Cheap DisplayPort to HDMI adaptors?

I just bought a new Games PC the other day and decided to invest in a cheap bootleg DisplayPort to HDMI adaptor so I could connect it to my TV as well, and this was working great for a while until it didn't and now I'm worried I might have fried the DisplayPorts on my Graphics Card now, or worse (something to do with with Pin20 or something)?

Tried lots of things last night to see if I could isolate the problem and I think it's either a faulty adaptor or the adaptor broke the graphics card. Hopefully the chances of that happening are slim; I manged to get some video out of one of the DPs using it to my monitor after that while it was booting, but then it disappears which suggest to me the port is still working.

Anyone know what the risks of damaging a graphics card are this way?

I'm trying to order a proper cable from PC World so I can check to see the ports are still OK, but it's unavailable for collection until Thursday and now the site's crashed because of Black Friday.

This is doing my head in, I'm really worried about it now and extremely annoyed at this seller on ebay for probably selling dodgy goods, and myself for not realising there could be issues like this with what I just though would be a fairly safe passive device! They have offered to send me a replacement so I can check, but I'm not putting any cheap DP cables near my machine ever again. This has caused me a lot of trouble over nothing, and I'm not happy about it.

I tried to check the adaptor myself using my cheap multimeter but the pins are too big to go in to see if Pin 20 is connected; I did noticed the outer casing (which should be grounded) wasn't connected on either side of the adaptor (which I think it probably should be but on cheap bootlegs maybe will still be functional if it isn't)

I never came across the port frying because of a converter weather it was expensive or Cheap, the only fear-able converters are the ones that require external powering (eg VGA to HDMI) as probably applying wrong amperage might actually fry something yes but your case is probably not that . So basically your problem may lay that the converter which I assume have a part cable between both ends had the wires inside damaged from movement which is how these things' lives end usually as they invest less on shielding their cables right mind you the wires within .

Now bare in mind on trying different cables most probably Windows had already decided which port to use as primary display and has the others maybe turned off etc , so you may need to just stick to main port with all testing so to have video feed .

P.S You may try to smell the port which is a Cheap test method compared to what you were trying to do with the Cheap multimeter , usually when they are fried they do smell .

Yeah I'm probably fretting over nothing. After I had it working it then restarted itself at 5pm when the active hours that were set came to and end and it was set to auto-restart for an update (why on earth would they set a feature like that?) then I went for a bath and when I came back on later to put it through the TV again it wouldn't work! I tried everything, all different combinations to get to the bottom of it and then I decided to ask google if cheap displayport cables could damage your graphics card..

Like I say it was coming on through my monitor after that when booting, there was a few seconds of video before it freezes and goes black. So that's what's making me worried that one of the components inside the port has frazzled.

But the problem seemed to also be across all of the three other ports, so surely all 3 ports wouldn't get popped at the same time?

Got a proper cable ordered for tomorrow so I should know by then. If this adaptor has damaged my new computer then negative feedback on ebay will be the least of this sellers problems!

I'll return with the full diagnosis.

One more thing:

the only fear-able converters are the ones that require external powering (eg VGA to HDMI)

Well the thing is one of the cables I was converting to is hdmi to VGA, when I was trying to different monitors. Is that potentially more likely to be cause for concern?

Just don't over think things and wait on the cable or new converter or whatever . A main requirement on trouble shooting these things is to replace suspect cables / part and see if the problem persist or resolve (as these are the Cheapest components) and this is what you are doing , other than that is like fortune telling .

As for concerns about the HDMI to VGA converter , does it have external powering cable ? Like USB cable coming out or going into the converter ? If not then you shouldn't worry much , if yes then you should check if you plugged it to an adapter that gives no more than 0.5 ampere (usually written on adapter) which is how much most computing devices are belt to handle , some devices can take up to 1 ampere without frying and people know these by trial and error , but the more you fit in than 0.5 amperes you are at sure risk .

Just a straight DisplayPort >> DisplayPort to HMDI >> HMDI to VGA and in the back of my old HANNS-G monitor. Only place that couldy supply a voltage into Port 20 had to come from the monitor or the TV, and they both have their own power supply so why would they supply power out and back into the cable? I don't know, I'm just learning about this. Like I say I have a bit of electronics experience from years ago so I thought "what harm could a cheap passive connector do?"

I'm sure it will be fine. I'm thinking the worst from reading up about it on google, just like when you need to go to the doctor and you ask google about symptoms..

Pending a positive outcome tomorrow I'll be asking the aforementioned seller if Port 20 is connected and they either say yes it is, or they don't know then I'll have to neg rep them. I don't like to do that, but selling things that could potentially cause damage to your equipment is something that others need to be warned about.

I think folk should be more honest about ebay rating though and not do it just to be polite, or ensure you get back + Most of the sellers on there have 98+% but you should always read the negs. This seller has one person complaining about something that stopped working early on as well, but I don't know what it was.

- - - Updated - - -

Cable just arrived. All three DisplayPorts appear to be be fine.