Cable Matters VGA Extension Cable (VGA Cable Male to Female) - 1.8m

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By the time computing technology had become mainstream, the VGA standard had established itself as one of the most common computer cabling configurations.

VGA adapters, splitters, and extenders are used to establish working connections for specific configurations. Adapter and splitter types for gendered VGA cables include the male to female; male to male; female to male; and female to female. Much like HDMI’s present-day status, VGA was almost universally adopted shortly after its introduction. However, unlike HDMI, which is still going strong, VGA is being phased out gradually and is no longer present on many newer devices. See More: What Is Elastic Computing? Definition, Examples, and Best Practices DVI vs. VGA: 4 Key Comparisons While the original DVI Type-A connector supported analog video signals like VGA, it was upgraded to support digital signal compatibility in 2002. Today, DVI connectors are capable of transmitting digital and analog signals. Most manufacturers also offer different types of VGA cable adapters, splitters, and compatible connectors and accessories. This is a testament that while VGA may be falling out of favor in newer devices, its ports still command a presence on numerous in-use laptops, monitors, televisions, graphics cards, CPUs, and other video-enabled devices and peripherals.The standard VGA ports have indeed been replaced by newer connection types (such as DVI and HDMI) in most modern-day devices. However, VGA ports are still used in legacy and modern computers, televisions, monitors, projectors, laptops, and other devices for domestic and commercial applications. Finally, if one connection is digital and the other is analog, a single cable cannot be used to link them, and an electronic converter box (such as an analog VGA to digital DVI/HDMI converter) would be needed. Naturally, DVI digital and analog types are not interchangeable. For instance, a DVI-A cable will not work in a digital setup nor a DVI-D in an analog configuration. A DVI-D to VGA converter would be needed for cross-format applications, such as linking a digital source to an analog output. Similarly, linking an analog source to a digital display would require a VGA to DVI-D electronic converter. Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA) cables , also known as ultra VGA or enhanced VGA, transmit analog video signals but are used for higher resolutions up to 800×600.

DVI is available in three main types: DVI-I (includes pins for digital as well as analog signals), DVI-D (includes sufficient pins for transferring digital signals only), and DVI-A (only analog signals). These familiar VGA cables and their instantly recognisable 15-pin connectors are frequently found in both home and office desktop PC setups, usually carrying a visual signal from a desktop computer to a monitor VGA input. Similarly, they’re also used for linking various other types of video output devices - such as laptops, video cards, projectors, and certain varieties of set-top boxes - to TVs, monitors, all-in-one PCs, and various other types of screened display peripherals. Standard VGA cables remain vital for establishing a reliable video or graphics link between computers, monitors, projectors and high definition television sets in both domestic and commercial environments. It’s more common for smaller devices (such as compact laptop computers) to have a mini-VGA port installed, as opposed to a full-sized VGA connector, but these miniature versions play exactly the same role in terms of graphical signal transfer. It is worth noting that most manufacturers use DVI ports that have all the available pinholes open. However, this does not always mean that the port will be compatible with digital and analog signals (DVI-I). If a longer cable must be used and used VGA is not an option, HDMI or a DVI-D cable (with the output display set to digital input) can help enhance results. The capability of the DVI cord to carry both analog and digital signals gives it a unique advantage over HDMI and other “digital-only” video interfaces, as well as over VGA.

How does VGA Cables work?

High Definition Media Interface (HDMI) and DVI are common standards for linking video source devices to video output devices. However, even here, several factors affect the VGA signal, including the strength of the signals from the source; the electrical interference levels; and the product architecture, such as shielding, gauge, and copper wire quality. Length can also depend on application and cable configuration. For instance, a properly shielded VGA cable could still render a clear output at up to 150 feet. This is because shielding protects the VGA signal from electrical interference generated by other devices. It differs most from VGA because all modern video cards initially generate a digital signal. At the VGA output, this signal is converted into analog, which travels to the output device and is reconverted to digital. DVI-D eliminates the analog conversion process, enhancing the data transfer from source to display.

Smaller devices like laptops would commonly have a mini-VGA port installed. While these ports would be smaller than full-sized VGA connectors, they were just as efficient at transferring graphical signals. When demand for DVI was still growing, its main applications included connectivity for video devices like projectors and DVD players. However, once the popularity of DVI grew, the standard expanded to encompass digital monitors. This is why DVI connectors are still common in some personal computers today. DVI mainly serves as a standard for computer video interfaces today. However, for a short while, it was also the preferred digital data transfer method for HDTVs and other high-end video displays for television, DVDs, and movies. Interestingly, DVD players from the premium segment have featured DVI output compatibility and high-quality analog component video ports. The DVI-D type is the most ubiquitous male connector, while DVI-I is the most commonly seen type for female DVI connectors, as it can accommodate all other formats.VGA cables transmit analog video signals and are generally compatible with video resolutions up to 640×480. The official DVI specification requires DVI equipment to maintain clear signal readability at 5 meters (16 feet) cable length. DVI stands for Digital Video Interface, a standard for boosting the efficiency of data transfer from modern video graphics cards and enhancing the output quality of flatscreen LCD monitors.

Critical VGA applications may even use equalizers and boosters to send VGA signals over long distances while countering the effects of electrical interference. Popular VGA boosters include the Ethernet (Cat5) wire or Cat6 for even longer cables. The VGA over CAT5/6 extender kit can support the transmission of 640×480 up to 300 meters and 1024×768 resolution up to 75 meters. Up to roughly a decade ago, one could frequently find VGA cables in personal and professional desktop setups. Their primary purpose would generally be transmitting visual signals from CPUs to monitors. However, they were also linked to other source devices (such as video cards, laptops, and set-top boxes) to output devices (such as projectors and televisions). These familiar VGA cables and their instantly recognisable 15-pin connectors are frequently found in both home and office desktop PC setups, usually carrying a visual signal from a desktop computer to a monitor VGA input. Similarly, they’re also used for linking various other types of video output devices - such as laptops, video cards, projectors, and certain varieties of set-top boxes - to TVs, monitors, all-in-one PCs, and various other types of screened display peripherals.VGA cables transmit analog signals, while DVI cables can transmit both digital and analog signals. As DVI is newer, it offers sharper video output compared to VGA; however, VGA offers support for longer cable lengths. DVI and VGA connectors and ports are also visually distinct, making it easy for users to tell them apart. Both HDMI and DVI use the CEA-861 standard. This means that HDMI signals are DVI compatible and can be converted using an adapter without any drop in quality or loss of signal. A Video Graphics Array cable is one of the oldest connection standards found in computing equipment. Laptops, computer monitors, TV sets and videos cards are some of the devices in which we normally use these cables. Introduced in 1987, these cables were first developed by IBM, before they soon began to be built by other manufacturers with increased features. This was mainly developed at a time when analog signals were a norm. However, once digital signals came into the picture, these cables soon began to get enhanced with converters, thus enabling an analog to digital conversion. However, the exact cable throughput does not depend solely on length. Rather, as manufacturers create stronger video cards and larger monitors, shorter cable lengths may perform better. If you are a trainer, or a manager used to conducting a lot of office meetings, you know how difficult holding the attention span of an audience can be. That lesson that you may have spent the entire night working on is going to be in vain with students dozing after the first few minutes of your lecture. Those important updates that you want to give your colleagues can be lost as they doze off in the course of your meeting. One of the best ways to prevent this from happening and hold the attention of your listeners is to accompany what you say with visuals. All it takes is a VGA cable to bring about this change and make your class or meeting more productive.