USB vs. VGA

Computers may have several input and output options to make connections to other devices, including a monitor. A monitor may have one or several input options, depending on the age and model. A USB port on a computer has a wide variety of uses and can connect directly to a monitor that has a USB input option. A VGA output on a computer only makes a connection to a monitor.

1. USB

   • First offered in 1996, Universal Serial Bus ports have become a common connection from computers to peripheral equipment including mice, keyboards, storage devices, cameras, speakers, monitors and USB hubs to add up to 127 connections. The original versions provided a low-speed channel at 1.5 Mbps and a full-speed channel at 12 Mbps. Version 2.0 of 2001 increased speed up to 480 Mbps and version 3.0 of 2008 increased it to 4.8 Gbps. USB ports are "hot-swappable" meaning you can hook up devices with the power on. USB ports use as small, flat 4-pin push-in connector.

   VGA

   • Video graphics array was developed in 1987 to provide high-quality analog video signals to computer monitors. The original resolution was 640 by 480 pixels or dots to illuminate the screen. Improvements over the years raised resolution in stages to 3,840 by 2,400 used for high-definition monitors today. All stages of resolution are still in use today for various applications, and many computer video cards offer resolution options. VGA ports use a 15-pin trapezoidal D type connector with three rows of five pins each and thumbscrews on the ends to hold it in place.

   Monitors

   • A computer monitor that has several input options offers users a choice of different video formats. The quality of the screen presentation depends on the resolution built into the monitor and the quality of the signal sent. The video card in the computer determines the quality of the signal and can vary widely with different models that range in price from under $100 to well into the thousands. A USB port connection provides a digital signal for sharper presentations and a VGA connection provides an analog signal for softer presentations that users sometimes prefer for artistic applications.

   Converters

   • Many newer and higher-quality monitors have several input options, including composite video,VGA, USB and HDMI. If your computer only has a VGA output, you can connect it directly to a monitor's VGA input or use a converter to change the VGA format on the computer output to one of the other formats the monitor may support, but not to USB. If your monitor only has a VGA input port, you can use a converter connected to a USB port on your computer to change the format to VGA.