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DVI to VGA adapter

bigboxes

Lifer
Do some non-dvi monitors have a problem with such an adapter? A customer of mine is claiming that his monitor is able to use the on-board vga connector, but not a dvi connector with a dvi to vga adapter. Didn't know that this would ever be a problem. Anyone else heard of this or is this person have another problem?
 
Many DVI ports are incompatible with such adapters, is the actual problem.

DVI ports that work with those adapters actually send the analog signal as well, which the adapter takes. You can't convert digital->analog with an unpowered plug adapter like that.
 
To clarify, this dvi to vga adapter is the one that came with the card (MSI 8800GTS OC) and it worked flawlessly with my monitor. Is there a reason it might not work with his monitor?
 
Originally posted by: bigboxes
To clarify, this dvi to vga adapter is the one that came with the card (MSI 8800GTS OC) and it worked flawlessly with my monitor. Is there a reason it might not work with his monitor?

Yes, if his DVI cable is screwed. That's the only reason I have ever heard.
 
Originally posted by: myocardia
Originally posted by: bigboxes
To clarify, this dvi to vga adapter is the one that came with the card (MSI 8800GTS OC) and it worked flawlessly with my monitor. Is there a reason it might not work with his monitor?

Yes, if his DVI cable is screwed. That's the only reason I have ever heard.

Well, this is a dvi to vga adapter so his LCD only has vga port. So, he has to use a vga port. The old video card (AGP) had both dvi and agp. The new video card (PCI-E) has two dvi ports (no vga) and he has to use the dvi to vga adapter. It worked fine on my LCD monitor. He has said he had this problem in the past where only a direct vga connection would work (no vga connection to the dvi port via an adapter). Why would that be? Anyone?
 
Originally posted by: bigboxes
Do some non-dvi monitors have a problem with such an adapter? A customer of mine is claiming that his monitor is able to use the on-board vga connector, but not a dvi connector with a dvi to vga adapter. Didn't know that this would ever be a problem. Anyone else heard of this or is this person have another problem?

on-board vga connector?

You mean onboard graphics from the motherboard? If so, you need to enable graphics from the PCIE slot in BIOS. For most motherboards, the onboard graphics cannot run the same time as the graphics card. (Only certain AMD motherboards with SurroundView functionality + AMD/ATI cards can)
 
Originally posted by: bigboxes
Originally posted by: myocardia
Yes, if his DVI cable is screwed. That's the only reason I have ever heard.

Well, this is a dvi to vga adapter so his LCD only has vga port. So, he has to use a vga port. The old video card (AGP) had both dvi and agp. The new video card (PCI-E) has two dvi ports (no vga) and he has to use the dvi to vga adapter. It worked fine on my LCD monitor. He has said he had this problem in the past where only a direct vga connection would work (no vga connection to the dvi port via an adapter). Why would that be? Anyone?

You didnt have to take the "DVI cable" so literally, be smart and translate it into "video cable"... myocardia just mispoke. The video card worked at your place when you built it so either have him bring in his computer + monitor or go out to his place (and bring a vga cable with you) and investigate. When it works for you and not the end user it means somethings broke or the customer is clueless.
 
Right, unfortunately he's in Portland (Oregon) and I'm in Arlington (Texas). I was just wondering how he could hook up his monitor directly to the vga port and get an image, but nothing when using the adapter on the dvi port. The new setup has only two dvi ports on the video card and thus requires the adapter to hook up a vga monitor. I appreciate your replies.
 
Originally posted by: DeathSniper
Are you sure he's hooking it up to the correct DVI port? One is primary and one is secondary - just a thought.

Yeah, he's tried both. I told him which one was primary. See response below.

Originally posted by: Lithan
Wait, what? So he has a vga port... but he doesn't have a vga port? Is the card dual dvi or not?

Dual dvi. His old computer (agp video card) had both dvi and vga. The card is dual dvi. He took the box to his work to let the IT guy take a look at it. Seems that one stick of the ram had come ever so slightly loose in shipment. It booted up. If he still has a problem at home then it's either a video cable or his monitor. Thanks for the replies guys!
 
These adapters do not CONVERT a DVI signal into VGA, or vice versa. They are purely mechanical. So they cannot be used on a purely digital DVI-D output, and they cannot be used to feed a purely digital monitor input with a VGA signal from the computer.
 
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