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What to consider when using display output adapters?

D

DaRuSsIaMaN

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Apr 22, 2007
Messages
1,216
In my particular case, I have a couple of computers with display outputs of 1 VGA, and 2 DisplayPorts. The monitors for these computers will most likely have VGA and DVI, maybe HDMI. I don't foresee having any DisplayPort-capable monitors. I would like to use 2 monitors per computer, so at least one adapter will be needed.

In my circumstance, 1.) is there any downside to using a DisplayPort --> HDMI adapter? There's no image degradation, right? 2.) Is there a chance that a random, cheap adapter will not work? If so, what would be the reason?

More generally, are there any issues with using adapters in any other digital combination? Like, DisplayPort to HDMI or vice versa?
 
DP to HDMI will be fine with pretty much any adapter unless you need an active DP to DVI, in that case pretty much nothing is reliable in my experience. I had nothing but issues with active DP to DVI adapters and ended up just going to DP monitors.

You may need active adapters depending on your video card.

I have had zero issues with passive adapters.

Also, since only one company has proper DP certified cables, unless you get those you will have issues with DP monitors as well.

So far in my own experience, display port is nothing but headaches unless you use passive adapters or certified cables, then its all good.
 
Deimos said:
Also, since only one company has proper DP certified cables, unless you get those you will have issues with DP monitors as well.

So far in my own experience, display port is nothing but headaches unless you use passive adapters or certified cables, then its all good.
Click to expand...

What company would that be, and what issues can you guarantee we'll have if we don't use cables from them?
 
Deimos said:
I have had zero issues with passive adapters.
Click to expand...

That's good to know! Thanks.

Deimos said:
You may need active adapters depending on your video card.
Click to expand...

Are you sure? From digging around some more, it sounds to me like any video card can accept a passive adapter, but active will be needed in some special cases, like if you want to use Eyefinity. I found this explanation of passive vs. active from AMD:
http://support.amd.com/en-us/search/faq/23
Also what this person said:
http://www.overclock.net/t/721931/active-vs-passive-displayport-adapters-the-truth

The video card I'll be dealing with is just the integrated video that comes with the Haswell i3 4130: the HD 4400. Sounds to me like I would be okay with using 2x DP --> DVI passive adapters and one VGA cable if I wanted to hook up 3 monitors. Am I misunderstanding anything?

This page (expand the 3rd entry) shows the unsupported combinations of 3 displays, so every other combo (including my proposition above) should be fine, right?
 
Also remember that some OSD features are restricted to certain ports which could make calibration difficult. I found that certain color management options whilst available via AVI weren't via DVI and or HDMI. And if you're not already aware nvidia cards have issues with black/ Reference levels via HDMI (you have to edit the registry which is a nuisance for 4:4:4 rgb full range).
 
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