Types of VGA to HDMI Converters

There are a couple different varieties of VGA to HDMI converter.  The first and significantly more reliable method is using an electronic converter.  This is a device that connects to your PC or laptop via a VGA cable and then sends the output over an HDMI cable to the TV.  The VGA signal  is electronically transcoded into the HDMI format.  The Atlona AT-HDVIEW VGA to HDMI Scaler is an example of an electronic converter.  This particular converter will automatically detect the native resolution of your TV and scale the output of the image to that resolution.  It is even capable of scaling to a full 1080p resolution.

The second type of VGA to HDMI converter is essentially a cable with a VGA connection on one end and an HDMI connection on the other.  Given the complexity of the signal that you are dealing with, it is recommended that you AVOID this method.  There are cables available, but they perform poorly.  In essence they are attempting to take an analog signal from your computer and convert that to a digital signal for your TV.  The results are inconsistent at best.

Converter Options

Listed below are some of the more common options available on VGA to HDMI converters.

1.  Audio Input/Output – many converters will allow you to plug in the audio output from your computer for embedding onto the HDMI signal.  Typically only analog audio is supported, but some units also have a digital optical input as well.

2.  Resolution Auto-detect – Some converters will automatically detect the resolution of  both your TV and your computer.  This makes them essentially plug and play.  Before buying, be sure to read the resolution specifications as some devices will only output 720p rather than 1080i or 1080p.

3.  Picture Adjustments – The higher end converters will even allow you to make adjustments to the picture.  The Atlona AT-HD500 VGA to HDMI Converter has adjustments for contrast, brightness, hue, sharpness, and even aspect ratio.

4.  Power Supply – It may not seem all that important, but depending on how you’re planning on using your VGA to Hdmi converter, the power supply is something to consider.  Some units will have an external power supply while others pull power from your computers USB output.  If you don’t like having the device sitting right next to your computer, a converter with separate power supply may be the way to go.

Other Parts You’ll Need

1.  HDMI cables – there are a variety of HDMI cables available on Amazon.com.

2. Analog Audio cable – most laptops will have a 3.5mm audio output for external speakers.  There are a variety of 3.5mm audio cables available.  Be sure to pick one that has the correct gender for both your laptop and the converter.

3.  VGA cable – depending on which converter you choose, it may or may not come with a VGA cable.  If you want audio as well as video, there are several models available with an audio cable attached.

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