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Pastimes : Computer Learning -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: goldworldnet who wrote (94985)	11/27/2016 10:46:20 AM
From: Honey_Bee	1 Recommendation Recommended By goldworldnet Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110631

Thank you so much!!!! Your help and this thread is much appreciated. :)

To: goldworldnet who wrote (94985)	11/27/2016 11:45:52 AM
From: PMS Witch	3 Recommendations Recommended By Eric L goldworldnet Vendit™ Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110631

Since I'm in the middle of re-shuffling my computers and monitors, I've been wrestling with how to connect them. A few observations. . . It appears that the newest monitors from Dell are moving toward Display Port and HDMI. The older DVI seems to have been abandoned. The even older VGA seems to have a little life left as a legacy connection. My strategy. . . I connected my OptiPlex to a great little monitor with an IPS screen using VGA. This was not my first choice, but since the monitor supported DVI and the OptiPlex supported Display Port, I had no other option. Using the VGA (Analog,) display quality was noticeably inferior to the Digital alternatives. The OptiPlex didn't have a DVI output, but it did have an empty PCI slot and I had a spare graphics card featuring DVI. Using the card and connecting with a DVI cable, the results were wonderful. But my graphics card was a Full-Size card and my OptiPlex was Small Form Factor. To get the card inside, I removed the bracket and the (unwanted) VGA connecter that plugged into it. That left only the electrical connector holding it in place. OK for experimenting but I was unwilling to risk leaving things this way. But I had my answer: Connect the digital monitor to the digital computer with a digital cable for great results. I have no need for high-performance graphics, and no desire to explore the limits of my power supply's capacity, and a reluctance to pay good money for a mediocre at best low-power card. (And the choice among graphics cards that take all their power from the motherboard is quite limited.) I needed another solution. I found a Display Port to DVI cable. For me, this was perfect: Little money, no using up a precious PCI slot, and my monitor delivering the best display possible. primecables.com If there's a downside, it's this minor irritant. The DP-DVI cable is white, while all the others are black. (Does make it easier to locate though!) Enough about my system. Let's look at yours. . . I was curious about why Dell says the VGA connection is optional. Visiting the Dell sales site didn't help. There seems to be plenty of choices to make, but getting VGA wasn't among them. I checked the Owners Manual for the OptiPlex 3040. optinethawaii.com Here, on page 18, I found the answer. Apparently, there's a daughter-card that plugs into the system's motherboard and provides a VGA connection to the rear of the system's cabinet. Frustratingly, I cannot locate any information about this adapter beyond the mention of it in the Owners' Manual from Dell. Perhaps a DP to VGA or HDMI to VGA dongle or cable will work. I'd hate to see you go this route. First, it may not work, and if it does, it may not work well. If I were to spring for a new computer, I'd seriously consider a monitor upgrade too -- you can get a decent one for not too much money. Cheers, PW.