96 TECH ADVISOR • MAY 2020
FEATURE
they aren’t not an ideal choice. VGA’s an analog signal
that will give you a far fuzzier, lower-resolution image
than you’ll get with an HDMI or DVI cord.
If you want to use your HDTV as a second or third
monitor, you may need to use a different port, such as
your graphics card’s DisplayPort output. In this case,
you’ll need to use a different cable (DisplayPort-to-
HDMI). The main advantage to using the DisplayPort
output instead of DVI or VGA is that HDMI and
DisplayPort carry both video and audio signals. A
DVI-to-HDMI cable can transmit both video and audio
if your graphics card supports HDMI audio via DVI –
unlikely if it doesn’t have any HDMI ports – while VGA
only transmits video. If you use DVI or VGA, you will
most likely need to connect your PC’s audio up to the
HDTV separately, or use external speakers or a headset.
Bottom line? Try to stick to HDMI if or DisplayPort-
to-HDMI connections if it’s possible..
Getting your PC ready
You’ll also need to determine whether your graphics
card (or your PC’s integrated graphics) is capable of
outputting at the resolution of your HDTV. To do this,
you will first need to find the resolution of your HDTV
by consulting the manufacturer’s manual. Some HDTVs
have non-standard resolutions; it’s not a given that
your HDTV will be supported. Most stick to standard
720p, 1080p, or 4K resolutions, however. Next, find
the maximum resolution your graphics card/integrated
graphics supports.
Open the Windows 10 Start menu and head to
Settings > System > Display > Advanced display
