[SOLVED] Why does DisplayPort to HDMI only work one way?

neiler0847

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Mar 25, 2015
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I have connected my (GTX970) graphics card's HDMI port to my (DELL U2412M) monitor's DisplayPort connection using a DisplayPort to HDMI cable.

It doesn't work (monitor not recognized, no video signal). I see from many posts on the internet that this is common, but no one seems to be able to explain why.

My cable has DisplayPort at one end and HDMI at the other end. Should I not be able to convert the video signal in either direction? And if not, why not?
 

neiler0847

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Mar 25, 2015
384
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4,965
Thank you! That article was extremely enlightening and exactly what I needed. I was under the impression that digital was digital and I could convert anything. It is way more complicated than I realized.