Joined Nov 2006
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Forum Thread
Best way to connect older DVI/HDMI monitor to PC with DP/HDMI ports
April 15, 2025 at
10:32 AM
I want to connect an older 1920 x 1200 monitor to my PC for use as a 2nd monitor, not for anything too critical, basically watching videos or TV, maybe for some light coding, etc.
It has a DVI and HDMI port (also VGA & composite, but those are mostly irrelevant these days).
My AMD 6600-based video card has 3 DP and 1 HDMI ports, with one DP port being connected to my primary 27" 4k monitor, leaving 2 free DP ports and 1 free HDMI port.
I'm wondering which way (i.e. kind of cable) to connect it makes the most sense and would result in the best image and audio and fewest potential issues.
There are basically 4 ways to do this:
HDMI-HDMI
HDMI-DV-I
DP-HDMI
DP-DV-I
The only method that doesn't involve mixing standards is HDMI-HDMI, which I've tried and works fine. But would any of the other methods be better, or does it really not matter for this application? My guess is that it doesn't really matter, just wanted to make sure.
It has a DVI and HDMI port (also VGA & composite, but those are mostly irrelevant these days).
My AMD 6600-based video card has 3 DP and 1 HDMI ports, with one DP port being connected to my primary 27" 4k monitor, leaving 2 free DP ports and 1 free HDMI port.
I'm wondering which way (i.e. kind of cable) to connect it makes the most sense and would result in the best image and audio and fewest potential issues.
There are basically 4 ways to do this:
HDMI-HDMI
HDMI-DV-I
DP-HDMI
DP-DV-I
The only method that doesn't involve mixing standards is HDMI-HDMI, which I've tried and works fine. But would any of the other methods be better, or does it really not matter for this application? My guess is that it doesn't really matter, just wanted to make sure.
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You could encounter circumstances with some computers, monitors, or specific cables where certain methods of connecting a monitor have limits on the supported resolution or refresh rate. You're more likely to encounter this type of issue running resolutions 4K and above or are hooking up the maximum number of supported displays. One other thing to watch out for is that often these cables / adapters a directional, meaning a DP to HDMI cable work plugged in to a PC with DP and a TV with HDMI in, but may not work plugged into a computer with HDMI out and a monitor with DP in.
I think one of the main reasons DP exists on monitors and computers is to reduce the HDMI licensing fees they have to pay (they get to pass those on to the consumer when they buy a DP to HDMI cable / adapter) .
I have an old monitor with an HDMI to DVI adapter screwed into it connected to a DP to HDMI cable and it works fine.
You could encounter circumstances with some computers, monitors, or specific cables where certain methods of connecting a monitor have limits on the supported resolution or refresh rate. You're more likely to encounter this type of issue running resolutions 4K and above or are hooking up the maximum number of supported displays. One other thing to watch out for is that often these cables / adapters a directional, meaning a DP to HDMI cable work plugged in to a PC with DP and a TV with HDMI in, but may not work plugged into a computer with HDMI out and a monitor with DP in.
I think one of the main reasons DP exists on monitors and computers is to reduce the HDMI licensing fees they have to pay (they get to pass those on to the consumer when they buy a DP to HDMI cable / adapter) .
I have an old monitor with an HDMI to DVI adapter screwed into it connected to a DP to HDMI cable and it works fine.
And, mostly I was just curious about the other options. I might even have one or two such hybrid cables but like many people I've got boxes of old tech junk and am too lazy to go through it all.
And, mostly I was just curious about the other options. I might even have one or two such hybrid cables but like many people I've got boxes of old tech junk and am too lazy to go through it all.
You can dumb down Display Port to HDMI.
Computer Display Port (Out) > adapter > HDMI (In) Monitor
You can't make HDMI Smarter to become Display Port.
Computer HDMI Port (Out) > adapter > Display Port (In) Monitor
You can mix and match adapters, but the flow of the signal is what matters.
Send a Display Port signal into a Display Port to HDMI adapter and that will work.
The reverse direction will not work, even though the cables will plug into each other.
You can dumb down Display Port to HDMI.
Computer Display Port (Out) > adapter > HDMI (In) Monitor
You can't make HDMI Smarter to become Display Port.
Computer HDMI Port (Out) > adapter > Display Port (In) Monitor
You can mix and match adapters, but the flow of the signal is what matters.
Send a Display Port signal into a Display Port to HDMI adapter and that will work.
The reverse direction will not work, even though the cables will plug into each other.
It does have DVI though, which I assume either DP or HDMI can adapt to?
It does have DVI though, which I assume either DP or HDMI can adapt to?
And even though you said it doesn't apply, you can certainly go HDMI to DP, you just don't gain anything. DP has higher bandwidth. You don't get this bandwidth increase running HDMI to DP, but it will still work and unless you're doing some seriously intensive video stuff you'll never notice.