HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C or VGA: Which Cable Should You Use?

The biggest source of confusion isn’t the connector itself, but the version. Two HDMI cables might have the same plug but can have very different bandwidths; it is this bandwidth that determines which resolution and how many Hz reach your screen.

Connector comparison #

The versions that matter #

For HDMI 2.1, look for the Ultra High Speed label on the packaging; for DisplayPort 2.1, look for the DP40 or DP80 rating. These certifications tell you how much bandwidth a cable can handle—not its price or brand.

DisplayPort #

It was designed for computers and remains the best choice when your monitor is connected to a PC.

It offers three concrete advantages. It provides more bandwidth within the same generation, allowing for high resolutions with high refresh rates without compromises. It has excellent support for FreeSync and G-Sync, the adaptive sync technologies that eliminate screen tearing in games. Finally, it allows you to daisy-chain multiple monitors from a single port thanks to Multi-Stream Transport (MST).

On some devices, you will find it in the Mini DisplayPort format. Also, the signal traveling through USB-C cables when using Alt Mode is always DisplayPort.

HDMI #

TVs, consoles, set-top boxes, projectors, computers: HDMI is everywhere. If there isn’t a PC on the other end of the cable, you will almost certainly be using this.

It carries video and audio together, sends audio back to your soundbar or amplifier (eARC), and passes remote control commands between connected devices (CEC).

With a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or recent TVs, you need HDMI 2.1 throughout the entire chain to get 4K at 120 Hz: the console port, the cable, and the TV port. On many TVs, only two of the four HDMI ports are 2.1, which is usually noted next to the socket. If one link in the chain is older, it will still work, but the connection will drop to lower specs, often without warning you.

USB-C and Thunderbolt #

For a laptop, this is the most convenient solution: a single cable to the monitor carries video, charges your computer, and connects any mouse or keyboard plugged into the monitor.

The problem is that not all USB-C ports transmit video. The port must support DisplayPort Alt Mode or be Thunderbolt or USB4. You can find this in your computer’s specifications, often in a small line of text. Next to the port, a lightning bolt indicates Thunderbolt, and a D-shaped icon with a screen symbol indicates DisplayPort.

Cables vary too. A USB-C cable sold for phone charging often lacks the wiring required for video. If you also need video, get a cable labeled as USB4, Thunderbolt 4 or 5, or “with video support.”

Thunderbolt 5, found on computers released from 2024 onwards, reaches 80 Gbps, and up to 120 Gbps in one direction when more bandwidth is needed toward the display.

DVI #

It was the first widely used digital standard on graphics cards between the late ’90s and early 2010s. Like VGA, it does not carry audio.

There are three variants: DVI-A (analog only, now obsolete), DVI-D (digital only), and DVI-I (which carries both signals). Dual Link versions reach 2560×1600 at 60 Hz or 1080p at 144 Hz; this is why many gaming monitors from ten years ago still had a DVI port.

The video signal for DVI-D is the same as HDMI, so you only need a passive adapter between the two without any loss in quality. However, modern graphics cards no longer feature a DVI output: if you still have a monitor with only that port, you will need an HDMI or DisplayPort adapter.

VGA #

It’s analog, it doesn’t carry audio, and quality drops as resolution and cable length increase. On modern monitors, text looks less sharp than with a digital connection.

Introduced by IBM in 1987, it only makes sense today in one scenario: when the device on the other end offers nothing else, usually an old conference room projector or a monitor from many years ago.

How to choose #

• PC gaming monitor: DisplayPort.
• TV or console: HDMI, version 2.1 if you want 120 Hz.
• Laptop and recent monitor: USB-C, after checking that both the port and cable support video.
• Two or more monitors from a single output: DisplayPort with MST, or a Thunderbolt docking station.
• Soundbar or amplifier on your TV: HDMI, using the port labeled eARC.
• Old monitor with only a DVI port: An HDMI or DisplayPort adapter.
• Old conference room projector: VGA, using a converter if your computer lacks the output.

Adapters #

You can switch from one connector to another, but not all conversions work the same way.

Digital to digital, such as DisplayPort to HDMI or USB-C to HDMI: these adapters work well. However, the result is limited by the weakest link: an adapter for HDMI 2.0 will limit you to 4K at 60 Hz even if your graphics card and TV support more.

Digital to analog, such as HDMI or DisplayPort to VGA: you need an active converter containing a small circuit and sometimes a USB power supply. A simple passive adapter will not work in this direction.

Direction matters. Many adapters only work one way: an HDMI to VGA adapter won’t become a VGA to HDMI adapter just by flipping it around.

FAQ #

For gaming, is DisplayPort or HDMI better? #

On PC, use DisplayPort, because for the same generation it offers more bandwidth and computer monitors support FreeSync and G-Sync better through this port. The gap has narrowed significantly with HDMI 2.1: if both your monitor and graphics card have HDMI 2.1, you won’t notice a difference in most games.

Why won’t my monitor go above 60 Hz? #

Common causes include: the refresh rate hasn’t been increased in the display settings; the cable doesn’t support the required bandwidth; or the monitor port is set to a reduced mode in its menu. Check these in this order before assuming there is a fault.

Does an expensive HDMI cable improve image quality? #

No. The signal is digital: it either arrives intact, making the image identical to any other cable, or it doesn’t arrive at all, resulting in artifacts or a black screen. What matters is certification for the bandwidth you need; a cheap certified cable does the same job as one costing 50 euros.

Can I connect an old VGA monitor to a PC that only has HDMI? #

Yes, using an active HDMI to VGA converter that transforms the digital signal into analog. It costs a few euros, but a simple cable with two different plugs won’t work.

Can I connect two monitors to a single port? #

With DisplayPort, yes, thanks to multi-stream transport (MST): you connect the first monitor to the computer and the second one to the first, provided the monitor has a DisplayPort output. Alternatively, you can use a multiport hub or a docking station, which handles multiple screens without issue on Thunderbolt ports. However, MST is not supported on Macs with base Apple chips.

Are USB-C and Thunderbolt the same thing? #

No. USB-C is the shape of the plug; Thunderbolt is a technology that uses that plug. Recent Thunderbolt ports are all USB-C and all carry video, whereas many USB-C ports are not Thunderbolt and some do not carry video. This is why two identical-looking ports can behave differently.

Does a USB-C cable provide the same quality as DisplayPort? #

Yes, if the port supports DP Alt Mode or Thunderbolt: the actual DisplayPort signal passes through the cable, providing the same resolutions and refresh rates.