Monitor input. Connecting a monitor to a computer via HDMI: our guide
Previously, the connection of video cards to the monitor was carried out using the VGA video interface. Image transmission was carried out by means of an analog signal without sound output. The technology was developed in such a way that VGA monitors could work without problems with new versions graphics adapters supporting large quantity colors. However, this interface was replaced by new ones, where the signal is output already in digital form. Let's figure out how to connect a VGA monitor to HDMI or another type of interface of your choice.
On older monitors, there is only a VGA connector, which previously did not cause problems, because most video cards also had this port. However, with the release of the 400th RX models from AMD and the tenth series GeForce models from NVIDIA, the developers decided to get rid of the already legacy connection and did not add VGA. Because of this, users have to use converters to connect a new video card to old monitors.
Choosing an active converter
In new video cards, all interfaces are digital, so a regular adapter cannot be connected to a monitor. You need to choose one of the most suitable connectors and pick up a converter in the store. Before buying, pay attention to the following details:
The vast majority of converters do not require presetting and installing drivers, just connect and start working on your computer.
Connecting a video card to a monitor via a converter
There is nothing complicated in connecting all the wires, just follow a few steps:
Today we examined in detail the principle of selecting a converter and connecting it to a video card and monitor. If after connecting you find that the image is not displayed or the monitor screen goes blank over time, we recommend that you read a few of our articles, they will help you find a solution to the problems that have arisen.
Hello friends! Let's take a break from configuring routers and Wi-Fi for a moment. Let's talk about a general technical topic, which, I'm sure, will be of interest to many of our subscribers and guests. We will talk about how to connect a monitor to a computer via HDMI.
If during the reading there are questions or something does not work out, be sure to write in the comments, which are always open to all our readers.
Connection interfaces
To begin with, I’ll tell you what are the options for connecting a monitor to a system unit (or rather, to a motherboard):
- VGA is a standard analog-type video interface used in video adapters and monitors. As a rule, a VGA cable and connector are used to connect the monitor to the motherboard.
- DVI is a digital video interface for transmitting images to digital devices. There are several types - it transmits only analog signals, analog + digital, only digital.
- HDMI - Relatively new interface for the transmission of multimedia data - video and audio signals. This is a modern replacement for analog connection standards. Classified into: standard HDMI(type A), mini (type C), micro (type D).
The main difference between HDMI and VGA and DVI is the ability to transmit not only video, but also sound. However, if an HDMI to DVI cable is used, video and audio signals will also be transmitted.
For everyone modern devices There are HDMI ports. If you only have a VGA or DVI connector on your motherboard, and a monitor with HDMI support, you can buy an adapter. That is, at one end of the cable there will be a plug for the HDMI port, and at the other end - the other one, the one you need.
display port
Let me briefly talk about this standard. This is the "youngest" interface for connecting a computer to a display or home theater. Just like HDMI, it transmits image and sound from the source to the monitor.
The main difference between the interface is the ability to connect 2-4 monitors (depending on the resolution). In addition, DisplayPort has a higher data transfer rate (21 Gbps versus 10 Gbps for HDMI).
It is stated that equipment manufacturers began to introduce DisplayPort back in 2008. However, now you will not find such a connector on every modern monitor, TV, etc.
Connection
So, we figured out the interfaces, let's move on to the main thing. Since the HDMI standard is now widely used, so I will describe connecting a monitor to a computer through it.
There are adapters from HDMI to VGA and vice versa. See what connectors are on the monitor and system unit to select the correct cable.
What else you need to consider if the cable is not included and you need to buy it yourself. Distinguish HDMI cables dad-dad, mom-dad. What does it mean? It's simple: dad is a plug, mom is a connector (like people, sorry for the black humor). In short, you need to pay attention to this too.
The very connection of the monitor via HDMI also does not cause any trouble. It connects to a computer - either to a motherboard with a built-in video card, or to an additionally installed video card.
Each end of the cable must be plugged into the appropriate connector (port) on the motherboard (video card) and monitor. It is better to do this when both devices are disconnected from the network.
Then turn on the computer and monitor. If the picture appeared immediately, good. If not, don't worry. You just need to switch the signal source on the monitor to the desired one. To do this, most displays have a button labeled "Source" or "Input" at the bottom of the screen.
