Can DVI monitor be converted to VGA (SVGA)

I bought a used computer monitor on Ebay. The ad said it's for DVI, but
I assumed all monitors have VGA/SVGA inputs as well. I found out this
is not true, because it ONLY has DVI input, and the cable was included.

However, neither my older desktop or laptop computers have DVI outputs,
just VGA. So, I cant use this monitor unless I can buy a converter.

Are they available?

I cant return the monitor, because the ad was not wrong. But it was not
expensive, so if it cant be converted, I'm sure I can sell it locally
for what I paid.

wrote:
I bought a used computer monitor on Ebay. The ad said it's for DVI, but
I assumed all monitors have VGA/SVGA inputs as well. I found out this
is not true, because it ONLY has DVI input, and the cable was included.

However, neither my older desktop or laptop computers have DVI outputs,
just VGA. So, I cant use this monitor unless I can buy a converter.

Are they available?

I cant return the monitor, because the ad was not wrong. But it was not
expensive, so if it cant be converted, I'm sure I can sell it locally
for what I paid.

Depends on the monitor. Some can use a simple passive plug adapter
and some will need an active converter.

Paul in Houston TX wrote:
wrote:
I bought a used computer monitor on Ebay. The ad said it's for DVI, but
I assumed all monitors have VGA/SVGA inputs as well. I found out this
is not true, because it ONLY has DVI input, and the cable was included.

However, neither my older desktop or laptop computers have DVI outputs,
just VGA. So, I cant use this monitor unless I can buy a converter.
Are they available?

I cant return the monitor, because the ad was not wrong. But it was not
expensive, so if it cant be converted, I'm sure I can sell it locally
for what I paid.

Depends on the monitor. Some can use a simple passive plug adapter
and some will need an active converter.

DVI-D means only the digital pins are present.

DVI-I is "two connectors in one". It means there are
some pins for analog (VGA ready), as well as the digital
portion.

This is described in Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvi

One of these, may not have the right gender, if seeking
to deal with the monitor end (for DVI-I and "making a VGA").
Maybe you can tell by looking at the monitor. These come
with video cards with DVI-I outputs on them. The connector
I have here, is male on the DVI end. My monitors all have
VGA, so I can't check this directly (look at one).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...GA-Adapter.jpg

You cannot use the appearance of a connector, to know exactly
what it supports. It's better to check the user manual for
the monitor, or a specification sheet. Just to be sure
of what it supports.

*******

They do make "active" converters. They take VGA input, digitize
it, and make DVI-D on the output. Use a DVI-D or DVI-I cable to
run that to the monitor. A device like this could still have
VGA ghosting, depending on impedance matching and so on.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9SIA25V22N8037

When you examine that one in more detail, it also has
a USB connector on the end, and that's how it gets power.
It uses a USB cable as a source of +5V for the converter chip.
The required USB cable is in the box, has regular USB for the
computer end, and some sort of micro connector for the Startech
end.

http://www.startech.com/AV/Converter...x1200~DVI2VGAE

HDCP is not an issue in that case, because you're going
from VGA to DVI, and you can make an unencrypted DVI signal
if you want. Using these adapters is not a "better way to steal
movies", because you can likely find a VGA recorder card instead.
It's claimed that some Windows OS can "fuzzy" up movie playback,
as a deterrent to VGA copying (something I've never observed here,
but I'm not a big movie guy in any case).

So, yes, if the monitor really was DVI-D, and had no working
analog pins, you can buy active converters from VGA-in to DVI-D
out.

Now, the MSRP for that adapter is $47, and you can buy video
cards for like $35. So in some cases, a video card is cheaper
than one of those adapters. A reason for buying such an adapter
might be, you have an old PCI slot or AGP slot computer, and
cannot readily find a card that is supported by your OS.

*******

When you post the *model number* of the monitor, it can improve
the kind of answer you get here.

Paul

Paul wrote:
Paul in Houston TX wrote:

http://pinouts.ru/Video/dvi_pinout.shtml

Paul in Houston TX wrote:
Paul wrote:
Paul in Houston TX wrote:

http://pinouts.ru/Video/dvi_pinout.shtml

Sometimes they use DVI-I connectors, even though
the interface is DVI-D. That's why you can't
rely on connector examination in every case.

Paul

Paul wrote:
Paul in Houston TX wrote:
Paul wrote:
Paul in Houston TX wrote:

http://pinouts.ru/Video/dvi_pinout.shtml

Sometimes they use DVI-I connectors, even though
the interface is DVI-D. That's why you can't
rely on connector examination in every case.

Paul

How interesting! I did not consider that.
Thanks!

On Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:18:31 -0500, Paul wrote:


*******

When you post the *model number* of the monitor, it can improve
the kind of answer you get here.

Paul


The monitor is a Gateway FPD 1500.

