Hey everyone! I'm hoping to get some advice on connecting an older monitor to my new laptop. I've got a couple of monitors that are a bit dated, with only VGA and DVI connections, and they work perfectly with my home desktop. However, now that I have a laptop for my job, I want to use one of these monitors as a second screen. I tried using both VGA to HDMI and DVI to HDMI cables, but the display comes out dim and washed out. I'm not sure what's going wrong here. Any ideas? Thanks for your help!
3 Answers
Could you share the exact make and model of your monitors? Also, details about the cables you’re using would be really helpful. Just a heads-up: video signal conversion often has limitations. For instance, if you have a VGA to HDMI cable, it typically wouldn’t work. You likely need an HDMI to VGA setup instead. HDMI to DVI should be more straightforward since they share compatibility, but using the right type of converter is key.
Does your laptop have a USB-C port? You might want to consider getting a hub that includes the monitor connections you need. These hubs can also provide USB A and audio ports, which could be handy too!
How old are your monitors? You should definitely check their maximum supported refresh rates and native resolutions. Sometimes, a newer laptop sends out a signal that older monitors aren't designed to handle properly. There’s also a chance that the adapter or cables could be the problem. It might be worth checking the laptop's manual for its output specifications too.
I just checked, and the monitors have a refresh rate of 60Hz. They’re from around 2014. If the refresh rate is an issue, is my only option to get a newer monitor?
Oh, and the native resolution is 1920x1080 if that helps!
Sure, I'll provide the monitor specs. I think I might have the wrong cable, which could explain the issues I'm having.