vga & hdmi.....am i missing something?

cinister · 09-18-2009, 04:05 PM

Hi all.

I'm looking to buy a monitor to hook up to my laptop which has vga and hdmi outputs.

What is the main differences between the two?
I know that hdmi carries audio which is no use to me so should I go for a cheaper vga only monitor which has the same native resolution anyway? I feel like there's something I'm missing because there's a big price difference.

Thanks for reading

**PFC5** · 09-18-2009, 06:26 PM

VGA is analog while HDMI is digital. HDMI also requires the display to have HDCP (Copy protection) so you can actually watch a Blu-ray (BD) source with that monitor in the future if you want. If your monitor does not have an HDMI input that has the copy protection the studios insists on, you cannot even hook a BD player nor a BD enabled laptop to it to playback a BD movie on it.

Hope this helps & welcome to the forum!

cinister · 09-18-2009, 07:19 PM

Thanks for the info...very interesting.
Think I'm going to go for a vga screen as it works out far cheaper as good and I don't need audio.

Is the image quality as good as hdmi? Same res so makes sense it is but everyone has a different opinion. Guy in the local electronic shop was convinced vga was 720!!

**PFC5** · 09-19-2009, 11:48 AM

You have to make sure your video card in your laptop can handle the native resolution of your display. Also remember that there will be no BD playback capability down the road if you want it. You will have to check the specific specs for the monitors you are comparing to see what the inputs can accept and out as. Many do limit the VGA input to 720p so you need to check this out before buying.

Will you be hooking up a cable/sat box to this as well?

09-18-2009, 04:05 PM	#1
cinister What is HD? Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2	vga & hdmi.....am i missing something? Hi all. I'm looking to buy a monitor to hook up to my laptop which has vga and hdmi outputs. What is the main differences between the two? I know that hdmi carries audio which is no use to me so should I go for a cheaper vga only monitor which has the same native resolution anyway? I feel like there's something I'm missing because there's a big price difference. Thanks for reading

09-18-2009, 06:26 PM	#2
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,406	VGA is analog while HDMI is digital. HDMI also requires the display to have HDCP (Copy protection) so you can actually watch a Blu-ray (BD) source with that monitor in the future if you want. If your monitor does not have an HDMI input that has the copy protection the studios insists on, you cannot even hook a BD player nor a BD enabled laptop to it to playback a BD movie on it. Hope this helps & welcome to the forum! __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

09-19-2009, 11:48 AM	#4
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,406	You have to make sure your video card in your laptop can handle the native resolution of your display. Also remember that there will be no BD playback capability down the road if you want it. You will have to check the specific specs for the monitors you are comparing to see what the inputs can accept and out as. Many do limit the VGA input to 720p so you need to check this out before buying. Will you be hooking up a cable/sat box to this as well? __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

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09-18-2009, 07:19 PM	#3
cinister What is HD? Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2	Thanks for the info...very interesting. Think I'm going to go for a vga screen as it works out far cheaper as good and I don't need audio. Is the image quality as good as hdmi? Same res so makes sense it is but everyone has a different opinion. Guy in the local electronic shop was convinced vga was 720!!