HDMI and VGA - is there a significant quality difference?

Still deciding between a Vaio Z (with HDMI output) or Thinkpad X200 (with VGA output). Is there a noticeable difference between HDMI and VGA quality?

My 24" monitor has HDMI input and will it help if I buy a "VGA to HDMI" converter? Will the difference be worthwhile?

Currently I can see slightly sharper text using my desktop DVI connection with the same monitor. Or perhaps I'd need to get a better quality VGA cable with gold connectors? Not sure as to what extent it helps.

 

For one HDMI supports audio.

 

Let's say I am just interested in video output only. My monitor's speakers is as good as my cellphone lol.

 

intel outside, yes there is.

VGA is analog, HDMI is digital.

Your graphics card builds the frames digitally (binary), then converts it to an analog signal to output VGA. The monitor (assuming LCD -not CRT-) then takes the VGA, converts it to binary and populates the pixels on the screen.

HDMI (or DVI for that matter) never gets changed from the native digital the graphics card built the image in. That makes for a faster cleaner signal.

Also HDMI/DVI is also far less affected by inductive interference and ground loops, ect.

 

not much difference if you dont use the audio

 

Thanks for this. Would it be better if I get a VGA to HDMI converter output to feed my 24" LCD?

 

Wait, you mean a converter that takes VGA from your computer and converts it to HDMI? If so, that would be a very costly purchase, and could make things worse.

Speaking of which, I still tend to prefer DVI over HDMI just because it can carry both an analog or digital signal.

 

Sorry, I think I'd rather meant "VGA to DVI" converter from my notebook rather than HDMI. Connection to the LCD would be DVI input. Would it produce better images? Or perhaps some bits would definitely be lost in the conversion albeit a short distance?

Currently, my DVI to DVI connection from my desktop produces slightly sharper text and richer graphics. After long hours of working, I mean 7-8 hrs a day, you could feel the difference.

 

If the output from the desktop is from a VGA port, then if you connect to a monitor via DVI, the signal would still be analog (since DVI can carry both, but doesn't convert). If you actually want to convert an analog signal to a digital one, you will need a converter, which I've seen going for around $150. So, it won't make any difference.

 

HDMI=Own VGA... Video quality is way better and somemore better audio output...

 

I just recently bought a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter to use my laptop with my bigscreen TV. All along I had been using VGA. As soon as I made the switch to HDMI, HOLY COW. Picture quality was amazing, it was actually very surprising.

 

Interference wouldn't be a problem as long as you ensure to buy a shielded cable.

 

As long as one doesn't have super cheap, long, unshielded vga cables,the difference between HDMI and VGA is very minimal and 99% unoticible. But if one wants to go beyond 1600P or higher, VGA will be much better because HDMI doesn't support higher resolution. Thus if you use very high resolution monitor, VGA will be better and able to output the monitor's native resolution. It's also more compatible if you're concerned about portability.