Cable adapter question

[Shevek]

Hi all,

I'm considering replacing my ageing system with an Intel NUC

This comes with mini DisplayPort (1.2) and mini HDMI (1.4a) ports

I currently have 2 displays connected which I will upgrade at a later date. They are quite old though, one is DVI, one is VGA.

So, what is a good combination of adapters to get?

mini DisplayPort -> VGA + mini HDMI -> DVI

or

mini DisplayPort -> DVI + mini HDMI -> VGA

TIA

Shevek

[foxyshadis]

Are you sure about holding off on the monitor? HDMI->VGA or DP->VGA will set you back at least another $50. (Passive cables WILL NOT work, only Playstation 3s and some low-end disc players export an analog signal.) Otherwise, it makes no difference, you can get passive conversion cables for both to single-link DVI.

In the future, Mini-DP can do higher resolution & higher frame rate than HDMI, though, so you'd want to stick your best monitor on that one. Intel's HDMI can only push 2560x1440 at a reduced refresh rate and barely 20fps at 4K, even though it's supposed to be 1.4a. (Broadwell/Cherry Trail may change this, I haven't heard yet.)

[Shevek]

Are you sure about holding off on the monitor? HDMI->VGA or DP->VGA will set you back at least another $50. (Passive cables WILL NOT work, only Playstation 3s and some low-end disc players export an analog signal.) Otherwise, it makes no difference, you can get passive conversion cables for both to single-link DVI.

In the future, Mini-DP can do higher resolution & higher frame rate than HDMI, though, so you'd want to stick your best monitor on that one. Intel's HDMI can only push 2560x1440 at a reduced refresh rate and barely 20fps at 4K, even though it's supposed to be 1.4a. (Broadwell/Cherry Trail may change this, I haven't heard yet.)

Yeah, unfortunately the NUC will blow my budget for this year :(

I can see HDM->VGA on Amazon for £10 or less

[foxyshadis]

Yeah, unfortunately the NUC will blow my budget for this year :(

I can see HDM->VGA on Amazon for £10 or less

Those are specialty cables that rely on the unit producing an analog signal over HDMI. They won't work outside of PS3 and a tiny scattering of other players, it's rarely used. There's no way to get a PC output to produce it.