Computer DisplayPort to VGA

Moses555

Not sure if this question belong here or Moe's Technology Tavern. Mods, please move as appropriate.

I have a Windows Server 2008 R2 computer with an Nvidia Quadro NVS 295 graphics card. I'm on the latest drivers. The card has two display port slots.

I've hooked up the first one, with a DisplayPort to DVI adapter to a monitor, and this is working just fine. I can see the desktop, etc.

Now I'm trying to run a second monitor using a VGA cable. So I connected a Display Port to DVI adapter (specifically this: Display Port to DVI) and added a DVI to VGA adapter, then connected the monitor.

Windows will detect the 2nd monitor, detect the native resolution, allow me to set it up to extend the desktop, but the monitor remains blank, stays totally asleep. I've verified that the monitor works on other PCs.

Any suggestions?

Ruckus

So the Monitor only has a VGA input? Do you have a monitor with DVI input you can try it on?

Moses555

I'm stuck with VGA becuase I'm actually trying to use a KVM switch with the monitor. But I tried PC -> DVI -> Monitor, and the symptoms were the same, so perhaps the graphics card is the problem.

I'm going to restart just to be sure.

Dranyth

I'm fairly surprised that Display Port to DVI goes to DVI-I instead of just DVI-D, it probably would've been less confusing that way.

Anyway, someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm fairly certain that you cannot go directly from a purely digital signal to an analog signal without a powered converter in between.

I'm extrapolating and assuming a bit from a recent experience at work where we discovered that with regards to DVI-D and trying to go to VGA, or even just DVI-A. So I'm assuming that Display Port is a pure digital signal as DVI-D is.

Fats

They make straight Displayport to VGA adapters, so I have to assume there's an analog signal in there somewhere.

MoSiAc

We had an issue with this at work recently, and I'm pretty sure the guy said you can't go from that DVI to a VGA. IF you get a Displayport to VGA it would probably work but Display to DVI to VGA (from what I am told, will not work)

Dranyth

Fats wrote: »

They make straight Displayport to VGA adapters, so I have to assume there's an analog signal in there somewhere.

Ooo, now that's pretty neat.

I know to convert from DVI-D to VGA, you need a $200 adapter. Fun stuff. Luckily we just ended up getting new monitors that supported DVI-D instead. Each was cheaper than the adapter would've been for each.