the optimal operating mode. We usually don’t pay any attention to this process and don’t try to control it.

Video cards and DVI support

The first video cards of the NVIDIA GeForce2 GTS series already had built-in TMDS transmitters. They are still widely used today in Titanium cards, being integrated into rendering devices. The disadvantage of built-in transmitters is their low clock frequency, which does not allow achieving high resolution. In other words, TMDS do not make the most of their advertised 165 MHz bandwidth. Therefore, we can say with confidence that NVIDIA at the initial stage failed to adequately implement the DVI standard in its video cards.

When video adapters began to be equipped with an external TMDS, working in parallel with the built-in one, the DVI interface was able to produce a resolution of 1920x1440, which exceeded all the expectations of the company's developers.

The Titanium GeForce GTX series had no problems at all. They effortlessly provide images with a resolution of 1600x1024.

ATI took a completely different path. All of its video cards that have DVI outputs also operate from integrated transmitters, but they are supplied complete with special DVI-VGA adapters that connect 5 analog DVI pins to VGA.

Maxtor specialists decided not to bother at all and came up with their own way out of the situation. The G550 series video cards are the only ones that have a dual DVI cable instead of two signal transmitters. This solution allowed the company to achieve a resolution of 1280x1024 pixels.

DVI connector: types

It's important to know that not all digital connectors are created equal. They have different specifications and designs. In ours with you Everyday life The most common types of DVI connectors are:

• DVI-I SingleLink;
• DVI-I DualLink;
• DVI-D SingleLink;
• DVI-D DualLink;
• DVI-A.

DVI-I SingleLink connector

This connector is the most popular and in demand. It is used in all modern video cards and digital monitors. The letter I in the name means “integrated”. This DVI connector is special in its own way. The fact is that it has two combined transmission channels: digital and analog. In other words, this is a DVI+VGA connector. It has 24 digital pins and 5 analog pins.

Considering that these channels are independent of each other and cannot be used simultaneously, the device independently chooses which one to work with.

By the way, the first such integrated interfaces had separate DVI and VGA connectors.

DVI-I DualLink connector

DVI-I DualLink is also capable of transmitting an analog signal, but, unlike SingleLink, it has two digital channels. Why is this necessary? Firstly, to improve throughput, and secondly, it all again comes down to resolution, which is directly proportional to image quality. This option allows you to expand it to 1920x1080.

DVI-D SingleLink connector

DVI-D SingleLink connectors do not have any analog channels. The letter D informs the user that this is a digital interface only. It has one transmission channel and is also limited to a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels.

DVI-D DualLink connector

This connector has two data channels. Their simultaneous use makes it possible to obtain 2560x1600 pixels at a frequency of only 60 Hz. In addition, this solution allows some modern video cards, such as nVidia 3D Vision, to reproduce three-dimensional images on a monitor screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.

DVI-A connector

In some sources, the concept of DVI-A is sometimes found - a digital connector for transmitting exclusively an analog signal. In order not to mislead you, let us immediately indicate that in fact such an interface does not exist. DVI-A is just a special plug in cables and special adapters for connecting analog video devices to the DVI-I connector.

Digital connector: pinout

All of the connectors listed differ from each other in the location and number of contacts:

• DVI-I SingleLink - has 18 pins for digital channel and 5 for analog;
• DVI-I DualLink - 24 digital pins, 4 analog, 1 - ground;
• DVI-D SingleLink - 18 digital, 1 - ground;
• DVI-D DualLink - 24 digital, 1 - ground

The DVI-A connector also has its own unique pin arrangement. Its pinout consists of only 17 pins, including ground.

HDMI connector

A modern digital video interface also has other types of connecting communications. For example, the HDMI DVI connector is in no way inferior in popularity to the listed models. On the contrary, due to its compactness and the ability to transmit an audio signal along with digital video, it has become a mandatory accessory for all new TVs and monitors.

The abbreviation HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface, which means “a multimedia interface with high resolution" It appeared for the first time in 2003 and since then has not lost any of its relevance. Every year new modifications appear with improved resolution and bandwidth.

Today, for example, HDMI makes it possible to transmit video and audio signals without loss of quality over a cable up to 10 meters long. The throughput is up to 10.2 Gb/s. Just a few years ago this figure did not exceed 5 Gb/s.

This standard is supported and developed by the world's leading radio electronics companies: Toshiba, Panasonic, Sony, Philips, etc. Almost all video devices today manufactured by these manufacturers must have at least one HDMI connector.

DP connector

DP (DisplayPort) is the newest connector that replaced the multimedia HDMI interface. Possessing high throughput, minimal loss of quality during data transmission and compactness, it was designed to completely replace the DVI standard. But it turned out that not everything is so simple. Most modern monitors do not have appropriate connectors, and changing their production system in a short time is impossible. In addition, not all manufacturers are particularly committed to this, which is why most video equipment is not equipped with the DisplayPort standard.