It was made in 2000. That surprises me, because I thought all computers
from back then were VGA. If I can get a simple adaptor for around $5,
I'll do so, but not buy something costing $50. Plus, I doubt I could
use another video card on a 2001 computer running Win98se and Win2000.
With PCI slots. And either way, I still could not use this monitor on
my laptop computer with XP, cuz it too only has a VGA connector for
external monitor.

I only paid $23 for the monitor w/shipping, so if this gets too
complicated, I'm sure I can get my money back by selling it on
craisglist and just buy another monitor with suitable connector. This
monitor came in it's original box and looks like it was never used.
"Clean as a whistle".

I would not have bought the monitor if I had known it was DVI, but like
I said in my original post, I thought all the older monitors had VGA. I
just learned that, the hard way, I guess, but it's no major disaster.
I'm sure someone can use it for $23.

wrote:
On Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:18:31 -0500, Paul wrote:

*******

When you post the *model number* of the monitor, it can improve
the kind of answer you get here.

Paul


The monitor is a Gateway FPD 1500.

It was made in 2000. That surprises me, because I thought all computers
from back then were VGA. If I can get a simple adaptor for around $5,
I'll do so, but not buy something costing $50. Plus, I doubt I could
use another video card on a 2001 computer running Win98se and Win2000.
With PCI slots. And either way, I still could not use this monitor on
my laptop computer with XP, cuz it too only has a VGA connector for
external monitor.

I only paid $23 for the monitor w/shipping, so if this gets too
complicated, I'm sure I can get my money back by selling it on
craisglist and just buy another monitor with suitable connector. This
monitor came in it's original box and looks like it was never used.
"Clean as a whistle".

I would not have bought the monitor if I had known it was DVI, but like
I said in my original post, I thought all the older monitors had VGA. I
just learned that, the hard way, I guess, but it's no major disaster.
I'm sure someone can use it for $23.


I hope it came with the "magic" cable :-)

The back of the unit, has an MDR20 connector. It doesn't
actually have a DVI connector on the back. The monitor will
work with DVI-D, if you use the adapter cable.

The resolution of the monitor is 1024x768.

Yes, it was a bargain. The person who sold it to you,
would have had to throw it in the nearest dumpster,
if you hadn't bought it.

OK, here is the MDR20 pinout (from "flat panel" days).

http://pinouts.ru/Video/dvi_matrox_pinout.shtml

1 TMDS Data 1 + Digital
2 TMDS Data 1 ? Green
3 Ground
4 Ground
5 TMDS Data C + Digital
6 TMDS Data C ? Clock (typically 1/10th data rate)
7 Ground
8 +5V
9 Reserved
10 Reserved
11 TMDS Data 2 + Digital
12 TMDS Data 2 - Blue
13 Ground
14 Ground
15 TMDS Data 0 + Digital
16 TMDS Data 0 - Red
17 Reserved
18 Reserved
19 DDC Data EDID - tells computer "1024x768 res"
20 DDC Clock Serial

There are no analog signals on there. No
analog RGBHV. Just digital, and enough for
a single-link DVI. The TMDS is the same thing
as DVI-D uses.

You would need one of the "active" converters
that is USB powered (to get +5V). So it's $50
to make a $23 monitor work (since you have no
video card with DVI out). And a video card,
depending on computer slot type, can be in
the $35 to $50 range. So that's still more than
the monitor price.

Paul

On Tue, 24 Feb 2015 17:44:40 -0500, Paul wrote:

wrote:
On Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:18:31 -0500, Paul wrote:

*******

When you post the *model number* of the monitor, it can improve
the kind of answer you get here.

Paul


The monitor is a Gateway FPD 1500.

It was made in 2000. That surprises me, because I thought all computers
from back then were VGA. If I can get a simple adaptor for around $5,
I'll do so, but not buy something costing $50. Plus, I doubt I could
use another video card on a 2001 computer running Win98se and Win2000.
With PCI slots. And either way, I still could not use this monitor on
my laptop computer with XP, cuz it too only has a VGA connector for
external monitor.

I only paid $23 for the monitor w/shipping, so if this gets too
complicated, I'm sure I can get my money back by selling it on
craisglist and just buy another monitor with suitable connector. This
monitor came in it's original box and looks like it was never used.
"Clean as a whistle".

I would not have bought the monitor if I had known it was DVI, but like
I said in my original post, I thought all the older monitors had VGA. I
just learned that, the hard way, I guess, but it's no major disaster.
I'm sure someone can use it for $23.


I hope it came with the "magic" cable :-)

YES

The back of the unit, has an MDR20 connector. It doesn't
actually have a DVI connector on the back. The monitor will
work with DVI-D, if you use the adapter cable.

Thats a weird connector....
Is there more than one DVI type (meaning the "D" at the end?)

The resolution of the monitor is 1024x768.

Thats what I normally use, my eyes aint that good for anything smaller.

Yes, it was a bargain. The person who sold it to you,
would have had to throw it in the nearest dumpster,
if you hadn't bought it.

