As the term suggests,video cable is used to transmit video signals,which connects display devices and media player devices such as DVD,HTPC,VCD.Video cable has the following categories:
AV cable:it is the oldest video cable transfering analog video signal,of which both ends are lotus head(RCA head).Currently,DVD players and television sets all have this interface and you needn’t lay such a line when decoration.
S terminal cable:it appears a few years ago and the quality is better than AV cable.The interface is circular similar to the PS2 mouse head.Because it is behind the times,don’t recommend.
3 component cable:currently,it should be the best video cable which transmits analog signal and is better than S video cable on quality.It appears on new DVD players,high-end TVs and home-used projectors.If your media player device and display device are distant,consider it when decoration.
VGA cable:it is also a video cable,mostly seen in computers.But with the increasing amount of video data,VGA cable are poor in quality and too long cable will lead to snow on devices when the resolution is more than 1600X1200.Why mentions VGA cable? That is because HTPC comes into the home theater,all the projectors have VGA Interface.So,it must be considered.
DVI cable:full name is Digital Visual Interface,the latest digital video cable transmitting all-digital signal with uncompressed technology,of which the maximum transmission speed is 8Gbps.It has been supported by most manufacturers currently.Its interface includes 24 +1(DVI-D) and 24 +5(DVI-I) type.DVI-I simultaneously supports digital (DVI-D) and analog signal(VGA signals)transmission.In general,HTPC graphics cards support DVI-I interface and liquid crystal displays and projectors support DVI-D interfaces.DVI-I interface isn’t compatible with DVI-D interface because of four needles on DVI-D interface,but we still can use a DVI-I to DVI-D switch converter to solve the problem.
HDMI cable:full name is Hi-Definition Multimedia Interface,a digital video cable newer than the DVI cable transmitting all-digital signal with uncompressed technology,of which the highest transmission speed is 3.95Gbps.HDMI can not only transmit video signal,but also digital audio of 192kHz 8-channels and 96kHz mono.There aren’t too many devices supporting HDMI,whose interface can convert with DVI interface.
In conclusion,in order to support all display devices like general TV,plasma,LCD TVs,rear projection,LCD cinema projector,which cable we should lay?
If you want to be compatible with all the equipment,the best chioces are the most common VGA cable,analog component cable,DVI cable.Less equipments support HDMI interface on the market,if has,convert the signal on DVI cable via a DVI-HDMI switch.
pc cable