Monitor Display Standards
Right from the first computer display units, different display standards have been developed and used. These display standards combines factors such as display resolution, dot pitch, color depth and refresh rate. These terms are mainly used within the PC/IT industry and are usually not a focus in information provided to mainstream consumers.
Video Graphics Array (VGA) refers to display hardware first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line in 1987, VGA is now the display standard for almost all PCs. The term VGA also refers to the 15-+pin plugs and socket which establishes the connection between a computer and monitor. All PC display adapters support VGA. When you boot your system, the system starts in VGA mode until it switches to the higher resolution mode. The resolution of VGA display is 640x480 pixels with 16 or 256 colors.
Super Video Graphics Array or Super VGA (SVGA) can be defined as the second incarnation of VGA. VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) was responsible for extending IBM’s VGA display standard in 1987. SVGA in general refers to a resolution of 800x600 pixels. Over the span of time, SVGA quickly extended to a resolution of 1024x768 pixels and so on.
Also in 1990, IBM introduced an upgraded display standard called XGA (eXtended Graphics Array). The initial version of XGA expanded upon IBM’s VGA and added support for 800x600 pixels resolutions with 65,536 colors and 1024x768 pixels resolutions with 256 colors. XGA is not a replacement for SVGA. Later when XGA-2 came into existence, true color mode was added for 640x480 and 1024x768, delivering higher refresh rates and superior color.
Source: Wikipedia
eXtended Graphics Array Plus (XGA+) is another computer display standard, the next step after XGA. XGA+ refers to the 1152x864 resolution and this display standard is often used on 17” CRT monitors.
Super eXtended Graphics Array (SXGA) refers to the display standard of monitors having the resolution of 1280x1024 pixels.
Super eXtended Graphics Array Plus (SXGA+) is a another computer display standard which offers 1400x1500 resolution and is commonly used on 14” and 15” LCD screens of notebooks.
UXGA stands for Ultra eXtended Graphics Array and this display standard refers to the 1600x1200 pixels resolution of a monitor. For most of the 22” CRT monitors and 20”/21” desktop LCD monitors, UXGA is the native resolution.
Quad eXtended Graphics Array (QXGA) is another computer display standard like others that I have mentioned above, but QXGA delivers much higher pixels and also seeks a heavy system requirement. WQXGA is often found in monitors like the Dell 3008WFP (30” Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor) which delivers optimal resolution of 2560 x 1600, as well as Apple’s Cinema Display.
Connection Types
The revolution of monitorsalso means that monitors use different connection types and methods to transmit audio/video signals. Different types of monitor connectors include VGA, DVI, and HDMI.
A VGA Connector is a three-row 15 pin analog connector which is the most common connection type found with computer monitors. A VGA Connector is also known as “HD-15”, where HD stands for High Density.
VGA to DVI connector
VGA connector
The term DVI stands for Digital Video Interface which is made up of up to 24-pins, which carries digital/analog/integrated video signals and delivers improved visual quality for display units such as LCD monitors and digital projectors. DVI comes in three different flavors: DVI-A, DVI-D and DVI-I.
DVI-A (Analog only): transmits only analog signals and is normally found with CRT monitors. (Very rare)
DVI-D (Digital Only): As the name suggests, DVI-D transmit only digital signals without any analog signals.
DVI-I (Integrated): The most commonly found connector which can transmit both, analog and digital signals and can be used with either analog or digital display units.
DVI connector
DVI and VGA plugs
DVI connectors are classified as Single Link and Dual Link. You can read more about these, here.
HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface and is a compact audio/video connector which transmits uncompressed digital streams. HDMI is commonly used to connect devices like: Computers, Set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc player, and Gaming consoles etc.
HDMI connector