Will an HDMI to VGA connector work?

Question

I have a device that has an HDMI output port. The specification says that I can connect it to a monitor that has an HDMI input port (through HDMI to HDMI cable) or one that has a DVI-D input port. Now, I don't have either. What I have are monitors that have only VGA input ( Actually, the connector port on the monitor reads RGB input, but I am assuming it is a VGA port). So I am thinking of buying a HDMI to VGA cable.

Will such a hack work ?

The device is BeagleBoard.

I can get an HDMI to VGA male cable, but all monitors seem to need female connectors, so if I can get a VGA female to female cable connect it to my HDMI to VGA male cable, will this work too ?

Answer 1

This tend to be the general consensus on forums:

It won't work. VGA to DVI is possible, because there are two kinds of DVI signals:

• DVI-I, which has both analog and digital output, and
• DVI-A which has only the analog output

So if you hook in the VGA → DVI cable, the signal will be analog on the DVI-end of the cable. Since HDMI is digital, it doesn't support analog signals.

But there are signal converters that can convert digital to analog RGB, but they cost like 300$ at least. So you'll need a HDMI to DVI cable and a signal converter similar to this.

Answer 2

No, it shouldn't work. HDMI ports on video cards emit digital signals, VGA ports on monitors expect analogue signals.

Cables with HDMI connector at one end and VGA at the other may be designed for video cards that have a VGA connector but which can be made to output HDMI digital signals through that connector. In other words, the other way around from what you want.

Answer 3

There are plenty of adapters available. A simple cable won't work, but the adapters will actively convert the signal into a different signal that will match what your monitors are expecting.

Answer 4

It looks like Suncat2000 is correct. These converters/adaptors are fairly cheap, but remember - they are only HDMI to VGA, not the other way around. Since HDMI is digital only, and VGA is analog only, it's not too hard to imagine going from HDMI to VGA, since this is a definite step down in performance. In fact, HDMI includes audio signals, and VGA is video only, so you will want to get an adaptor with an audio output (via RCA jacks, or maybe a 3.5mm audio jack), otherwise the only thing you will convert is the video - the audio will be lost. So if you have an old computer monitor laying around that has a VGA input connector on it, you are in good shape with an adaptor for under 20 dollars. To play the sound, you will also need an audio amp for about $20, and some speakers to go with it - unless you have an old stereo player laying around that has input jacks.