HDMI vs. DVI vs. VGA vs. USB, The Cable of the Future?

A cable which can help us connect on multiple platforms is truly the cable of the future. Over the ages, different companies have tried to come up with their version of what a futuristic cable should be.

The concern always has to make a cord which can save cost and be highly effective at the same time. Moreover, people tend to buy stuff which they think will last them for a long time. Since a lot of types of cables exist it will only be fair to compare the lot and see which cable fairs well. We will examine an HDMI cable with DVI, VGA, and USB in detail.

VGA:

VGA is a bulky cable and connector which can transfer video signals from a source such as a computer to a monitor. It has 15-pins setup arranged in three rows for maximum efficiency. The use of VGA cable is quite old. Therefore their ports are found in every old desktop computer, CD player, DVD player, TV, and laptop.

They are compatible with projectors, TV, and LCD monitors. A mini VGA port is available in slim devices like a laptop.

Although they suffer from a slight disadvantage, they are not able to render higher picture quality. Therefore, VGA is more or less obsolete.

HDMI:

An HDMI cable is an upgrade from the video-only platform. It can transfer a high rate of both video and audio. Due to the development in its technology, an HDMI cable can carry much more bandwidth than its predecessors. It is proficient in carrying high quality such as 3D and 4K.

HDMI is available in different types based on the time they were developed in, giving us multiple variations.

With a high-quality Mini-Fit Jr.4.2mm Pitch Connector, you can use the HDMI cable in a variety of electronics. These will include computers, smartphones, laptops, security systems, and digital cameras among others.

1. Standard HDMI Cable:

A standard cable that was made available to us in the late 1990s. It was revolutionary in this regard that it could transfer both video and audio bandwidth at the same time. The maximum rate of transfer is 4.95 Gbps. This cable can stream 720p videos easily.

2. HDMI Ethernet Cable:

The same cable had additional qualities. It was to help them in connecting a gadget to the internet network through a device directly without using a separate wire.

3. Active HDMI Cable:

Then came the high-speed cable which stole all the thunder. It is in use today for all sorts of video including 4K, HDR and blue-ray. A 3D resolution can also be transmitted, which increases its functionality. It also results in high-quality audio and video.

4. Premium HDMI Cable:

The need for having a better cable that can carry a high-resolution picture has been taken into consideration when making a Premium HDMI wire. It has a transfer rate of 48.0 Gbps

A high-speed cable is proficient in moving higher bits of resolution. This cable can stream 4K and 3D services, flawlessly. The refresh rate offers a crisp picture, and the transmission rate goes to 10.2 Gbps.

A premium cable has an anti-piracy feature built into it. It helps in denying accesses to the copyrighted material. It does it by performing a digital handshake.

DVI:

A Digital Visual Interface cable is an older version of HD capable cables. It is primarily used to transfer high resolution of data, mainly videos. It lags in one thing, and that is audio transferring capability. Although HDMI has been developed after it, it still lags in a few things,

DVI connectors are of three types:

1. DVI-I:

It is a dual system which can perform both functions of both an analog and digital transfer.

It has 23 pins in a single configuration. However, it can increase by adding another wire.

2. DVI-A:

It is a cable which can only transfer analog data. It can maintain a much lower rate than a digital setup due in part to its 17 pins. Though you get a 1080p resolution to get a more crisp picture, you have to double the cable.

3. DVI-D:

A DVI-D can provide a digital link between a monitor and a computer or a gaming console such as PlayStation. Its single link alone can provide a transfer rate of 4.95 Gbps which can double by addition of a second wire. It has 24 pins in a unique link which offers a high bandwidth rate.

USB:

A Universal Serial Bus is a state-of-the-art invention in cables.  It is used to connect to a computer. You can use it to charge your devices or if you want to transfer your data from phone and tablet to your PC.

There are three generations of USB specifications:

1. USB 1.x:

It was made available in the late 90s with a data transfer of 12 Mbps. It was only limited to data streaming and had limited length.

2. USB 2.0:

It was next in line to be released. It was available to the public in April 2000. It had a much higher rate of data transmission, which amounts to about 60 Mbps. It had the additional capability of charging the devices, which mainly included a cellular phone, tablets, and mp3 players.

3. USB 3.x:

It was able to introduce a transfer mode which had super speed. Additionally, it has a backward compatible cable and a connector. It requires a particular receptacle, as its transfer rate is 5.0 Gbps. It is therefore marked blue to signify a fast download.

So Which is Better Suited to be a Cable of the Future?

The answer to this question lies in the functionality of the different cables. DVI and VGA cables are only able to carry video signals, though the former can stream a lot more than the latter.

 An HDMI surpasses both by giving not only audio but video bandwidth as well. Since it has specialized pins so it can transfer data reliably.

A USB cable, on the other hand, can transfer both data and charge your devices. However, it has a slower rate of transfer, which means that video streaming can take some time. This problem is near its end in USB 3.0, which will overtake even HDMI in performance.

Conclusion:

A concluding analysis shows that USB is the cable of the future unless some innovation is made available in its closer competitor HDMI. Furthermore, VGA and DVI cables are slowly being phased out. The future cable needs to be capable of performing multi-tasks simultaneously at a high rate of speed.