My old LG Flatron L1960TR screen is going strong after many years of use. However, my 12 year old Acer desktop is proving a little troublesome in the last year or two. If I change my pc to something newer, will I be able to connect the newer pc's HDMI output to the screen's VGA input?
Will it be successful and work properly? Or will it be a comprimise and not really perform very well?
Yes, you just need an HDMI to VGA adapter. Looking on Amazon, I see them for as little as $4 here in the United States.
That said, I would strongly advise against going that route. If you absolutely have to, then I get it. The problem is that VGA is an analog video standard it looks ABSOLTELY HORRIBLE compared to any modern digital standard. Then there is also the limitation of resolution. VGA has very low limits for the resolution.
So, the quick answer is that it can be done. But unless you really have to, I would consider a monitor upgrade. Does not need to be a fancy one. The cheapest of HDMI monitors will look better than any VGA monitor.
EDIT: One correction: You can actually get half-decent resolution on VGA, it wasn't quite as limited as I had remembered. But I still maintain that it doesn't look great.
The monitor has a DVI-D port so you can buy an HDMI to DVI-D adapter.
That would be better than using the VGA analogue port.
Thanks for your reply. I've been happy with desktops and the LG screen on VGA connection for 17 years, so it's no problem carrying on that way if I can. Don't really want to junk a perfectly good screen that is excellent performance and durability. When the time comes, obviously I will get an HDMI screen.Yes, you just need an HDMI to VGA adapter. Looking on Amazon, I see them for as little as $4 here in the United States.
That said, I would strongly advise against going that route. If you absolutely have to, then I get it. The problem is that VGA is an analog video standard it looks ABSOLTELY HORRIBLE compared to any modern digital standard. Then there is also the limitation of resolution. VGA has very low limits for the resolution.
So, the quick answer is that it can be done. But unless you really have to, I would consider a monitor upgrade. Does not need to be a fancy one. The cheapest of HDMI monitors will look better than any VGA monitor
EDIT: One correction: You can actually get half-decent resolution on VGA, it wasn't quite as limited as I had remembered. But I still maintain that it doesn't look great.
I'm only doing web browsing and word processing - no gaming, so don't need top spec graphics performance. You seem to confirm that it will function more or less as before, so that will do me.
Thanks again, Texan. Really miss my time there in Houston in bars on Post Oak Rd, I think. Woodies, Sam's Boat and Fandangos Mexican on Gessner I10. And the steaks!! Dallas too at the Stock Yards. Got arrested in Dallas - one too many beers. But that's another story...........
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Thanks. I didn't realise that. Would it make any difference to picture quality, or not?
Last edited by woodbine; 16 Feb 2024 at 08:25.
It should be better as there is no pointless/redundant D to A, and A to D conversions and an analogue cable.
Whether that is noticeable depends on the quality of analogue cable and D > A > D conversions.
VGA and DVI have been legacy ports for many years, HDMI and DisplayPort are the current video ports.
I got a new Dell Vostro desktop in Apr. '22, no VGA or DVI so am using a DisplayPort to VGA on it when I added it to the 4-port KVM that has only VGA. It was that or change the KVM to supporting DP or HDMI and adapters on the other 3 computers.
Thanks again for your replies, really appreciated.
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