Mini connectors

Today, when computers are often replaced by more mobile devices: laptops, tablets and smartphones - using conventional connectors becomes not very convenient. Therefore, manufacturers such as Apple, for example, began to replace them with smaller analogues. First VGA became mini-VGA, then DVI became micro-DVI, and DisplayPort shrank to mini-DisplayPort.

DVI adapters

But what if, for example, you need to connect a laptop to an analog monitor or another device that has a DVI connector to a digital panel with HDMI or DisplayPort standard? Special adapters will help with this, which can be purchased today at any radio electronics store.

Let's look at their main types:

• VGA - DVI;
• DVI - VGA;
• DVI - HDMI;
• HDMI - DVI;
• HDMI - DisplayPort;
• DisplayPort - HDMI.

In addition to these basic adapters, there are also varieties of them that provide connection to other interfaces, such as USB.

Of course, with such a connection there is a loss of image quality, even between devices of the same type that support the DVI standard. An adapter connector, no matter how high-quality it is, cannot solve this problem.

How to connect a TV to a computer

Connecting a TV to a computer or laptop is not difficult, but you should determine which interface is equipped with both devices. Most modern television receivers have built-in connectors that support DVI. This can be either HDMI or DisplayPort. If a computer or laptop has the same connector as the TV, it is enough to use the cable that usually comes with the latter. If the wire was not included in the kit, you can freely buy it in the store.

The computer operating system will independently detect the connection of the second screen and offer one of the options for using it:

• as the main monitor;
• in clone mode (the image will be displayed on both screens);
• as an additional monitor to the main one.

But do not forget that with such a connection, the image resolution will remain the same as provided for by the screen design.

Does cable length affect signal quality?

Not only the signal quality, but also the data transfer speed depends on the length of the cable connecting the device and the screen. Taking into account the modern characteristics of connecting wires for various digital interfaces, their length should not exceed the established parameters:

• for VGA - no more than 3 m;
• for HDMI - no more than 5 m;
• for DVI - no more than 10 m;
• for DisplayPort - no more than 10 m.

If you need to connect a computer or laptop to a screen located at a distance exceeding the recommended one, you must use a special amplifier - a repeater (signal repeater), which can also distribute the channel to several monitors.

#VGA #DVI-D #DVI-I #HDMI #DisplayPort

Interfaces currently in widespread use:

VGA

(D-Sub)- the only analog interface for connecting monitors still in use today. It is morally obsolete, but will be actively used for a long time. The main disadvantage is associated with the need to use double conversion of the signal to analog format and vice versa, which leads to a loss of quality when connecting digital display devices (LCD monitors, plasma panels, projectors). Compatible with video cards with DVI-I and similar connectors.

DVI-D

- basic type of DVI interface. Implies only digital connection, therefore cannot be used with video cards that only have an analog output. Very widespread.

DVI-I

- an extended version of the DVI-D interface, the most commonly used nowadays. Contains 2 types of signals - digital and analog. Video cards can be connected via both digital and analog connections; a video card with a VGA (D-Sub) output can be connected to it via a simple passive adapter or a special cable.
If the documentation for the monitor indicates that this modification uses the DVI Dual-Link option, then in order to fully support the maximum monitor resolutions (usually 1920*1200 and higher), the video card and the DVI cable used must also support Dual-Link as a full interface option DVD-D. If you use the cable included with the monitor and a relatively modern (at the time of writing the FAQ) video card, then no additional purchases are required.

HDMI

- adaptation of DVI-D for household equipment, supplemented by a digital interface for multi-channel audio transmission. Present in virtually all modern LCD TVs, plasma panels and projectors. To connect a video card with a DVI-D or DVI-I interface to the HDMI connector, a simple passive adapter or cable with appropriate connectors is sufficient. It is impossible to connect a video card with only a VGA (D-Sub) connector to HDMI!

Legacy and exotic interfaces:

What is VGA, is there a difference with D-Sub?

VGA (D-Sub) is one of the most popular connectors in the history of digital technology. This standard is used in electronic devices, which appeared on sale thirty years ago to this day. Although this connector can no longer be called progressive, it is still easy to find in various monitors, video cards and other electronic devices.

D-Sub (D-subminiature) is a fifteen-pin analog connector. Typically, it is used to connect a computer or laptop to a monitor.

VGA (Video Graphics Array) uses progressive video transmission. When the brightness level changes, the voltage decreases or increases at the same time. Moreover, the signal voltage can vary from 0.7 to 1 V. If we consider CRT monitors, which most often contain VGA connectors, then the intensity of the beam created by the electron gun changes in them. As a result of such actions, the brightness of the display changes.

As for the difference between VGA and D-Sub, there is simply no one, because we're talking about about the same DE15 connector. This is a 15-pin connector, where each channel is responsible for specific functions. It is worth noting that in its appearance, VGA really resembles the letter “D”. Hence the name - D-Sub.

