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XGA Description and Pinout

The eXtended Graphics Adapter [XGA] interface was developed by IBM and is used as an interface between a Personal Computer and a Monitor. The XGA interface was introduced in 1990. The VGA interface provided a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. The XGA Interface bus uses a 15-pin D-sub connector. The table below provides the pinout and signal names for the DB15-pin connector.

The connector may be advertised having a number of different options. Assuming a 15-pin XGA 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 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 This video display is OBSOLETE.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 This video display is OBSOLETE.

EGA [Enhanced Graphics Adapter]: This EGA standard [1984] offered improved resolutions and more colors than CGA. EGA allowed graphical output up to 16 colors (chosen from a palette of 64) at screen resolutions of 640x350, or 80x25 text with 16 colors, all at a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The monitors have a digital interface. This video display is OBSOLETE.

VGA [Video Graphics Array]: VGA [1987] is a superset of EGA, incorporating all EGA modes. Older displays sent digital signals to the monitor, while VGA (and later) send analog signals. This change was necessary to allow for more color precision. The link provides pinouts and signal names with a description of the bus.This video display is OBSOLETE.

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.

Electronic Video Key words: XGA, 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, Out-dated, Obsolete.

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