A Fun Fact: VGA Cable’s Pins
By News Sep 27 2021

A Fun Fact: VGA Cable’s Pins

What is VGA Cable?

VGA (Video Graphics Array) is a common standard for video output that uses analog signal signals. VGA was first introduced in 1987 by IBM for the 640x480 displays. VGA connectors have many pins that each have their own function on the screen display. Although most modern electronics devices change to use digital signals for video transmission, the VGA cables still play their functions in some relatively older laptops, televisions, and monitors.
VGA cable is applied into a 16-color system, rather than the S-Video. In the electronics industry, this is a revolutionary transform.

How Many Pins Does a VGA Cable Have?

15 or 14. 14-pins cable can be applied to most occasions. As for the 15-pins VGA cable, it is more compatible and has wider applications. The outstanding feature of the VGA cable is its large number of pins. There are 15 jacks in the normal VGA ports for these 15 pins.

What’s the Use of VGA Cable’s Pins?

VGA cable connector
As a matter of fact, these 15 pins make a contribution to the color blend on the screen. Each pin is responsible for a part in the working of the color blend. The first three pins are responsible for red video, green video, and blue video. Also, the 16-color system could make good use of these three colors: red, green, and blue to create the other colors on the screen. Also, this system has the ability to change the intensity of the color. Therefore, the four variates: red, green, blue, and the intensity of the color get combinations through the VGA cable does. This is the reason why the system is called a 16-color system.
Pins 5,6,7,8,10 are grounding pins that could prevent signal interferences. These three pins accept and transmit the excess electricity. If the VGA misses these three pins, the VGA is not capable to provide a consistent picture.
Pins 13,14 control the synchronization of images on a horizontal and vertical level. One sends the vertical image, and the other one sends a horizontal image. The VGA would blend these two images together, then ensure they match.
Pins4,9,11,12,15 have no functions or limited functions. Initially, these pins are used for checking the type of the used monitor. In the 1990s, a transition, from analog signal broadcasting to digital signal, transform the cable recognized resolution, as a result, these pins are abandoned.

Conclusion

If you don’t sure which type of VGA cable your electronic devices, you could check the products’ specification tag that the VGA factory usually list clear information in it. Generally, the computer monitors are only suited for 14-pins VGA cable, and the televisions only need 15-pin VGA cable.
 
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