Don't forget to install software for the monitor, which usually comes with a separate CD.
I also recommend watching the following video:
Additional monitor
Consider a situation where you have connected one display via HDMI, but need another screen. Look closely at the connectors on the motherboard. In addition to HDMI, there is probably also VGA and / or DVI. Check which interface is additionally present on the monitor. Connect a second device through it to view the picture. If the connectors don't match, buy an adapter.
Possible problems
How the connection connector affects the picture quality is described in the following video:
Here I want to talk about the problems with screen resolution and colors that you may encounter when connecting a monitor to a computer via HDMI. The fact is that initially this standard was intended for connecting household appliances, and not computer ones.
For example, on TVs that transmit an analog image, there is an Overscan mode that masks distortion at frame boundaries - the picture is enlarged, and the edges are cut off. When we connect the display to the computer, the video card drivers can turn on the overscan compensation mode, which will give us a reduction in the picture and black, unused areas at the edges. To avoid this, you need to disable this feature in the video card driver.
Another problem is color distortion. Appliances uses a limited range of color values, and computer technology- full. Therefore, when connecting a monitor to a computer via HDMI, there may be such troubles:
- Narrowing of the image, gray dots instead of black, non-intense colors;
- Few color gradations;
- Sharp colors.
Only setting the RGB range will help here. There is a similar function in the driver Nvidia graphics cards and AMD.
Now I want to reassure our reader. Such problems are unlikely to be encountered if you have modern computer equipment.
If you have any questions, welcome to the comments! We will respond quickly and try to help! And I say goodbye, see you on our portal!
To sort out the issue, how to connect monitor to computer, you need to be clear about what connectors exist. In addition, will you need an adapter to connect the cable that comes with the monitor to the system unit?
Consider these two questions and the direct connection procedure.
Three types of connectors are currently used to connect a monitor to a computer:
The first connector is the most outdated compared to the other two. Many experts argued that his days were numbered and that he would soon be no longer used in the production of monitors and. However, to this day, many manufacturing companies are embedding it. Although, if other connectors are installed on the equipment, experts advise not to use it.
The DVI connector is the prototype of VGA. If it is on the monitor and computer, it is better to use it, because it transmits the image more clearly.
The third, most modern, type of connector is used to connect a computer and a TV. But in latest models monitors, given input is also present and can be used for these purposes. In addition, in terms of transmission quality, it is almost identical to DVI.
Connection procedure
First, find the input on the back of the monitor for connecting to the system unit. It can accommodate both a single type and all three connectors at the same time (in this article, a screenshot of a monitor with a single VGA type is used).
Note: some models of motherboards (processors) have an integrated video card on board. Then the discrete one may simply be absent, and in this situation the corresponding connectors will be placed near the inputs intended for connecting the manipulator and keyboard.
Since, in the current case, there is one VGA connector on the monitor, you need to connect using the cable of the same name, where the corresponding plugs are used at the ends.
Connect it to the monitor and the system unit, fixing it with special fasteners.
Try to turn on the power on the system unit and monitor, after which the image should be displayed. If this does not work out, the problem must be sought in the connection, cord, or in the components.
Caution: Never connect a monitor while the computer is on. This can lead to a voltage drop and some component parts may simply fail.
What to do if the video card and monitor do not have the same type of connector
Older monitors have only one VGA connector. At the same time, there is no such output on modern video cards, there are only DVI and HDMI. In this case, without buying a special DVI to VGA adapter not enough.
It must be inserted on the video card into the DVI connector and secured with fixing bolts.
Connection via HDMI cable produced less frequently. At the same time, it has a huge advantage: the cable length can be up to five meters, which is important for connecting monitors and TVs at a great distance from the system unit.
Connecting a TV and a computer is done in the same way. There is nothing complicated in this procedure.
So, you bought a brand new monitor for your desktop PC - now what to do with this unit? How to connect a monitor to a computer? In fact, you should have asked this question even before you chose an option that was suitable for its characteristics and went to the store to give your hard-earned money for it. After all, if you already have a system unit under the table, then you need to select a screen based on those connectors for connecting a monitor that are already in the motherboard or video card, or buy it additionally.
