It'll give you a sharper picture in most cases.
We tend to think of HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) as something we use to connect our cable box to our television.
It's useful for much more than that.
If you're not using an HDMI cable to connect your computer to your monitor, check to see if you can.
Become a Patron of Ask Leo! and go ad-free!
Use HDMI cables when you can
If supported by both your monitor and your computer, an HDMI connection will be significantly clearer than an older VGA connection and will probably support a higher/sharper resolution as well. If your display includes speakers, an HDMI connection will allow you to use them without additional cables.
The predecessor: VGA
VGA (Video Graphics Array) was the most common interface used to connect a computer to a display device for many, many years.
You can most easily tell a VGA connector by its appearance.
The interface was designed before today's digital and flat displays were popular. It's optimized to carry an analog signal for older CRT-type displays.
Most newer displays, and even many televisions, still include a VGA connection for compatibility. It's possible that many people, when replacing an older CRT with a newer digital display, simply used the existing connection. While that works, it's not optimal for current technology.
HDMI
HDMI has become the standard digital display connection. Once again, you'll recognize it by its appearance.1
HDMI is more than just a connector. Perhaps most importantly, the protocol used to communicate between the display device and the computer allows the display to tell the computer the resolutions it supports.
HDMI can also carry audio. Whereas in the past you may have needed separate cables or separate speakers, if your display device includes both HDMI and speakers, one device and one cable may be all you need.
Why switch?
In a word, image quality. OK, two words.
If you're displaying on a digital display -- as flat screens are -- then the conversion of an analog VGA signal to digital results in some fuzziness. You may not notice it because the old analog CRTs were also fuzzy.
It tends to get worse today, though, because VGA display cards were usually optimized to display at resolutions like 800x600, 1024x768, and occasionally larger. Digital displays are more often designed to be HD or 4K compatible, which means resolutions such as 1920x1080, 3840x2160, and the like. Stretching the older analog output over the larger number of pixels can only result in fuzzy approximations of the original image, not to mention not taking advantage of the higher resolution that may be available.
Do this
Check the cable connecting your computer to your monitor.
- If it's an older VGA style connection
and
- Both your computer and your monitor have HDMI connections
Switch. Replace the VGA cable with an HDMI cable. Your computer should detect the upgrade as soon as you turn it on.
And while you're at it, see if you still need those extra speakers and cables. If the monitor has speakers and they're good enough, they may be all you need.
Want more useful advice? Subscribe to Confident Computing! Less frustration and more confidence, solutions, answers, and tips in your inbox every week.
Podcast audio
Related Video
Footnotes & References
1: Different sizes of HDMI connectors are used in various applications. Pictured is the most common you'll find on both televisions and computers. As just one example, one of my digital cameras offers an HDMI connection, but it uses a smaller version of the connector, so I have to use an appropriate cable.
Hi Leo;
Your thoughts on Display Port?
Thanks
It’s fine, but it doesn’t carry audio. If you have it at both ends and don’t care about audio, go for it. I just see HDMI becoming more prevalent over time.
My newest computer has neither an HDMI nor VGA, but it has a USB C port. I have a USB C hub which has several ports including HDMI. So if you have a USB C port, get a hub that includes HDMI.
I’ve said this before a while ago in another AskLeo article. IMHO, you’re better off today buying an LCD or LED TV instead of a dedicated PC monitor. When you buy a monitor, they’re almost always more expensive than an equivalent size & resolution of a TV set, especially for the larger sizes. And TV sets come with built-in audio. Almost all the newer TVs have HDMI ports (at least one). They also have multiple input sources, typically TV/PC/Aux. I have 5 flat screen TVs all purchased within the last 2 years. All have multiple HDMI ports in addition to multiple USB ports & no VGA ports.
My personal TV/Monitor is a 26″ that I use for my ASUS laptop. I can use it as a PC monitor or a TV just by switching the input source on the remote.
And if you use an MSI B450I GAMING PLUS motherboard, your BIOS will appear in Chinese, then lock up – IF you’re using an HDMI cable. But not if you’re using a different connector. Go figure.
I have a Dell desktop with two ports: Display Port and VGA. Is it possible to switch out the board that contains those ports with one that has two HDMI ports? Thank you.
It depends on your specific Dell model. If it’s an add-on board, yes. If it’s part of the motherboard, then no, BUT you can often still add an additional / alternate graphics adapter. (FWIW DisplayPort is fine if you’re using that. HDMI won’t get you a better picture, it’ll just include sound.)
Thank you. I’ll do some more research.