How to Connect Your Second Monitor with Limited Graphics Ports?
Your computer's graphics card may have limited display outputs, such as only a DisplayPort, an HDMI, and one female VGA. If your second monitor only has a VGA and a DVI port, how do you connect it? This article discusses the options available and the best practices for ensuring the highest image quality.
Understanding the Different DVI Ports
Digital Video Interface (DVI) comes in three main versions: DVI-D, DVI-A, and DVI-I, each of which supports different types of signals.
DVI-D
DVI-D uses HDMI-compatible digital video signals, and for simple video connections, a simple cable or adapter with appropriate connectors at each end can connect a DVI-D port to an HDMI port. However, you should note that DVI-D does not support audio.
DVI-A
DVI-A uses VGA-compatible analogue video signals, and similarly, a simple cable or adapter with the appropriate connector can be used to connect a DVI-A to a VGA port.
DVI-I
DVI-I supports both digital and analogue signals. Depending on what signals your DVI port supports, you may need an active adapter to convert between analogue-only and digital-only ports, which normally degrades the video quality.
Make sure you know the signals your DVI port supports before attempting a connection. For a direct digital connection, a DVI-D to DVI port connection is ideal. For a connection between an analogue-only and a digital-only port, an active adapter is required.
Connecting Your Second Monitor
Your computer and monitor both have VGA ports. Consider using these for connecting the second monitor. Here are the options:
Connecting via VGA Cable
If your graphics card supports VGA output, the simplest method is to connect the VGA output on your PC to the VGA input on your monitor using a standard VGA cable. However, this method might involve some loss in image quality due to the conversion process. The graphics card must convert its digital data to analog RGBS signals, and the monitor needs to convert those back to digital if it supports LCD.
Using a DisplayPort to DVI Adapter
Another option is to use a DisplayPort to DVI adapter. If your computer has dual-mode DisplayPort outputs, this can be an inexpensive passive adapter. Connect the adapter to your monitor with a standard DVI-D cable. This provides a fully digital connection, maintaining the highest image quality as no conversion to analogue and back to digital is required.
Additional Information
DisplayPort to DVI adapters are available, but note that a VGA cable is male at both ends. Standard VGA cables are easy to find and generally cost between $10-15.
The choice between using a cable or an adapter depends on your specific circumstances. A cable is cleaner, but an adapter might be a better choice if you frequently need to connect your monitor in different configurations. The conversion process in a cable can sometimes result in some loss of image quality, so a direct digital connection using an adapter is generally the preferred solution.
Ensure you choose the right type of cable or adapter and follow the manufacturer's instructions to achieve the best possible image quality.