Connecting VGA monitor to DVI

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JLAdmin

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Dec 6, 2012
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In my setup I'm trying to add a second monitor to. It's an older VGA-only Samsung which according to CNET is an analog monitor, not digital. The problem is that the only unused output I have is a DVI-D (no pins around the flat blade).

I've looked at DVI-D to VGA adapters at 3 places online but I keep seeing comments that they won't work with a VGA-only monitor.

I thought I'd ask here to see if anyone can provide some guidance. I'd like to use the Samsung as a 2nd monitor but if the DVI-D output won't display on the Samsung then I'm not going to waste my money buying adapters.

JL
 
Solution
Chicano
Right... DVI-D is digital only and VGA is Analog... so there is no way an analog monitor will convert a digital signal, or that a DVI-D to VGA (digital to analog pasive adapter) can work... what you need is a DVI-D to VGA Active Converter... other options are a plain Graphics card with VGA output... if your motherboard doesn't have a spare PCIe x 16 slot, video cards are also made in PCIe x1 or if your mobo has a PCI slot you could get one of the old PCI Video Cards.

PCIe x1 Video Cards
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?N=1069620108&Submit=ENE

PCI Video Cards
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=pci+video+card&N=-1&isNodeId=1

DVI-D to VGA Active Converter...
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DVI-D to analog can't be done for you.

DVI-D just means only the DIGITAL output pins exist whereas "DVI-I" means both the digital and analog pins exist. So when you add the VGA adapter it's just connecting to those pins.

*A solution is to look for an addon card such as an HD6450 and just connect to that.

Other:
Do you have a DVI-I connector attached to a DVI monitor? If so, just switch so it uses the DVI-D and then use the regular VGA adapter on the DVI-I.

You probably would have thought of this, but I mention it just in case.

 
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*WRONG*
This is for a DVI-I which he just said he doesn't have. It recommends a separate unit for DVI-D which is an ACTIVE converter and cost more money because it contains a Digital to Analog computer chip.
 
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The reason I have this issue is because of my setup. I work from home and have my PC and work laptop (plugged into a dock) at the same desk. I'm using a KVM switch to share the I/O devices. The KVM has VGA ports. It was all I needed when I got it as I had only VGA monitors. Now I have a newer monitor with DVI and VGA. But to share it I have to use the VGA port. So my work laptop has a DVI-D port sitting idle which I was hoping to connect to one of my VGA monitors. However it looks like I'm confined to just the one monitor. Oh well.
 
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The image looks like a DVI-D but the description says it's a DVI-I to VGA Cable Adapter... What you have is probably DVI-I to VGA.


DVI-D to VGA does not work!
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/371678-33-adapter-whaaaa
 
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Just to verify I have this correct. There is no way to make a VGA monitor work with a DVI-D output, correct? My only solutions would be to get a DVI-D monitor or a KVM switch that had DVI-D ports. DVI-D seems uncommon so I'm doubting I can find either of those, but that's what I'm stuck with on the laptop.
 
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Right... DVI-D is digital only and VGA is Analog... so there is no way an analog monitor will convert a digital signal, or that a DVI-D to VGA (digital to analog pasive adapter) can work... what you need is a DVI-D to VGA Active Converter... other options are a plain Graphics card with VGA output... if your motherboard doesn't have a spare PCIe x 16 slot, video cards are also made in PCIe x1 or if your mobo has a PCI slot you could get one of the old PCI Video Cards.

PCIe x1 Video Cards
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?N=1069620108&Submit=ENE

PCI Video Cards
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=pci+video+card&N=-1&isNodeId=1

DVI-D to VGA Active Converter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=-1&IsNodeId=1&Description=dvi%20d%20to%20vga%20converter&bop=And&Order=BESTMATCH&PageSize=20
 
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Solution
Since I'm only concerned with connecting the second monitor to the work laptop, the cards are out and the converter is the only way. I wish the laptop had DVI-I but it's DVI-D. Thanks for the info.
 
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One thing I don't understand is that if you can't convert DVI-D to VGA without an active converter, why do companies and websites sell DVI-D/VGA adapters? I would assume they don't work. Seems like outright fraud to me.
 
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That's a good question... I would assume it may be due to different reasons, fraud may be part of it... but also due to ignorance, some mistakes in describing the article, it not corresponding to the image, an example of that is the link morgilroka shared.

Most reviews say it doesn't work, one of them said, quote: "Using the connector by itself will not work if you're trying to connect a device or graphics card to a VGA monitor or TV. You need a converter box"... That would be the legitimate reason to make and sell such adapters.. if there is any truth to the comment.


Amazon customer reviews on one such adapter.
http://www.amazon.com/Male-DVI-D-Female-VGA-Adapter/product-reviews/B007EA48MA
 
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