Monitor Connectors
Well, now let's go in order. So, as you could already understand from the above, you can connect a monitor to a computer:
- Or to a PC motherboard with an integrated video card, which already has a corresponding video input.
- Or to a discrete, that is, additionally installed, video card.
Of course, for games it is better to have a separate vidyukha, and preferably two, and even with water cooling - but this is a topic. And here we are primarily interested in which monitor connector we will see on the back of the computer case. Most often it is the old VGA, DVI
Or more modern DisplayPort or HDMI
For the quality of the picture transmission, it is better, of course, to use the last two. You can read more about connectors. So, we looked at which of them is in the system unit, after which we select the monitor so that it either has the same connector and cable, or, at least, that there is an adapter. If the PC has both a built-in and a separate video card, then we focus on those connectors that are on the discrete one, as they may differ. In the picture below, the connectors on the card built into the motherboard are highlighted in green, and on the card installed separately in red.
And this is what the connectors for connecting to the monitor itself look like. This sample has HDMI, DVI and D-Sub (aka VGA).
That is, this system unit with this monitor can be connected via VGA or HDMI - all that remains is to choose the option that we like, and this is of course HDMI, and connect them with the appropriate cable.
After connecting the monitor, for the correct display of the picture and color reproduction, it will be necessary to install the drivers that are attached to it on the CD.
Thanks! Did not help
Left - VGA, middle - DVI, right - HDMI.
It often happens that both the monitor and the video card support all three interfaces. In this case, we recommend using DVI or HDMI interface, at your discretion.
Well, you say, they began to express themselves in all sorts of incomprehensible terms. But don't get scared ahead of time. computer language is replete with such terms that you will need to gradually learn. Nothing without this.
An interface is, simply put, interaction, conjugation.
Let's move on ... The video card can be either built into the motherboard ( integrated), and external (discrete), that is, it is a separate device connected to the corresponding connector on the computer motherboard.
In the figure in the rectangle numbered 1 video card slot plugged in built into the motherboard. IN this example this VGA connector. Rectangle number 2 shows external video card connectors. And here, as we can see, all three video interfaces described above.
If your computer Both video cards are present, then it would be better and more correct to use an external one. Why? The integrated graphics card does not have its own random access memory, so it will use the system's memory, which cannot be said about the external video card. The external "vidyuhi" has not only its own "RAM", but also its own processor. But now we will not delve into the wilds, we have another task ...
So let's see what interfaces supports your video card and monitor, take the appropriate cable (as a rule, they come with the monitor) and connect them to each other.
Connecting the power cable to the monitor
Plug the network cable into connector on the monitor, other end to the network filter. The surge protector is such an extension cord to connect multiple(usually at least five) devices and a power button. There is also a fuse, so if there is a strong voltage drop in the mains, then the fuse will trip, and your PC will not be affected.
Connecting the network cable to the power supply
Connecting a keyboard and mouse to a computer
Keyboard and mouse connected to the system unit via a PS / 2 connector or via regular USB. Green for the mouse, green for the keyboard lilac.
Do not confuse with USB 3.0. These connectors differ in color, USB 3.0 has blue connectors.
Connecting speakers
Connecting audio speakers. Almost all motherboards have a built-in sound card. On the back panel of the system unit, you can see from three to six multi-colored inputs.
Green input for speakers, pink - for microphone. All the rest are not needed if you have regular speakers.
Checking connections and turning on the computer
Everything! Your computer is ready to be turned on. Check all connections again. We connect the surge protector to the power supply and press the red button on it. Same way check switch position on the power supply. Naturally, it must be enabled. Keep in mind that not all power supplies have such a switch.
Workplace organization
Well, in conclusion, a few words about choosing the location of your PC and organizing the workplace. When choosing a location for your computer, take care so that the system unit is not near heating appliances. Otherwise, the system may overheat and cause an emergency shutdown if the overheating protection system is triggered. But it's better not to experiment.
Recommended distance from monitor to eyes should not be less than 70 cm. More is possible, less is not. It is desirable that the center of the monitor is at eye level. What is it for? For convenience of perception of information from the monitor screen.
Take care of good lighting your workplace. It should not be too bright, but not dull either. If your computer is installed in a poorly lit area, install an additional light.
