Here are some video connections that I have come across when building or supporting systems.
DMS-59
DMS-59 is often seen on video cards with AMD GPUs shipped by Dell and requires a Male-Female adapter cable and can split the image between a monitor and a secondary target such as a projector. When there is a “No Signal” issue, I have to check and see if it the video cable or the adapter itself as they often get damaged or loose due to the way they are made.
DP
DP or DisplayPort (along with Mini DP) will fasten to the source and target unlike HDMI will and does support audio and video. Be mindful that there are many audio support versions so do your research.
DVI
DVI comes in two flavors. DVI-D (digital signal only) and DVI-I (both analog and digital). When buying video cards, I make sure that it supports DVI-I so that I can use it with old equipment and is not limited to using a DVI-D cable only. These are more expensive (if available as new) than their DVI-D counterpart but you can get used if the previous owner treated them well.
HDMI
HDMI (along with Mini HDMI and Micro HDMI) carries both audio and video so most users choose to buy large TVs and use them as a computer monitor (or use an AIO as an external monitor) for their work and play. Please note that HDMI cables do not fasten to the source or target and will become loose so if there is a display problem, check the connections first. For simplicity, I always try to make the HDMI target a second display unless the customer chooses otherwise.
Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt carries audio and video (which isn’t unexpected) but did you know that it can carry data and power too? This makes it excellent for connecting external drives to read and write data and if the drive has a pass through, you could then connect your monitor to show the content that you’re working.
USB
USB has made connecting devices easily so there is no surprise that it would not be used in an attempt to carry audio and video signals. On an old laptop with a broken LCD, I have utilized a USB to HDMI adapter on USB port to connect to an HDMI TV making the laptop useable until a replacement screen arrived for repairs.
VGA
VGA will not provide audio signals but there are lots of new and old monitors that support it. If getting an SFF or low profile video card, VGA may be missing so that HDMI and DVI can be primary output sources but will have 12 pins on the board to connect and VGA output which will take up a second slot in the computer, bracket, or cutout in the computer case.
Stephan Pringle
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