What is a VGA port and what is it used for?

On this occasion we are going to explain to you What is a VGA port and what is it for?. The truth is that this port or connector has been one of the most used in the history of computers. Now, is it still a good option or are there better alternatives? What is the main function of this port? What are the advantages and disadvantages of VGA ports? Let's see the answers below.

Before knowing what a VGA port is, the first thing you should keep in mind is that It is an old technology and, if you like, obsolete. The acronym VGA corresponds to the English words Video Graphics Array or Video Graphics Matrix. This port was used to connect a computer to a monitor, projector, television, among others. Let's take a look at its main features.

What is a VGA port?

What is a VGA port? A VGA port is a connector used to stream video from a computer to a TV, monitors, projector, etc. A cable known as a VGA cable is connected to this port, which transmits RGB (red, green, blue) video signals, that is, in primary colors.

VGA ports transmit an analog signal, which means that the image is converted into a continuous electrical signal before reaching the monitor. As for the resolution of these ports, the most common is 640 x 480 pixels. However, there are currently VGA-based resolutions that exceed 1080p and can reach up to 2048 x 1536 pixels.

To better understand what a VGA port is, let's take a look at its main features.:

• It originated in 1987 by IBM.
• It consists of 15 pins arranged in three rows of five.
• Transmits RGB video signals.
• It may be called an “E” size D-sub or is also known as DE-15 or HD-15.
• It has a standard resolution of 640 x 480p.

What is a VGA port and what is it used for?

We have already seen what a VGA port is, now let's see what it is specifically used for. VGA ports are designed to transmit video only.This means that to transmit sound from your PC, a VGA cable will not be enough. You will also need to connect an audio port and cable.

Basically, The VGA port is used to send the image from your computer to a monitor., whether it's a monitor, TV, projector, etc. These ports were very commonly used on older computers. However, new technologies replaced their use, so virtually no recent computer has one of these ports. Let's see why it is not used as much anymore.

What is a VGA port: why they are not used as much anymore

Then, Why are VGA ports not used as much as they used to be? The truth is that there are several reasons that justify this. One of them is that VGA technology is obsolete compared to current standards. In this sense, Image quality is no longer sufficient for the requirements of current equipment.

For example, let's say you need to connect your computer to a display that is a considerable distance away. Since The signal sent by the port is analogous (in waves) interference increases with distance. And as a result, the final image will look poor. In such a case, it would be best to use a VGA HDMI adapter to convert the analog signal to digital.

A second powerful reason why VGA ports have been discontinued is because are not able to transmit audioAnd, although it is true that there are adapters with audio ports, VGA ports do not have this feature out of the box.

Thirdly, the resolution of VGA ports has also made manufacturers opt for other ports such as HDMI or USB-C. Why? Because Initially these ports are associated with low resolutions, 640 x 480 pixels. While USB-C ports can reach up to 4K and HDMI ports up to 8K. In addition, the latter are capable of transmitting audio and video.

Another disadvantage of VGA ports is that They do not allow you to connect multiple displays to a single VGA portOther connectors such as HDMI or USB-C do allow you to connect multiple screens using a splitter. HDMI or DisplayPort Alternate ModeAs you can see, there are several reasons why VGA ports are not used as much as they used to be.

Do VGA ports have any advantages?

Although we have already seen that the analog signal transmitted by VGA ports is no longer used due to its resolution and few functions, it would not be fair to deny that they have some advantages. For example, Its simple and robust design can be highlighted, which provides security to the connection between the computer and the monitor.

Furthermore, one could say that The anchor points on the VGA cable (the screws at its ends) provide greater stability and firmness to the connection. Especially when compared to HDMI cables, when using the latter, we often run the risk of disconnecting them more easily, which may prevent a good connection.

What is a VGA port: Should I still use it?

Now that you know what a VGA port is and what it's used for, you're probably wondering whether you should continue using it or not. The truth is, If you have no other option than to use the VGA port and cable, you can do so. As long as you also have a cable to transmit the audio.

Sure, we saw that VGA ports and cables can be more secure and firm, as their anchor points allow them to connect better. However, We cannot ignore the disadvantages and shortcomings that this technology faces. compared to the most recent ones.

After analyzing what a VGA port is and having seen that, generally, the computers that have one are outdated, It would be best to opt for a computer that has other connections.. So, if you want to avoid inconvenience, have different functions such as automatic audio and video transmission and obtain a higher image quality, the best option will be HDMI or USB-C connectors.