Computer Monitor is VGA but the tower is DVI?

[dezlan]

I just received my new custom built PC and a new monitor. This being my first Desktop with a decent video card, I'm not sure how to connect it... I tried VGA on the tower to VGA on the monitor, but it kept reading No Signal... Im guessing that when they were testing it, they set the video display output to the XFX video card port(s). The only problem now, is that i have a VGA cable and no way to connect it to the DVI port... What are the chances of finding a DVI adapter or VGA -> DVI cable at a Walmart?

PIC- http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc507/James_Waters17/DSC_0464.jpg

Is the monitor meant to go to the DVI port on the video card? I tried to connect the monitor's VGA cable to the tower's VGA port, but all i got was a "No Signal" box. I heard the Windows start-up sounds though and thought maybe i'd need to go through the XFX's DVI port? If so, i didn't realize that i needed an VGA -> DVI adapter.

Thanks for any info!

 

[ko888]

How about posting a picture of the monitor's input ports?

What are your system specifications?

At least provide us with the make and model of the motherboard, graphics card and monitor.

 

[dezlan]

INTEL, Core™ i7-2600 Quad-Core 3.4GHz,

MICROSTAR, H67MA-E45 (B3), LGA1155, Intel® H67, DDR3-1333 32GB /4, PCIe x16, SATA 3Gb/s RAID 5 /4, 6Gb/s /2, HDA, GbLAN, mATX, Retail

KINGSTON, 8GB (2 x 4GB) XMP HyperX X2 Grey PC3-12800 DDR3 1600MHz CL9 1.65V SDRAM DIMM, Non-ECC

XFX, Radeon™ HD 6950 800MHz, 1GB GDDR5 5000MHz, PCIe x16 CrossFire, 2x DVI+HDMI+2x mini-DP,

And the monitor= Acer G185HAb Widescreen LCD Monitor, 18.5" 1366x768 The only imput port on the monitor is the VGA port.

I was just wondering if i should plug directly into the video card with a DVI adapter, or into in mainboard's VGA... I tried the mainboard and i get nothing... Wondering if that's normal or if something's up.

 

[dmcclelland1]

Yes, you use an adapter that plugs into your DVI slot on the video card and changes it to a VGA. It is actually very common and several monitors and GPUs come with them included. I don't think walmart will have them, but frys or online retailers like newegg and tigerdirect most certainly will.

This is basically what you need:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814999201&cm_re=dvi_to_vga_adapter-_-14-999-201-_-Product

Enjoy the new rig!

 

[cadder]

There are different kinds of DVI ports, and some don't include the analog signals (Apple this applies to you.) I think most PC cards would include the analog signals and would work fine with an adapter. Some monitors have places to plug in both kinds of cable, and you could buy a cable with dvi connectors on each end.

You can find DVI information on google and compare it with the exact port on your video card to confirm if it will work. For instance a DVI to VGA adapter that passes through the analog signals will not even plug into the DVI port on an Apple, because the prongs are slightly different.

Look at this link and notice that DVI-D has very slightly different pins than DVI-I. To work with a VGA monitor you need to pass through the analog signals.
http://www.datapro.net/techinfo/dvi_info.html#Page02

 

[ko888]

On the backplate with the Mini DisplayPorts, HDMI port and a DVI port there is a VGA logo and a digital signal logo stamped into the metal backplate just below the DVI port. This is the DVI port you would want to use the DVI-to-VGA adapter with.

The other DVI port next to the stamped out XFX vent holes carries digital video signals only.

 

[dezlan]

Best answer selected by dezlan.

 

[dezlan]

I found a cheap $10 adapter at the office supply co in town. Thanks for all the info!