📖 IT Bible

Video and Display Cables

(OBJ 3.2)

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) - most widely used interface

  • Lower Resolution - displays 1080p or 1920x1080 pixels using a graphical display
  • High resolution - 4K & 8K with 60, 120 or 244 Hertz (Hz)

HDMI Digital Content Protection (HDCP) - allows device to validate and do a ‘handshake’ with the display its connected to, making sure both display and device are authorized to receive that signal (ex. Roku Smart device for your TV)

HDMI Types:

  • Type A - regular full-size connector
  • Type C - mini connector
  • Type D - micro connector

HDMI Categories:

  • Category 1 (Standard) - supports basic 1080p and 60 Hz for graphical displays
  • Category 2 (High speed cables) - can cover greater distances and has higher resolutions like 4K and 8K, or higher refresh rates of 60, 120 and 144 Hz
    • Premium High Speed up to 18 Gbps
    • Ultra High Speed up to 48 Gbps

DP (Display Port)

  • DP full size display port
  • MiniDP (mDP)
  • can go up to 80 Gbps

DVI (Digital Visual Interface)

  • DVI-A supports analog signals
  • DVI-D supports digital signals
  • DVI-I supports both analog and digital signals

VGA (Video Graphics Array) - uses 15-pin standard analog video interface port

Thunderbolt - can act as a display interface like HDMI and Display Port, but can also be used for data transfer

  • Thunderbolt 1 and 2 - both use physical connector that looks like a mini DP and are actually backwards compatible with DP
  • Thunderbolt 3 and 4 use same port connector as USB-C
  • not all Thunderbolt works on USB-C, however, all USB-C will work on Thunderbolt
  • All Thunderbolt 3 and 4 will support USB-C but not all USB-C will support Thunderbolt 3 and 4
  • Thunderbolt 3 cables should be kept at max length of half a meter (1.6 ft) to get up to 40 Gbps
  • Thunderbolt 4 provides max resolution of 8K and has ability to daisy chain

USB-C (USB Type C) - can support 4K and 8K resolutions