What can be connected via a VGA connector?

Today, VGA is no longer considered a common connector for technology. But over the years of its existence, a variety of devices have received such a standard. For example, this interface is present in certain models of LCD and plasma TVs. It was often installed in DVD players. But the VGA connector is especially common in monitors with cathode ray tubes. Almost all CRT monitors were equipped with just such an interface for connecting to signal sources. Even early LCD models had this standard, which was gradually replaced by DVI and HDMI.

History of the VGA interface

The VGA connector was announced in 1987 by the world famous company IBM. It was specially designed for high-quality video signal transmission to screens using cathode ray tubes. Therefore, all current computers at that time worked with monitors that were equipped with this interface. It should be noted that until this moment there were DE-9 connectors, which were often used to connect joysticks to game consoles and PCs. At the same time, VGA (DE-15) no longer received 9, but 15 contacts at once. This made it possible to enjoy color images that were displayed on CRT monitors.

In the 90s of the last century, many equipment manufacturers also began to apply this standard. TVs and DVD players with VGA on board began to be produced. D-Sub remained popular until the DVI digital standard became widespread. Moreover, the official presentation of DVI took place in 1999. But it began to gradually oust the morally and physically outdated VGA interface from the market only in the 2000s, when digital technologies and corresponding content turned out to be in demand and accessible among users. Moreover, in 2015 AMD, Intel and many others largest corporations decided to completely abandon the use of the VGA standard in their new products.

Types of D-Sub output

The VGA interface has used 15 pins since its launch. A line-by-line signal with an unstable voltage amplitude is transmitted through them. At the same time, today it is known that there are two types of this connector, which are almost no different from each other:

• Standard VGA. This interface is used in many video cards and monitors, as well as some DVD players and TVs.
• Mini-VGA. This connector can be found in laptops, as well as certain portable devices. In respect of appearance it looks more like a USB port. But in terms of its capabilities it is no different from a standard connector.

Technical characteristics, features and pinout of VGA Connector

As noted, VGA (D-Sub) was designed for convenient analog signal transmission. There are 15 contacts used here, each of which performs a specific function.

You need to understand that there is a “Male” connecting cable and “Mother” plug connections.

Therefore, the protruding connections must be connected to the internal VGA holes. As for the contacts themselves, they are lined up in three horizontal stripes of 5 pieces each. Thanks to this, it is possible to transmit an analog signal “split” into blue, red and green colors.

Maximum VGA resolution (d sub)

VGA technology is officially capable of transmitting a video signal in a resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels, but no more. In reality, the resolution can reach 1920x1080 (Full HD) and in some cases even 2048x1536. Until a certain time, this was quite enough to enjoy high-quality images. But the higher the resolution of the transmitted signal, the greater the chance of getting unexpected defects in the form of blurred pictures and other things. Therefore, experts recommend using more advanced interfaces for FHD monitors.

Pros and cons of the VGA interface

Main advantages :

1. A huge number of devices released over 30 years.
2. Large selection of different adapters.
3. Ideal for CRT monitors and analog signal transmission.
4. The only analog interface that can transmit high-definition video.

Disadvantages of the connector :

1. There is no possibility for simultaneous transmission of video and audio signals (only video is transmitted).
2. The officially declared maximum resolution is 1280 x 1024. Problems may arise when displaying images on FHD displays.
3. When using a low-quality cable, interference occurs.
4. Not very suitable for connecting digital devices.

Types of converters and converters for VGA

If you have, for example, an old video card with a VGA connector, but you decide to buy a new monitor with digital interfaces, then you can’t just connect them. In such cases, you need to additionally change the source of the video signal, or purchase a special converter. In the latter case, there is no need to buy expensive components. It is enough to find (buy) a VGA to HDMI or DVI signal converter so that the new monitor can delight you with a clear and colorful picture without the need to change the video card.

Today you can find a huge number of all kinds of adapters on the market. With their help, you can convert a signal from VGA to DVI, Display Port, HDMI, and so on. Many converters are equipped with a USB cable, through which it is possible to transmit not only video, but also audio. Backward compatibility is not excluded at all, when a signal from a digital standard is transmitted to a monitor with a VGA interface.

Relevance of VGA today, which is better vga or hdmi?

In today's reality, when digital content dominates, there is no point in counting on the capabilities of D-Sub (VGA). Just look at various devices and components that have been produced by manufacturers recently. And we will find that among the interfaces there will be HDMI, Display Port or DVI. They provide high-quality display of high-definition images (Full HD and 4K). On the other hand, VGA is still with us. Over the years, companies have released an incredible number of devices that support this standard. Therefore, it is too early to completely discount it. But it’s hardly worth hoping for a miracle. It should be understood that even with the use of adapters, it is impossible to achieve complete synchronization between analog and digital interfaces. Defects will probably appear somewhere, or the image will not “reveal” to its fullest extent.