hdmi->vga

Keep in mind that there are different types of DVI connectors. DVI-D is digital only, and is the only type that will be compatible with HDMI. When you were able to do DVI to VGA in the past, you must have had either DVI-A (analog only) or DVI-I (integrated, both analog and digital). HDMI to DVI adapters are DVI-D only. It won't just work with a DVI to VGA adapter, unfortunately. You'll definitely need a converter rather than a simple adapter.

i.e. if you plug two adaptors together to give you hdmi->dvi->vga, then the HDMI adaptor will connect only to the digital DVI pins and the VGA adaptor will connect only to the analogue DVI pins, so the two adaptors plugged together will simply form an open circuit.

Thanks. You summarized it much better than I did.

The adage 'Less Is More' is quite often true.

Bill Garber

Especially in GNU userland.

I have seen some demos hdmi->vga on youtube. The outcome is that they don't just work in general as plug'n play. You need to configure it to the specific environment, e.g. pi* and vga type by taylored settings. However, once configured then it does work.

There's RasPi wiki info about HDMI -> VGA.

Firstly, it says: "HDMI to VGA cables DO NOT WORK!"

Dysfunctional straight HDMI to VGA cables can be bought from Chinese Ebay vendors. To actually work, these would require a video card that outputs VGA via an HDMI connector. Does anything do this?

Then the wiki mentions HDMI -> VGA converter boxes, and some cables with built-in adaptors, which can be made to work.

E.g.: This one from Amazon:

Start off with this in the /boot/config.txt to get it working, then experiment with increasing the HDMI resolution to match your monitor (Google for the details).

hdmi_safe=0 disable_overscan=0 hdmi_drive=2 config_hdmi_boost=4