WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.040 We all know that for a signal to get from a DVD player, computer, game console, or other video source to a display, 00:00:06.440 --> 00:00:09.900 such as a TV or monitor, that we need to connect them in some way. 00:00:10.060 --> 00:00:15.460 But the pros and cons of the various cable standards can be extremely confusing, even for techies. 00:00:15.600 --> 00:00:18.400 Let's start with good old-fashioned VGA or D-sub. 00:00:18.620 --> 00:00:24.700 It's usually got a blue plug on the cable and stays in place with screws on either side of the housing around the contact pins. 00:00:24.700 --> 00:00:30.580 The advantage of VGA today is that older equipment you encounter, like a presentation projector, 00:00:30.860 --> 00:00:33.460 is pretty much guaranteed to work with it, but that's about it. 00:00:33.540 --> 00:00:38.400 Because it's an analog standard, the signal degrades from cable length, wire gauge, 00:00:38.720 --> 00:00:41.640 the conversion to digital for compatibility with your flat panel display, 00:00:41.800 --> 00:00:44.440 and from your friend sneaking into your house to steal all the red M&Ms. 00:00:44.780 --> 00:00:50.540 Its maximum claimed resolution might not seem that bad at a little over 3 megapixels at 85 hertz, 00:00:50.660 --> 00:00:54.200 but on any modern display, it just won't look very clear and sharp. 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:54.680 You see? 00:00:54.700 --> 00:00:55.860 You can use anything else if you can. 00:00:56.040 --> 00:01:02.760 Our next standard, DVI, is vastly superior to VGA, but actually on the verge of obsolescence, just like it. 00:01:03.020 --> 00:01:07.420 The connector locks with screws, just like VGA, but is physically larger. 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:10.820 And the biggest advantage of DVI is its versatility. 00:01:11.100 --> 00:01:14.160 On the video source side, DVI exists in a number of varieties. 00:01:14.220 --> 00:01:19.720 DVI-D has only pins for an HDMI-compatible digital video signal, 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:23.960 and DVI-I adds signal pins for a VGA-compatible analog signal, 00:01:23.960 --> 00:01:30.520 meaning, with inexpensive passive adapters, it can drive DVI, HDMI, or VGA displays. 00:01:30.520 --> 00:01:36.520 On top of that, while a single-link DVI connection is limited to 1920x1260 hertz, 00:01:36.520 --> 00:01:43.260 with a dual-link connection, it is capable of officially carrying 2560x1660 hertz. 00:01:43.260 --> 00:01:45.840 Pretty darn good, especially for the time. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:47.840 DVI's drawbacks are several, though. 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:53.300 The connector is bulky, and unlike newer standards, it doesn't support the same variety of color spaces, 00:01:53.300 --> 00:01:57.800 and nor does it carry audio or data along with video. 00:01:57.800 --> 00:02:00.800 Speaking of newer standards, HDMI 1.4. 00:02:00.800 --> 00:02:04.300 HDMI's biggest strength today is its ubiquity. 00:02:04.300 --> 00:02:10.800 You can find it, or an inter-compatible standard, on pretty much any computer, modern piece of AV equipment, or display. 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:13.800 It supports multi-channel audio and Ethernet data, 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:16.300 superior color depth with compatible content and equipment, 00:02:16.300 --> 00:02:22.100 and it has a wide, wide video format support, including 4K at up to 30 hertz, 00:02:22.100 --> 00:02:23.100 and a variety of stereoscopic sensors. 00:02:23.100 --> 00:02:26.100 It does have some drawbacks, though. 00:02:26.100 --> 00:02:29.600 The connector's standard doesn't include a locking mechanism, for one thing, 00:02:29.600 --> 00:02:34.100 and its resolution is limited to 4K at only 30 hertz, 00:02:34.100 --> 00:02:38.600 and it also doesn't include official support for wide 21x9 aspect ratios, 00:02:38.600 --> 00:02:42.600 or multiple concurrent video streams. 00:02:42.600 --> 00:02:47.100 HDMI 2.0 addresses everything that I just said, except the locking connector, 00:02:47.100 --> 00:02:50.600 making it almost as good as my personal favorite, DisplayPort, 00:02:50.600 --> 00:02:52.600 but we just haven't seen much of it yet. 00:02:53.100 --> 00:02:56.100 DisplayPort, though, is almost the complete package. 