You need to use a standard VGA to VGA cable, not HDMI. HDMI is digital. VGA is analog. You cannot go from HDMI to VGA without an active convertor box, which is costly, and serves no purpose when VGA to VGA is an option.
That monitor doesn't even have HDMI so you kind of have me confused. If the laptop has HDMI you would want an HDMI to DVI cable. This is a digital signal with no conversion so the cable either works or does not. There's no real difference in cable quality.