wellllll, since my graphics card on my desktop only has mini display ports, that's what I use, but, and its a big but, lol, I have to use converters, dvi/hdmi for my screens. my lappy has vga and hdmi, so on that I use hdmi first, then vga if needs be. on my stylistic tablet, it only has vga
DisplayPort. Well, slight lie, but okay, details. Monitor is a 27" Apple display, which has a MiniDisplayPort cable. This then goes in to a Kanex SnapX switch, with the two MDP cables from that going in to my MacBook Pro and PC (the PC is via a DP to MDP adapter). However, if you're packing one in a box, make it a DVI cable. VGA should be taken out behind the shed and shot.
a lot of the cheaper screens still only come with vga, and for most home users is perfectly adequate, I for one, agree, it should be retired now, but paying customers have to stop buying the cheap ones. as side note, a lot of cctv equipment only comes with composite out or vga as well
DisplayPort support digital audio as well, and 3D. As for Ethernet... DisplayPort CAN support it. DisplayPort support an auxiliary source. Apple uses it to pass ThunderBolt, demos of DisplayPort 1.2 showed to use USB. It can pretty much be what you want (assuming it fits under the max bandwidth), the question is: Is your graphic card support it and what it decides to send. Of course, you need the monitor/TV to support it. I see DisplayPort 1.2 Aux being used with USB. graphic card can have a USB controller, and monitors does need it for their USB hub, and/or webcam and/or media card reader. Ethernet? Not so much... but possible if it arrives on TV.
No, Apple doesn't use DisplayPort like that. Thunderbolt works with DP because of the two controller chips, one at each end of the cable. These controllers mux the Thunderbolt and DP signals for transmission down the cables, and then de-mux at the other end into the two distinct streams. The actual Thunderbolt and DP data doesn't "mix" at any point. If you had the right hardware/software, you could read the DP data out of the stream without looking at the Thunderbolt stuff, and likewise the other way round. So no, DP is not carrying Thunderbolt.
I use DVI from my PC to my Monitor, simply because my monitor does not have a Display Port option. I then use HDMI from my PC to my TV for when I am watching films. I think my next investment Monitor wise will be a 4K screen and then I will invest in what ever I need to be able to run it.
Thank you for all the answers everyone. Good rep all round (as much as it will let me give for now, at least)! I figured this was the case but was a bit thrown by one of Dell's recent models (S2340L) which only has VGA and HDMI connections. (Nice monitor, but the connection options have put me off thinking about getting one for my, hopeful, PC setup at a table. It'll happen one day). DVI seems like the obvious choice and as a few of you have said VGA is just outdated and seems a bit cheap. Thanks again everyone!
That is because all the people you know only have consumer grade laptops (actually, Alienware laptops have DP now), and budget monitor on their desk.
DVI for one (U2711) and VGA for the other (U2311H). I can't really tell the difference, but a friend sees flickering on the VGA.
I notice more sharpening when using HDMI instead of dual link dvi. But that just be my TV applying it
Dude, your screen flicker so much, I can see it all the way over here! I assume your graphic card doesn't have 2x DVI plugs, right?
