Connecting monitor to desktop

I am sorry if this is a basic question. I am looking to get a new desktop machine and waiting for machines to come out with the new OS pre installed. I have had laptop machines for so long now where you don't need to worry about monitor connections. But with the new machine it totally confuses me how a monitor should connect to the actual desktop machine. DVI, HDMI, VGA??? I know HDMI 1080 is what we want displayed but how should I connect. The gpu I am going to look at is the GTX 980. It looks like it has a myriad of connections including HDMI, DVI etc. so what lead should I be looking to use? HDMI to HDMI? DVI to HDMI? I just wonder what the normal way is?

cheers Wayne

I don't know what the current "normal" is.

VGA is the old analog standard, not optimal for current digital monitors.

DVI comes in a variety of flavors, but I imagine most people use the digital ones. HDMI is purely digtal, as is DisplayPort.

I use DisplayPort, because I have a (cheap) UHD (3820X2160) monitor. To get a 60 Hz frame rate with it, I more or less have to use DP. There is a newer HDMI standard that supports UHD at 60 Hz, but I'm not sure that either the 980 or the monitor (Samsung U28D590D) have one.

Cheap monitors may not have a DP connector, but you probably don't want to pair a cheap monitor with a GTX 980.

Thanks for the answers guys. I guess I'll look to connect using hdmi cable from the hdmi connector out on the Gtx 980 to the hdmi in on the monitor. Another thing puzzles me though. Audio. I probably will get a iiyama monitor which has built in speakers as part of the desktop order. How do I make these work? Will the sound come through the hdmi connection? I don't really understand if a gpu routes the sound through the hdmi connection too. On the desktop I was just planning to utilise the motherboards on board audio - do I have to make another physical connection to the monitor for sound? I am sorry it's prob basic stuff but many years of gaming laptops where audio and visual are all built in one case has made it tough relating to a new desktop setup. I just want 1900x1080 resolution and reasonable sound coming through the monitor in built speakers. Unfortunately I don't really have the room for a 7.1 speaker setup

Scottyboy99 said:

Thanks for the answers guys. I guess I'll look to connect using hdmi cable from the hdmi connector out on the Gtx 980 to the hdmi in on the monitor. Another thing puzzles me though. Audio. I probably will get a iiyama monitor which has built in speakers as part of the desktop order. How do I make these work? Will the sound come through the hdmi connection? I don't really understand if a gpu routes the sound through the hdmi connection too. On the desktop I was just planning to utilise the motherboards on board audio - do I have to make another physical connection to the monitor for sound? I am sorry it's prob basic stuff but many years of gaming laptops where audio and visual are all built in one case has made it tough relating to a new desktop setup. I just want 1900x1080 resolution and reasonable sound coming through the monitor in built speakers. Unfortunately I don't really have the room for a 7.1 speaker setup

HDMI carries sound as well as video. The nVidia drivers include digital audio drivers.

I've never used the capability, but it ought to work.

Excellent, thank you. Just out of interest how do you connect. Do you have separate speakers or use your monitors?

Scottyboy99 said:

Excellent, thank you. Just out of interest how do you connect. Do you have separate speakers or use your monitors?

Separate speakers (including a subwoofer) for me. Not audiophile gear, though.