The VGA port, or Video Graphics Array, has been connecting monitors to computers since almost the birth of
the computer. In recent years, displays and computers have begun to adapt the newer DisplayPort and HDMI technologies which allow for less space and power consumption and higher resolutions.
Intel and AMD have announced that they will stop support for VGA beginning in 2013 and expect the technology to die out by 2015, being replaced by DisplayPort and HDMI ports. We have already seen plenty of video cards stop supporting VGA and it is no surprise that the two giants of the computer world are beginning to do it as well. Getting rid of VGA means slimmer laptops that allow for a much more vibrant and clear high resolution display than the more than 20-year-old VGA.
Nick Knuppfer, Intel's spokesperson, told TechNewsWorld, "HDMI and DisplayPort are modern digital interfaces that support higher resolutions and screen sizes."
This move will result in a much quicker integration of DisplayPort and HDMI technologies which will lead to higher resolutions and modern interfaces on the displays of the future. Samsung, LG and Dell have already begun to integrate DisplayPort technology on their devices and are on-board with Intel and AMD's plans for the death of the VGA port.
Despite the adaptation of newer technology, the 5-volt requirement on VGA ports would actually result in an overall increase in cost and PCB real estate. Because newer CPUs and GPUs are migrating below 45nm CMOS processes, supporting the VGA port would be difficult and likely result in moving the port off of the chip.
It's always a bittersweet type of feeling to see old technology go, but VGA's death will be for the best. What do you guys think? Anyone still using a VGA port?
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Scanlia Nah, I like VGA because it "has no limit on resolution" and HDMI can only go up to 2560x1600 or something. Wait, HDMI supports high quality audio too though... ?Reply -
darkguset I am all for getting rid of it finally. My concern is what is going to happen with all those Projectors, etc that are already very expensive and support VGA only....Reply -
JE_D I am currently using VGA right now.Reply
But I will be using HDMI as soon as I get my new monitor -
cadder VGA is still the lowest common denominator. I have a Mac but it won't work with my old DVI monitor so I had to buy adapters and use it with an old VGA adapter. I was running my home computer with DVI but I couldn't find a decent DVI KVM switch at any price so I had to switch everything back to VGA and use a very good VGA KVM switch that only cost $15. My computers at work use DVI monitors but I have to use adapters to connect them to my new CAD workstation that came with VGA only ports.Reply
Fortunately VGA won't die out completely, other people will still support it. I would hat to throw away perfectly usable hardware and buy new hardware just because the plugs don't work anymore. I would rather use my money to buy new CPU's and hard drives and such. -
jimmysmitty scanliaNah, I like VGA because it "has no limit on resolution" and HDMI can only go up to 2560x1600 or something. Wait, HDMI supports high quality audio too though... ?Reply
The problem with VGA though is it runs a analog signal. And I think the one you are thinking of as limitless resolution is Dual link DVI which is not limited to any resolution except the available bandwidth on the copper connectors.
HDMI however is capable of up to 2160P (3840 x 2160) resolution which we don't have any monitors that support it and any resolution beyond that is already supported via DVI/DisplayPort and multiple monitors on most ATI HD5K+ series GPUs.