Best HDMI to VGA adapter?

[Diggs]

I run three computers into a Samsung monitor that has VGA, DP and DVI inputs. I use a KVM just for mouse and keyboard. My Linux machine stays native using the DP to DP ports. My Windows gaming machine runs DVI to DVI but my laptop I have to bend from HDMI to VGA and I get artifacting (full traveling horizontal line and shadowing) which is not surprising. I have never liked going from digital to analog or visa versa but I have seen it done cleanly. Unfortunately, that's not what I get. I have a bag full of cheap adapters and they all have the same problem. I tried bending the HDMI of the laptop to the DP port on the monitor so it could stay digital (then try a DP to VGA adapter on the Linux machine) but couldn't get it to work no matter which cable I tried.

Can anyone suggest I high(er) end HDMI to VGA adapter that can make the transition without artifacting?

 

[HCHTech]

Is your HDMI to VGA adapter powered? I think I would try that first (getting an adapter with a separate power source - either USB to a free port on the computer or using a standalone DC source).

 

[phaZed]

Never had any issues with this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SW9JI9A

EDIT:

• HDMI 1.0-1.2: No power delivery capability
• HDMI 1.3-1.4: Up to 50 mA at 5 volts (MHL power)
• HDMI 2.0: Up to 50 mA at 5 volts (MHL power)
• HDMI 2.1: Up to 50 mA at 5 volts (MHL power), as well as support for higher power delivery capabilities (up to 1.5 amps at 5 volts) using the new “Power Delivery” feature

So, check your laptop's HDMI spec. HDMI 1.3 and up should work without external power.

 

[Diggs]

Is your HDMI to VGA adapter powered?

Actually, the one I am trying now has a micro-USB port. I thought that was USB out powered by the HDMI just like the audio jack next to it. Never thought about power in. I plugged it into a powered USB strip but makes no difference. The traveling twinkling horizontal line remains undisturbed.

Never had any issues with this:

Like I said, I've tried quite a few different ones. Several that look just like the Moread you linked but a different name.

Hard for me to blame it on the HDMI but it is a discrete video GPU (RTX 3050). Hmmm.....

 

[phaZed]

Have you tried on another device to test the adapter? If the problem continues only on that laptop - among multiple adapters, it could perhaps be the laptop.

The traveling horizontal line could be a grounding issue, and its receiving some interference from your PC, overhead lights, etc.

 

[Diggs]

it could perhaps be the laptop.

It well could be at this point. I should dig deeper into a few things such as whether it's using any part of the default 144 hz screen refresh setting on the laptop.

 

[Diggs]

Finally got back to this issue. I dug out an ancient VGA cable that is three times the thickness of anything else I have and I'm sure heavily shielded. (Think 0000 welding cable.) Presto - Chango... The horizontal traveling line and any shadowing are gone. Perfect display - pffft! Yaaaa!

 

[phaZed]

Finally got pack to this issue. I dug out an ancient VGA cable that is three times the thickness of anything else I have and I'm sure heavily shielded. (Think 0000 welding cable.) Presto - Chango... The horizontal traveling line and any shadowing are gone. Perfect display - pffft! Yaaaa!

Nice! Was wondering if it was picking up interference. Good job!

 

[HCHTech]

I dug out an ancient VGA cable that is three times the thickness of anything else I have and I'm sure heavily shielded.

Saving all of those cables DOES have value - I KNEW it!!

 

[Sky-Knight]

HDMI -> VGA
DisplayPort -> VGA

Both are digital to analog, and the adapter unless powered... just doesn't matter. What matters is the port on the machine has the ability to perform this action internally. This is an electrical physical capability of some graphical interfaces. If that port can't do it, the adapter won't work or will work extremely poorly.

For Dell, this means use the first DisplayPort, the HDMI port almost never has the ability to make the leap. Honestly, these days if the monitor doesn't have an HDMI input, it's going into the trash. It's cheaper to replace the display than it is to argue with all the insanity required to get a VGA display connected!

 

[lan101]

HDMI -> VGA
DisplayPort -> VGA

Both are digital to analog, and the adapter unless powered... just doesn't matter. What matters is the port on the machine has the ability to perform this action internally. This is an electrical physical capability of some graphical interfaces. If that port can't do it, the adapter won't work or will work extremely poorly.

For Dell, this means use the first DisplayPort, the HDMI port almost never has the ability to make the leap. Honestly, these days if the monitor doesn't have an HDMI input, it's going into the trash. It's cheaper to replace the display than it is to argue with all the insanity required to get a VGA display connected!

Yeah at this point if the machine can't natively connect using displayport or hdmi I want nothing to do with that monitor anymore lol.

If it's an old legacy system for something that's fine but anything new forget it. A lot of the hdmi to vga works but there's wavy lines of interference etc. and it just looks terrible...not worth scrimping for $100 bucks or less for a basic screen.

 

[Diggs]

Honestly, these days if the monitor doesn't have an HDMI input, it's going into the trash.

Kinda hard for me to trash a 3-input 24" Samsung business monitor. (I need the three inputs and not many monitors have three.) As I mentioned above, it has DVI>DVI and DP>DP native inputs it's just the VGA input I have to bend. I went to the Samsung support page for the monitor and it has drivers(?). The driver will install up to 6 times which I thought was bizarre. Three times for the Intel graphics X 3 inputs VGA/DVI/DP and three times for the Nvidia graphics X 3 inputs. You pick the input and GPU each time. (Things that make you go hmmm.....)

 

[Sky-Knight]

Kinda hard for me to trash a 3-input 24" Samsung business monitor. (I need the three inputs and not many monitors have three.) As I mentioned above, it has DVI>DVI and DP>DP native inputs it's just the VGA input I have to bend. I went to the Samsung support page for the monitor and it has drivers(?). The driver will install up to 6 times which I thought was bizarre. Three times for the Intel graphics X 3 inputs VGA/DVI/DP and three times for the Nvidia graphics X 3 inputs. You pick the input and GPU each time. (Things that make you go hmmm.....)

Those three inputs are there for different options, you're usually not supposed to use them to swap between things. The super wide displays will have multiple displayport or HDMI inputs, because they can either be a huge screen to the OS, or multiple smaller monitors.

For your use case it sounds like an HDMI or displayport switch box would make more sense. Just like you'd use on a TV to get multiple things connected

 

[Diggs]

sounds like an HDMI or displayport switch box would make more sense.

I don't like video switch boxes. I've had too many issues in the past. I prefer to have switching done internally on the monitor but that's just me.

 

[Sky-Knight]

I don't like video switch boxes. I've had too many issues in the past. I prefer to have switching done internally on the monitor but that's just me.

It's all fun and games until you have monitors that won't cooperate! Case and point... the ASUS displays on my desk, the menu will not appear if the port they think I should be using is inactive! The things just go dark, and stay there, and will remain so until I unplug all inputs and power-cycle them!

But yeah, there's no perfect solution. I just make it a point to avoid digital <-> Analog links. VGA is analog, and most modern video hardware lacks the ability to service it correctly. Not to mention the resolution limitations.