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VGA Description and Pinout

The Video Graphics Adapter [VGA] interface is used as an interface between a Personal Computer and a Monitor. The VGA interface was introduced in 1987 which was followed by Super VGA [SVGA] in 1990. So the signal pinout listed on this page is obsolete, use the pin out on the SVGA page instead.

VGA is a superset of EGA, incorporating all EGA modes. Older displays sent digital signals to the monitor, while VGA and later standards send analog signals. This change was necessary to allow for more color precision. The EGA video display interface is OBSOLETE.

The VGA interface provided a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels at a bandwidth of 36MHz, with the SVGA screen resolution having 800 x 600 pixels at a bandwidth of 45MHz. The VGA Interface bus uses either a 9-pin or 15-pin D-sub connector. The table below provides the pinout and signal names for either the DB15-pin or DB9-pin video connector.

The connector may be advertised having a number of different options. Assuming a 15-pin VGA connector on both the Monitor and PC; the cable will indicate 15 pins. The 15-Pin connector will have 3 rows of 5 pins or sockets. DB is the family, HD [High Density] is the style, M is Male [Pins], F is Female [Sockets]. Normally Equipment [PCs and Monitors] use sockets, so the cable needs to have pins [Male] to mate with the device. A normal cable may indicate HD15 Male to HD15 Male, or DB15 Male to DB15 Male, or high-density DB15 connector. In some cases the connectors may be called a mini-sub D15. The conductors will be 28 AWG in size. The length of the cable will vary depending on the quality, the better the cable is made the longer the length. When the cable uses a 15-pin connector and indicates a certain resolution then it may also comply with the SVGA standard. A Shielded cable is better then a non-Shielded cable. The cable may also indicate it contains EMI beads to reduce noise, again it may be a higher quality cable.

A listing on OEM D-sub connector manufacturers may be found on the Connector Manufacturers page, and this page points to Cable Assemblies.

Computer Video Interfaces and Pinout tables:

MDA [Monochrome Display Adapter]: established by IBM as part of the original Personal Computer [PC]. MDA is a monochrome-only, text-only standard, allowing text display at 80x25 characters. This video display is OBSOLETE.

CGA [Color Graphics Adapter]: The CGA standard [1981] supports several different modes; the highest quality text mode is 80x25 characters in 16 colors. The monitors are digital with a composite signal which is at TTL logic levels; Hs, Vs, and RGBI all at TTL logic levels. This video display is OBSOLETE.

DVI [Digital Visual Interface]: DVI interfaces are currently in full production and can handle digital or analog signals.

EGA [Enhanced Graphics Adapter]: This EGA standard [1984] offered improved resolutions and more colors than CGA. EGA allowed graphical output up to 16 colors. The monitors have a digital interface. This video display is OBSOLETE.

XGA [Extended Graphics Array]: IBM introduced [1990] the XGA interface as a successor to its 8514/A display and to compete with VGA. XGA had a 1024 x 768 resolution using a 15-pin D connector.

XVGA [eXtended Video Graphics Array]: 1024 x 768 resolution

SVGA [Super VGA] offers more colors and resolutions, but really does not exist as a single standard. The primary standard refers to the BIOS, and how the computer talks to the monitor. VESA Display Data Channel [DDC] is a VESA standard that defines how to read certain pins in a standard SVGA monitor to query the monitor's capabilities. The link provides pinout and signal names with a description of the bus.

FPDI [Flat Panel Display Interface] describes the electrical layer, logical layer, and connector interface between flat panel displays and display controllers in an integrated environment. Also FPDI-1, used with VGA and SVGA [800 x 600]. Followed by FPDI-2

VMChannel [VESA Media Channel] describes a hardware interface for desktop multimedia systems. The VMChannel is a multiple master, multiple drop, clock synchronous interface designed for concurrent pixel data streams. VMChannel enables the real time flow of uncompressed multimedia pixels in a bidirectional fashion between multiple video adapters.

Back to the main PC Video Monitor Bus page, or to the main PC Interface Bus page.
Use the Buses icon at the bottom of the page to reach the top level index for all bus types. Use the Equipment icon at the bottom of the page to reach manufacturers of PC Monitors.

Electronic Design Key words: VGA bus, Video Interfaces, VGA; Video Graphics Array, EGA; Enhanced Graphics Adapter, Pinouts, Connector, Signal Names, IBM Compatible, PC, Computer Bus, Personal Computer, PCAT, Monitor, Display, Physical Interface, Monitor, Video Port, HD15, 15-Pin Dsub connector

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