OK, here is the MDR20 pinout (from "flat panel" days).

http://pinouts.ru/Video/dvi_matrox_pinout.shtml

1 TMDS Data 1 + Digital
2 TMDS Data 1 ? Green
3 Ground
4 Ground
5 TMDS Data C + Digital
6 TMDS Data C ? Clock (typically 1/10th data rate)
7 Ground
8 +5V
9 Reserved
10 Reserved
11 TMDS Data 2 + Digital
12 TMDS Data 2 - Blue
13 Ground
14 Ground
15 TMDS Data 0 + Digital
16 TMDS Data 0 - Red
17 Reserved
18 Reserved
19 DDC Data EDID - tells computer "1024x768 res"
20 DDC Clock Serial

There are no analog signals on there. No
analog RGBHV. Just digital, and enough for
a single-link DVI. The TMDS is the same thing
as DVI-D uses.

You would need one of the "active" converters
that is USB powered (to get +5V). So it's $50
to make a $23 monitor work (since you have no
video card with DVI out). And a video card,
depending on computer slot type, can be in
the $35 to $50 range. So that's still more than
the monitor price.

Paul

I guess its time to look for another monitor....

Thanks for the help!

By the way, Walmart has brand new flat screen monitors and they ONLY
have VGA connectors. That's both if the two monitors they sell, one is
about the same size as this one, the other one is something like 22 or
24 inches. That tends to puzzle me, because I have this 15 year old
monitor with DVI, yet these brand new ones have common VGA. I thought
the DVI was for the newest computers. I never even heard of DVI until a
year ago or so. VGA has been around since they first began selling
computers (almost.... My first computer had CGA). It sure is annoying
they have to keep changing things. Yea, CGA sucked, but VGA and SVGA
works just fine for home use. I can only guess that this DVI was only
used for commercial computers back in 2000. (For what reason I dont
know, since VGA has always had a good picture).

wrote:

By the way, Walmart has brand new flat screen monitors and they ONLY
have VGA connectors. That's both if the two monitors they sell, one is
about the same size as this one, the other one is something like 22 or
24 inches. That tends to puzzle me, because I have this 15 year old
monitor with DVI, yet these brand new ones have common VGA. I thought
the DVI was for the newest computers. I never even heard of DVI until a
year ago or so. VGA has been around since they first began selling
computers (almost.... My first computer had CGA). It sure is annoying
they have to keep changing things. Yea, CGA sucked, but VGA and SVGA
works just fine for home use. I can only guess that this DVI was only
used for commercial computers back in 2000. (For what reason I dont
know, since VGA has always had a good picture).

The biggest VGA only (desktop monitor) I can find on Newegg,
is a 21.5" display. And one reviewer comments that the 1920x1080
doesn't look so good, because of the VGA connector.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9SIA0AJ1P67461

At low resolutions, there is no observable difference between
VGA and DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort. So for the 1024x768 monitor,
you wouldn't care. I would expect at 1920x1080, there would
be an observable difference between VGA and the other standards.
If you had a 1920 (HD) monitor, with VGA and DVI, you should
start to see that the VGA is inferior. And then stick with the DVI.

With digital transmission, the transmission is "perfect". It's digital,
and the pixel color values will be exact each time. Where the digital
transmission falls down, is if you make the cable too long. You can
end up with "colored snow" on the screen, if you make the cable
too long (bit errors on the cable, throw off the color value
of a pixel). VGA doesn't work quite the same way. At high resolution,
reflections on the cable cause distortions (ghosting) on the received
VGA signal (even on a short cable). And as you make the VGA cable longer,
it "softens" the display, such that only the lower resolution choices
make sense (on multisync monitors). At the extremes of cable length,
you might still be able to see something with VGA, whereas the
digital one would be un-viewable. But with reasonable cabling choices,
no matter what the resolution selected, the later digital standards
are going to work better. (In some cases, on expensive monitors,
the digital cable in the monitor box is crap, and you have to
buy a new, better one...)

So in terms of technology choices, that VGA-only monitor above is
a "stinker", in that it should have been a VGA + DVI design.
So users can move to DVI, if the VGA picture isn't good
enough for them. If you have a 1280 or 1024 monitor,
the VGA aspect likely doesn't matter.

*******

I used to have a monitor, with these on the end of the
cable that connects to the monitor. This is a coaxial
solution for VGA. But the end that plugs into the video
card still has the crappy VGA connector, so this cable
was a "half-solution". If there were BNC connectors on
either end, maybe the VGA would still look good at 1920.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...connectors.jpg

Sun Microsystems solved this problem, with their DB13 connector.
Notice the beautiful coax connections for RGB. That's a way to
cut down on ghosting. But the PC industry didn't adopt this.
This connector is more expensive to make. The VGA carries
RGB on regular "pins".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB13W3

Paul