The VGA pinout uses a 15-position high-density D-sub connector, commonly called DE-15 or HD-15, with three rows of five contacts. Under the VESA E-DDC Version 1.2 host assignment, pins 1, 2, and 3 carry red, green, and blue video. Pins 6, 7, and 8 are their returns, pins 13 and 14 carry horizontal and vertical synchronization, pins 12 and 15 carry DDC data and clock, and pin 9 supplies +5 V while the video port is active.
| Pin | VESA E-DDC host signal | Function and legacy note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red video | Analog red video component |
| 2 | Green video | Analog green video component; may also carry sync-on-green when supported |
| 3 | Blue video | Analog blue video component |
| 4 | Monitor ID bit 2 | Legacy identification line at the host; reserved at an E-DDC display |
| 5 | Return (ground) | Common return |
| 6 | Red video return | Return for pin 1 |
| 7 | Green video return | Return for pin 2 |
| 8 | Blue video return | Return for pin 3 |
| 9 | DDC +5 V supply | Host supply for DDC; legacy VGA used no connection and a mechanical key |
| 10 | Synchronization return | Return for synchronization signals |
| 11 | Monitor ID bit 0 | Legacy identification line at the host; reserved at an E-DDC display |
| 12 | Serial data (SDA) | DDC and E-DDC data line |
| 13 | Horizontal synchronization | Horizontal sync; may carry composite sync when supported |
| 14 | Vertical synchronization | Vertical sync |
| 15 | Serial clock (SCL) | DDC and E-DDC clock line |
The table and diagram use the host column in the VESA Enhanced Display Data Channel Standard Version 1.2. The diagram shows a male cable plug from the mating side, with pin 1 at the upper left. A female receptacle viewed from its mating side is mirrored, so pin 1 is at the upper right.
Legacy VGA did not assign the same meanings to every contact. In particular, pins 9, 11, 12, and 15 differ between the original identification scheme and DDC or E-DDC. Use the standard implemented by the equipment, not a mixed pin list.
What Is a VGA Connector?
VGA means Video Graphics Array. IBM's VGA video subsystem sends separate analog red, green, and blue signals to the display connector. The connector also carries horizontal and vertical synchronization and the required return paths.
The original IBM assignment used monitor identification bits. VESA later defined DDC and E-DDC communication on the same 15-position connector while preserving the video and synchronization contacts. The IBM Video Subsystem Technical Reference documents the legacy signals.
For board-level shell, mounting, and termination choices, compare the available PCB connector types before selecting a footprint.
Does VGA Carry Audio?
No standard VGA pin carries audio. The IBM legacy table and the VESA E-DDC table assign all 15 positions to video, returns, synchronization, monitor identification, DDC data and clock, or DDC power. Audio therefore needs a separate signal path.
Legacy VGA vs DDC and E-DDC Pin Assignments
Most VGA pins retain the same signal across the two definitions. The contacts below need explicit legacy, host, and display context.
| Pin | Legacy VGA | DDC or E-DDC host | DDC or E-DDC display |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Monitor ID bit 2 | Host: Monitor ID bit 2 | Display: Reserved, no connection |
| 9 | No connection, mechanical key | Host: DDC +5 V supply | Display: DDC +5 V load |
| 11 | Monitor ID bit 0 | Host: Monitor ID bit 0 | Display: Reserved, no connection |
| 12 | Monitor ID bit 1 | Host: Serial data (SDA) | Display: Serial data (SDA) |
| 15 | Monitor ID bit 3 | Host: Serial clock (SCL) | Display: Serial clock (SCL) |
Pin 9 is the most visible compatibility trap. It was a keyed, unconnected position in legacy VGA, but an active E-DDC host supplies +5 V there. Some older connectors therefore have no contact or a blocked hole at position 9.
Special Offer: Get $100 off your order!
Email sales@ourpcb.net to get started!
VGA Connector Names, Gender, and Viewpoint
Do not identify a VGA connector by the total contact count alone. Standard-density and high-density D-sub products can both have 15 contacts, but they use different row layouts.
| Connector term | Physical check | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| DE-15 or HD-15 high-density D-sub | 15 contacts in three rows of five | The physical connector used for the VGA pinout on this page |
| Male plug, mating-side view | Pins; pin 1 at upper left | The orientation used by the labelled diagram |
| Female receptacle, mating-side view | Sockets; pin 1 at upper right | Mirror image of the male mating view |
| Standard-density 15-position D-sub | 15 contacts in two rows | A different layout, not the three-row VGA connector |
How to Choose the Correct VGA Connector
- Confirm the geometry. VGA uses the high-density 15-position form with three rows of five.
- Confirm the gender. A plug has pins and a receptacle has sockets. Their mating-side layouts are mirrored.
- Name the viewpoint. Use a mating-side or wiring-side drawing consistently. Turning the connector around reverses the visible layout.
- Choose the signal definition. Decide whether the equipment uses legacy VGA identification or VESA DDC or E-DDC assignments.
- Check pin 9. Legacy hardware may use a key or no connection, while an active E-DDC host supplies +5 V.
How to Wire a VGA Connector
- Orient the male plug as shown in the diagram, with the mating face toward you and pin 1 at the upper left.
- Connect red, green, and blue video to pins 1, 2, and 3. Keep their matching returns on pins 6, 7, and 8.
- Connect horizontal synchronization to pin 13, vertical synchronization to pin 14, and synchronization return to pin 10.
- For DDC or E-DDC, connect serial data to pin 12 and serial clock to pin 15. Handle pins 4, 9, and 11 according to the host or display column in the table.
- Before applying power, verify connector gender, viewpoint, and continuity against the chosen standard.
Do not combine the legacy monitor ID labels with E-DDC data and power labels without checking the equipment documentation. The physical connector can look the same while those contact meanings differ.
Summary
A correct VGA wiring reference must state the connector gender, viewpoint, and signal standard. This page uses a male DE-15 cable plug viewed from the mating side and the VESA E-DDC Version 1.2 host assignment.
The key compatibility check is the transition from legacy monitor ID contacts to DDC or E-DDC. Pins 9, 11, 12, and 15 cannot be labelled safely without that context.
For a production cable or display interconnect, review OurPCB's custom cable assembly capabilities.
Special Offer: Get $100 off your order!
Email sales@ourpcb.net to get started!
