HDMI source laptop with 2 vga monitors

Duckyiscool

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Jan 14, 2010
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I have an Alienware M15x, and the only external display is a single HDMI output. I'm trying to connect two vga monitors to my laptop and was wondering what I should buy. I want to run it as an extended desktop. Would I need a single HDMI splitter with two HDMI-to-VGA converters or one HDMI-to-VGA converter with a VGA splitter? Is either possible? Suggestions?
 
Solution
HDMI -> DVI -> VGA doesn't work.

HDMI is pure digital, VGA is pure analog. DVI supports both because it has a different set of pins for each.

HDMI converts to DVI-D but VGA converts to DVI-A. Assuming that the DVI to VGA adapter is the kind you get with video cards. Anything else would require some hardware to do the digital to analog conversion.

frozenlead

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A VGA splitter will split one VGA signal into two copies of the same signal - you can't drive two monitors off of it and have two different displays.

HDMI can be converted to an analog signal, though - I would recommend you get an HDMI to DVI-D converter (or cable), and then get a cheap DVI to VGA converter. I couldn't find anything that converts HDMI directly to VGA.

In order to get two or more monitors out of the single input, you'll need a digital monitor binder, like Matrox's Dual Head2Go or Triple Head2Go.
 

scudst0rm

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Feb 17, 2008
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HDMI -> DVI -> VGA doesn't work.

HDMI is pure digital, VGA is pure analog. DVI supports both because it has a different set of pins for each.

HDMI converts to DVI-D but VGA converts to DVI-A. Assuming that the DVI to VGA adapter is the kind you get with video cards. Anything else would require some hardware to do the digital to analog conversion.
 
Solution

Duckyiscool

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Jan 14, 2010
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Okay thanks guys. I hadn't realized initially that both monitors had DVI-D inputs on them because I was getting them from a friend.

So I've decided to just use an HDMI to DVI-D adapter for one monitor and a USB to DVI-D converter for the other.
 

griff122

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Oct 30, 2012
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I wish I had read this before I went out and spent 50 bucks on an HDMI to DVI converter..as well as a DVI to VGA converter.... Seemed like a great idea at the time