Connect DSUB (VGA) monitor to DVI video port

[Fardringle]

A family member recently purchased a Dell Optiplex 390 desktop computer to replace a really old machine that was beyond repair. They want to keep using their existing dual monitors that are old and only have 15 pin DSUB connections but still work very well.

The problem is that the Optiplex 390 only has one DSUB monitor connection and one HDMI port (with an adapter to connect a DVI monitor to the HDMI port). I have a spare DSUB to DVI adapter but it and every similar adapter I can find online has four small pins around the large, flat pin like this:

However, the Dell HDMI to DVI adapter only has the flat pin slot with no pin ports around it to match standard DVI cables like this:

Due to an extremely limited budget, replacing the monitors is not an option, neither is adding a dedicated video card to the machine. Are those four pins around the flat pin required for the conversion from DVI to DSUB, or can I pull them from the adapter in order to connect the monitor to the HDMI/DVI adapter? I know I could just pull one apart and see if it works, but I'd rather check here for information first in case that might cause damage to the monitor and/or the PC's HDMI port due to signaling or other electrical issues.

 

[Dahak]

Yes, the 4 pins around the flat bar are what outputs the signal to vga(dsub).

I do not think there is a way to go from hdmi -> dvi -> dsub
as hdmi to dvi is digital only, and that is why there is no 4 pins beside the flat bar

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yep, time to replace one of the monitors. You cannot adapt from HDMI to VGA, not without a separate powered box that does the conversion, which would likely cost you a significant portion of the money that you could spend on a new monitor.

 

[Fardringle]

I thought so but wasn't sure. Thanks.

 

[piasabird]

http://hdmitovgacables.com/

Just search on the Internet for a while. Never used this website.

Obvious problems is that the monitor may not accept signals if the resolution is too high. HDMI resolutions can be too much for the monitor and may have to be adjusted to force it to 720p. Depends on the Monitor.

 

[mfenn]

http://hdmitovgacables.com/

Just search on the Internet for a while. Never used this website.

Obvious problems is that the monitor may not accept signals if the resolution is too high. HDMI resolutions can be too much for the monitor and may have to be adjusted to force it to 720p. Depends on the Monitor.

I don't see how there could be any sort of electronics to do the digital to analog conversion in a $3 cable. I do seem to recall another poster here who has had luck with certain ATI cards that support a somewhat undocumented "feature" of the HDMI spec that allows some of the unused pins to transmit an analog signal. Who knows if the OP's computer even sends anything out on those pins though.

 

[piasabird]

I just figure if the plug is cheap enough it might be worth a try. Otherwise the only other option is probably just some kind of video card. I doubt there are many video cards with 2 VGA ports. I looked on newegg and what was available in a video card was not that promising and was probably overpriced. If you had a z68 or H77 motherboard maybe you could use both integrated and video card with one VGA port.

I hate to say this but with hindsight, maybe you should have thoght this out a little bit. I can imagine some person asks about replacing a computer and then after you build it they mention they have 2 monitors which can only accept VGA ports . . .

 

[imagoon]

http://hdmitovgacables.com/

Just search on the Internet for a while. Never used this website.

Obvious problems is that the monitor may not accept signals if the resolution is too high. HDMI resolutions can be too much for the monitor and may have to be adjusted to force it to 720p. Depends on the Monitor.

That specific cable requires specific card that can output analog on the HDMI ports. The Optiplex 390 cannot. You would need the HDMI to VGA adapter box that Dell sells that has a converter chip in it.

 

[Fardringle]

I just figure if the plug is cheap enough it might be worth a try. Otherwise the only other option is probably just some kind of video card. I doubt there are many video cards with 2 VGA ports. I looked on newegg and what was available in a video card was not that promising and was probably overpriced. If you had a z68 or H77 motherboard maybe you could use both integrated and video card with one VGA port.

I hate to say this but with hindsight, maybe you should have thoght this out a little bit. I can imagine some person asks about replacing a computer and then after you build it they mention they have 2 monitors which can only accept VGA ports . . .

A cheap regular video card with one VGA and one DVI port will work fine since the VGA/DVI adapters will work with an actual video card, just not with the HDMI/DVI adapter that came with the machine, so this will probably be my solution.

As for 'thinking it out' you are probably right, but I didn't purchase this computer. I was just asked to set it up for them. Logically the average person would expect that a computer and a monitor will just work together. This isn't necessarily true, of course, but it SHOULD be for the average user.

 

[Fardringle]

That specific cable requires specific card that can output analog on the HDMI ports. The Optiplex 390 cannot. You would need the HDMI to VGA adapter box that Dell sells that has a converter chip in it.

Dell's HDMI to VGA converter costs close to $100 so I'll probably just get a basic dual monitor video card for them for about $30.

 

[imagoon]

Dell's HDMI to VGA converter costs close to $100 so I'll probably just get a basic dual monitor video card for them for about $30.

That is the direction I would go.