They’ll be located below the motherboard I/O port on the back of your desktop. Meanwhile, discrete graphics cards installed in desktops have their ports that can rely on any of the standards noted above. Connecting with discrete graphics (such as AMD and Nvidia) In the case, you’ll probably need an adapter or mini-HDMI to HDMI cable. Most computers use the regular Type-A port, but on rare occasions, you’ll see a laptop with a smaller version. The standard Type-A port is mostly rectangular save for a slight dip on the lower half. It serves as an all-in-one output for both digital video and audio, so you’re only dealing with one cable. High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI): The most common video output on the mainstream market. To figure out what version you have installed, the diagrams are located here. There are five versions of DVI, including DVI-I that combines digital and analog, DVI-D that’s digital only, and DVI-A that’s analog only. VGA can’t carry audio.ĭigital Video Interface (DVI): This port is typically yellow and rectangular, and shoves all pin seats to the right.

This port handles analog video only and is the oldest video output of the trio.

Video Graphics Array (VGA): This is typically blue, features 15 holes, and has a screw on each side to secure the attached cable. Typically, motherboards include three types of video output to cover the vast assortment of monitors and technologies spanning the last 10 years.

This area is typically called the I/O panel, as shown above, and consists of a handful of connectors that are grouped for audio output, peripheral input, networking, and so on. In a desktop, video output generated by integrated graphics is piped through ports mounted on the motherboard that protrude through their designated holes at the back of the case. The first factor you need to determine is what type of graphics component you have inside your desktop or laptop. This guide walks you through how to set up dual monitors in Windows 10. Toggling is time-consuming and can make you lose your train of thought.ĭual monitors allow you to see the bigger picture when looking at multiple spreadsheets and documents. Your life is much simpler when you no longer have to switch back and forth between tabs on a single screen. Having dual monitors can be immensely helpful for productivity.

Connecting hdmi laptop to vga monitor