Video Connector Types: HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA, BNC Compared

The connector on the end of a video cable is what actually determines what the connection can do – the resolution ceiling, the audio, the refresh rate, and whether the plug even fits. This guide covers the video connector types in current use: HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA, BNC, and F-type, with the physical cues that identify each one and the signal each one carries.

Digital Video Connectors: HDMI and DisplayPort

The two connectors that dominate any setup built in the last decade. Both carry video and audio in one plug, but they differ in pin count, shell shape, bandwidth ceiling, and feature set.

HDMI: the 19-pin trapezoid

HDMI’s flat trapezoidal shell with 19 pins is the most widely recognized video connector. The version (1.4, 2.0, 2.1) is not visible on the plug itself – it is a property of the cable and of the device port. HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K at 120 Hz and 8K at 60 Hz; HDMI 2.0 supports 4K at 60 Hz. The connector shape is identical across all versions.

DisplayPort: the 20-pin with one corner cut

DisplayPort’s rectangular shell has one corner cut off, which keys the plug to one orientation. It carries 20 pins and supports higher bandwidth per generation than equivalent HDMI: HBR3 (DP 1.4) reaches 27 Gbps. DisplayPort also supports Multi-Stream Transport for daisy-chaining monitors, a feature HDMI does not offer. The cut corner means a DP plug will not physically fit an HDMI port, and vice versa.

How to tell them apart

HDMI is a symmetric flat trapezoid; DisplayPort has the cut corner and fits one way only. Count the pins if the shell is removed: 19 for HDMI, 20 for DisplayPort. On a device, the ports are usually labeled HDMI and DP or DisplayPort – the label is the fastest check.

Legacy Video Connectors: DVI and VGA

DVI and VGA are the two connectors that bridge the pre-HDMI era. Both are still common on projectors, industrial displays, and older desktop monitors, and both carry no audio.

DVI: digital with an analog fallback

DVI comes in three variants: DVI-D (digital only, 24 pins in a 4×6 grid), DVI-A (analog only, rare), and DVI-I (both, 24+5 pins). The two thumbscrews on either side of the connector are a physical identifier. DVI carries no audio – a separate 3.5mm or RCA cable is always required for sound. Dual-link DVI supports up to 2560×1600.

VGA: the 15-pin blue D-sub

VGA is a 15-pin D-sub connector, almost always blue-shelled, with three rows of five pins and two thumb-screws. It carries an analog RGB signal and tops out at roughly 1080p in practice. VGA has no audio conductors at all. It is the last video connector you will find on a modern consumer device, though it persists on industrial displays, older projectors, and some embedded systems.

DVI to VGA, and the other cross-conversions

DVI-I has analog pins and can connect to VGA with a passive adapter (video only, no audio). DVI-D to VGA requires an active converter with power. VGA to HDMI requires an active digital converter. These cross-conversions are one-directional – a DVI-to-HDMI passive adapter carries video only and will not work in the reverse direction.

Professional and RF Connectors: BNC and F-type

BNC and F-type are the two connectors that move video outside the consumer space – into broadcast, surveillance, and antenna systems, where locking and impedance matter more than bandwidth.

BNC: the 75-ohm bayonet

BNC is a small bayonet-lock connector on a 75-ohm coaxial cable. It carries SDI video in broadcast (HD-SDI 1.5G, 3G-SDI, 10G-SDI), composite video on older equipment, and some camera power feeds. The twist-lock makes it the standard for any video connection that must survive vibration – stage rigs, broadcast booths, and surveillance cameras.

F-type: the screw coax for antenna and cable TV

F-type is a threaded coaxial connector, 75 ohm, used for over-the-air antenna feeds and cable-TV drops to a set-top box or TV tuner. It is the connector on the wall plate where the cable company’s line enters the house. F-type does not carry a decoded video signal – it carries RF, which the tuner decodes internally before outputting HDMI or component.

Video Connector Quick-Reference

Real-World Application Scenarios

A home theater room has HDMI on every device – TV, console, streaming box, soundbar via eARC – and F-type on the antenna or cable feed to the tuner. A home office PC has DisplayPort from the GPU to the primary monitor and HDMI to the TV or a secondary display. A classroom or conference room projector may still carry VGA or DVI inputs alongside HDMI, requiring the appropriate cable or an active converter. A broadcast or surveillance installation is BNC everywhere: camera to switcher, switcher to monitor, all on 75-ohm coax with BNC bayonet locks. The connector on the device determines the cable; the cable version must match or exceed the device’s output capability.

Recommended Internal Resources

Editorial Note: Internal linking recommendation: (1) Video Cables – https://zh-zong.com/video-cables/ (anchor: video cables); (2) Video Input Types – https://zh-zong.com/video-input-types/ (anchor: video input types); (3) Cable Product Catalog – https://zh-zong.com/productlist/ (anchor: cable product list)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)