HDMI to DVI

challenger2010

Hello, I have an older monitor with DVI input. Do I just need to buy an adapter or is there more to it?

Thanks :)

Sano

Unlike VGA, DVI is a fully digital interface, so an adapter should work (basically i'ts just recabling).
Beware that HDMI also support sound, but DVI don't, so you'll have to configure the jack audio output of your RPi.

Capeman

Passive adapter for HDMI to DVI-D works just fine, i use one for a PC monitor and the pi automatically outputs the correct resolution without changing settings. DVI-A will not work, but it's rare to find anything that supports it anyway. @Sano is correct in that you will have to re-route sound through the headphone jack on the pi to get sound output, but thats just a quick config change.

challenger2010

Thanks for the replies. I just ordered one and will try it out :)

edmaul69

@challenger2010 for the sound, in the retropie menu just go into the audio setting and change it from hdmi to the audio jack. What is the resolution for your monitor?

challenger2010

Need to check. Will follow up soon.

mattrixk

@challenger2010 I bought a cheap HDMI-DVI converter and it didn't work for me. Probably because it only cost $5, or it may have been a DVI-A as @Capeman mentioned and I just didn't notice when I bought it.

Howitzer99

@mattrixk I had issues with using an older monitor which had a lower resolution than standard HD (max 1600x1200). I ended up creating a new /boot/config.txt file that switched the default settings to work with the new monitor. Here's a quick overview:

First, backup your /boot/config.txt file and edit it (sudo nano).

To enable DVI output, disable this line:
#hdmi_drive=2

Then change the group to "2", default is "1":
hdmi_group=2

Then find out your monitor's supported display options by running this command in a new shell:
tvservice -m CEA
or
tvservice -m DMT

After that, add the following line, changing the mode to one from the tvservice command. For me, hdmi_mode 51 is my monitor's max output at 1600x1200@60hz.

hdmi_mode=51

Save the file, then reboot the Pi.

Hope this helps,
Howitzer99

mattrixk

Thanks @Howitzer99, I'll have to give that a try. Hopefully I'll have some time over the weekend.