HDMI to DVI to VGA

Hi guys!

I have dell XPS 17 (with a HDMI output) and I want to use an external screen.
So I bought a HDMI to DVI converter to connect my laptop to the monitor.

This works perfectly, but the only issue is that the laptop is 1920x1080 and the screen's max resolution is 1680x1050 (or so).

So I got an old screen (1920x1080) from my friend (which only supports VGA).
I bought a DVI to VGA converter to use the screen.

The problem is that the monitor doesn't show anything now.

Is their a problem with HDMI to DVI to VGA?
I didn't want to buy a HDMI to VGA box (way to expensive).

So why doesn't it work?

Thanks!

 

HDMI and DVI are both digital. To convert to VGA which is not digital, I believe you generally need a conversion box.

 

And from which price range does those boxes go?

If you need a conversion box to go from DVI to VGA, why do they sell an adapter?

 

I think it works only for certain desktop graphics cards.

 

The Dell has only a digital out? No analog?

 

What do you mean "it doesn't show anything new"

I'm a bit confused as to what you're trying to do at all.

 

DVI normally outputs in both digital and analog. HDMI is only digital. Your screen requires analog, so you are out of luck. You can get a digital to analog converter, but those suck and a pricy and you would be better off just buying a new 1080p LCD.

 

you sure your laptop doesnt have a mini display port in addition to the hdmi port?

you should be able to get a mini display port to vga adapter.

 

The digital to analog convertor I tried was horrible. There was ghosting and a 1970's TV look to the display. I would recommend just getting a digital display to hook up to your laptop.

 

I thought that the XPS 17 has a VGA port on it. Couldn't you just get a VGA-to-VGA cable instead?

 

If it's a newer one, it does not, but it has a mini display port: Dell XPS 17 Laptop Details | Dell

Of which there's lots of Mini DP to VGA adapters for relatively cheap: Amazon.com: mini displayport to vga

Less than $10 shipped: http://www.amazon.com/Mini-DisplayPort-VGA-Female-Adapter/dp/B002WUVAVE

It says for Mac, but should work with any PC just fine.

 

Actually it tends to output one or the other, which adds to the problem.

Usually if there is something else that can carry analog the DVI will just be digital, like on the Clevo m860tu (i think).

 

I know analog only DVI exists, but where would one find it? But you might be right because most of my experience with it is on desktops.

 

There's

DVI-D - Digital
DVI-A - Analog
DVI-I - Supports both

But your laptop will support one or the other.

 

OP you're making one of the classic mistake with computer buyers: lack of compatibility. You need to do as much homework on this before hand as you can. That means buying a monitor with as many input/output ports as you can find.

If you don't have all that, then you'll need to convert after the fact. If the monitor is 1080 then it must have components inputs? In your case you can buy a HDMI to Component converter to adapt for that. I would suggest you simple get an up-to-date monitor to match your newer computer.

 

Thanks for the many replies.

I thought it was that simple to get from DVI to VGA (digital to analog).
That was a huge mistake.

Anyway, I think I have such a mini display port.
After googling a bit, it turn out that I tought that the display port was the port for a security cable.
Huge misser #2.

Guess I'm gonna look into that now.

Thanks

Spoiler

 

yeah, that's a mDP. You should be able to get a cheap mDP to vga adapter.

 

A quick update

I've bought such a adapter (mini display to VGA) and it works perfectly.

Thanks for giving me some helpfull advice!

Greetings form Belgium
Koetje out