00:02:56.100 --> 00:02:58.600 Unlike HDMI, it has a locking connector, 00:02:58.600 --> 00:03:01.100 and it can be converted to every other standard I've mentioned, 00:03:01.100 --> 00:03:04.100 including VGA, with an inexpensive adapter, 00:03:04.100 --> 00:03:08.600 and it doesn't require a royalty to actually physically implement on a product. 00:03:08.600 --> 00:03:13.600 Like HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2 supports 4K at 60 hertz, 00:03:13.600 --> 00:03:16.100 multiple video streams over a single cable, 00:03:16.100 --> 00:03:20.600 audio network and other data signals, stereoscopic 3D, 21x9 aspect ratios, 00:03:20.600 --> 00:03:22.100 and pretty much anything else you could want, 00:03:22.100 --> 00:03:27.600 with the only things missing being some home theater remote control features and stuff like that. 00:03:27.600 --> 00:03:30.600 And things are only gonna get better with DisplayPort 1.3 00:03:30.600 --> 00:03:35.100 adding support for 8K displays, 4K 3D, and adaptive sync 00:03:35.100 --> 00:03:38.100 to eliminate lag and screen tearing in games. 00:03:38.100 --> 00:03:40.100 Rock on, DisplayPort. 00:03:40.100 --> 00:03:45.100 Now, you've probably noticed by now that other than differentiating analog and digital video signals, 00:03:45.100 --> 00:03:49.100 I've been focused on features, rather than image quality. 00:03:49.100 --> 00:03:51.100 That's because, unless you're a professional user, 00:03:51.100 --> 00:03:55.600 with specific needs in terms of color spaces you need to work inside, 00:03:55.600 --> 00:03:59.600 digital is digital, and they will all look the same at a given resolution, 00:03:59.600 --> 00:04:04.600 as long as the image isn't completely garbled and corrupted by a defective cable or something. 00:04:04.600 --> 00:04:10.100 The other thing I haven't mentioned yet is that there are mini and micro versions that exist for some of these connectors. 00:04:10.100 --> 00:04:11.100 This is simple, too. 00:04:11.100 --> 00:04:14.600 Basically, other than needing a physical adapter or cable, 00:04:14.600 --> 00:04:17.100 these don't make any difference whatsoever, 00:04:17.100 --> 00:04:20.100 except when a mini DisplayPort-looking connection 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:20.600 has a little... 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:22.100 bolt next to it. 00:04:22.100 --> 00:04:25.600 Thunderbolt connectors carry a DisplayPort-compatible video signal, 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:31.100 but can also connect in series with Thunderbolt devices like external hard drives and whatnot. 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:35.100 Speaking of Thunderbolts, the sky is pretty much the limit, guys. 00:04:35.100 --> 00:04:38.600 Fractal Design has decided to buy a couple of more Techquickie ad spots 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:42.600 for the express purpose of allowing you guys to pick what they do to humiliate me. 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:44.600 Last time, I got pied in the face. 00:04:48.210 --> 00:04:50.210 But, if you felt like that wasn't creative enough, 00:04:50.210 --> 00:04:52.210 all you need to do is head over to their Facebook page, 00:04:52.210 --> 00:04:53.710 linked in the video description, 00:04:53.710 --> 00:04:57.210 and give Fractal Design your ideas for what they should have me do next. 00:04:57.210 --> 00:05:00.710 And, I mean, while you're at it, I guess you could check out their high-quality computer cases, 00:05:00.710 --> 00:05:02.710 power supplies, and cooling products. 00:05:02.710 --> 00:05:03.710 Just a thought. 00:05:03.710 --> 00:05:05.710 Thanks for watching this Fast as Possible, guys. 00:05:05.710 --> 00:05:07.710 Like it if you like it, dislike it if you disliked it, 00:05:07.710 --> 00:05:10.710 and leave a comment if you have suggestions for future Fast as Possibles, 00:05:10.710 --> 00:05:14.210 or if you just wanna, you know, tell me about how tired I look right now, 00:05:14.210 --> 00:05:16.710 because I just got back from climbing a mountain, 00:05:16.710 --> 00:05:20.210 and I'm just...man, it's a miracle I'm even alive right now. 00:05:20.210 --> 00:05:22.210 As always, don't forget to subscribe. 00:05:22.210 --> 00:05:25.210 For more Fast as Possible episodes, just like this one.