Connecting the PC to a Projector or Monitor

A video cable carries the picture from the PC to the projector or monitor. Most home setups use HDMI or DisplayPort, and the ports at each end decide the choice.

Match the ports

Ensure that the video connector on the computer matches with an available video connector on the monitor or projector.¹ Dell's list of connector types includes VGA, DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort and USB-C.¹

Look at both machines. Write down what each has. If one side has HDMI and the other DisplayPort, you need an adapter or a cable made for that pairing.

HDMI and DisplayPort are both digital video links. HDMI turns up on most projectors. DisplayPort is common on graphics cards and monitors.

If the ports differ, adapters are available for connecting DisplayPort to HDMI.² Check the adapter maker's description to see what it connects.

Cable speed ratings

HDMI cables are sold by speed grade. Category 1 cables are marketed as "Standard" and Category 2 cables as "High Speed".³ Newer, faster formats such as 4K at higher rates may require "Ultra High Speed" cables.³

Check the projector's manual for the grade it needs. Match the cable to the picture you plan to send.

How long can the cable be

It depends on the type, and the standards leave gaps.

For HDMI, no maximum length for a cable is specified.³ Signal attenuation, the weakening of the signal along the wire, limits the usable length in practice.³ How long that is depends on the cable's build quality.

For DisplayPort, the standard doesn't specify a maximum length either.² Cables longer than 2 meters may or may not support the HBR and HBR2 speeds.²

So there's no fixed limit to quote. Check the cable maker's rating for the exact picture you want.

Long runs

The PC and the projector are not always close. A projector hangs from a ceiling mount or sits on a shelf, while the PC sits near the launch monitor.

• Move the PC closer. A short run is the simplest fix, as long as the PC stays clear of the hitting area.
• Buy a cable rated for your picture, from a reputable maker.
• Ask the projector or cable maker about extender products, such as an active or fibre HDMI cable. Follow their instructions.

Mounting a projector to a ceiling or wall is a job for the maker's instructions and, for anything structural, a qualified tradesperson. Running a cable through a wall or adding a new power point is also trade work. New outlets and circuits are licensed electrical work.

Protecting the cable

Route the cable out of the hitting area. A cable across the floor can trip a player, and a dangling one can be hit. Real golf balls rebound, so keep equipment away from the hitting zone and follow the screen maker's guide for protection.

Don't force a connector. HDMI and DisplayPort plugs fit one way. Turn the computer off before you plug into a graphics card if the maker's manual says so.

After the cable

Once connected, Windows decides how to use the new screen. The page on display modes comes next, then the one on getting a smooth picture.