The development of technology in the modern world does not stop for a second. Modern technology constantly opens up new functions and opportunities for consumers. However, not only the new functionality is important. First of all, a clear understanding of how to use new devices is required.
After analyzing the thematic forums and sites, you can understand that a large number of users do not know about how to connect monitors with a VGA port to a video card with DVI-D output. Inexperienced people often get advice from the same, not fully knowledgeable lovers, based on their often unsuccessful experience. Usually they offer to buy a DVI-D VGA adapter, motivating it with its cheapness, and not practicality.
But an adapter of this type is unlikely to work at all, so it is recommended to use a DVI-D to VGA signal converter , rather than the so-called DVI to VGA adapter.
In order to understand all the intricacies of this type of connection, you need to understand the principle of operation.
How does a DVI-D connection work?
DVI (Digital Visual Interface), which is translated from English as “digital video interface”, is used to connect and synchronize video between a video card and a monitor, TV, or any other display device. DVI-D is a technology that allows you to maintain picture quality when switching from analog to digital signal. This type of connection will give maximum image clarity. It is important to note that this type of connection transmits exclusively a digital signal. DVI-D connectivity is fundamental to the total mass of next-generation digital TVs and provides a maximum of 2K resolution.
This technology began to be actively used by manufacturers of advanced TVs and monitors, which created a lot of problems for many owners of personal computers. This is due to the fact that many users are still forced to use an outdated VGA connection.
What is a VGA connection?
VGA (Video Graphics Array) is an image transmission technology that has been preserved since the last century, it is still used by some users. This type of connection is designed to transmit an analog signal. The best quality that is available with a VGA connection is a resolution of 1280 × 720, in other words HD. There is no need to talk about any 2K resolution, as well as transmitting 3D images.
At the moment, most manufacturers of playback devices have abandoned this technology, considering it obsolete. That is why the video cards of the new models are exclusively equipped with a DVI-D port, but the vast majority of users do not always want to change the monitor on demand, and still use playback devices with a VGA port. That is, simply connecting an old monitor without any overlays and image quality loss is impossible. Experts recommend using several connection methods, however, in order to find an effective way, you need to understand the process itself. What will we do now.
DIY DVI / VGA adapter
Due to the fact that technologies work through different ports and belong to different generations, the user must clearly understand that the type of signal transmitted from one device to another is also different. That is, for stable use of the playback device, a digital-to-analog converter is required, and not a self-made DVI / VGA adapter or purchased at a flea market. After all, a device of this type simply cannot convert the signal from analog to digital and / or simply will not work, or the user will not be able to obtain images of the desired quality.
Types of Adapters
Let's pay attention to the types of adapters that users of thematic forums, sites and other various sources advise to purchase:
- regular adapter from DVI to VGA;
- VGA / DVI-M adapter
- DVI-F / VGA-M adapter.
The price of such devices is extremely small, but the vast majority of users believe that using such a DVI-D VGA adapter is much easier than changing an old video card, buying a monitor with a suitable port, or looking for a better offer. However, this is not quite true. The cost of the adapter from DVI to VGA is from 2 to 5 dollars. But in fact, the buyer receives an absolutely useless adapter at the output, so that, like many of his unfortunate comrades, he wonders why nothing works. So where is the reason for the inoperability of the VGA DVI adapter? We will answer this question now.
Pinout
Knowing the pinout of the ports, masters of dubious order came to the conclusion that by connecting certain connectors, they will get a wonderful DVI-D / VGA adapter!
But in fact, if you know the scheme of these ports well, it is immediately clear that this device cannot function at all! If you look at the port, it becomes clear that in DVI there are no pins that are responsible for transmitting an analog signal.
In fact, this answer can easily be found on the World Wide Web: on each topic on this issue there is a post in which the author writes that everything seems to be connected, but does not work. But if the author figured out that the connection transmits different types of signals, then he knew: it is necessary to convert the signal. That is, simply connecting two different ports does not help. This solution to the problem is quite common on the Internet, but it will not work - one hundred percent.
DVI-D / VGA Converter
The only possible connection method is a DVI-D / VGA converter. Of course, its price is higher than that of the adapter, but we have already found out that it is better to pay extra than just throwing a few dollars, as they say, into the wind. DVI to VGA adapter will not be able to convert the analog signal to digital, without which the user will not be able to connect any gadget. The principle of operation of the DVI-D to VGA converter in converting a digital signal to analog.
Advice
What do we have left over? First: the user needs to pay attention only to the opinion of professionals with sufficient competence. To trust advice because of the cheapness of the solution to the problem, or because of the popularity of the method is not worth it - it is fraught with either a senseless loss of money, or a waste of valuable time.
Secondly, if it is obvious that such a method of solving the problem does not work for the vast majority, then you need to understand why it does not work before making sudden decisions and hoping that everything will work in a particular case. That is, of course, you can try to buy an adapter from DVI to VGA and save money, hoping for an unlikely result. But it’s better to buy a converter that guarantees the functionality of the connection.
We hope that the article helped readers understand the question of how this type of adapter works. The only way out is to purchase a special signal converter and not fool yourself, and the adapter will not be able to help.