Low profile video card question regarding removing VGA socket completely.

[Stormster]

Hi guys.

Strange request from someone I was speaking to, they use a small form factor chassis for systems they build to control some garage equipment (don't know the in's and out's but alas...).

They thus need a low profile video card with a VGA out and HDMI out, VGA for boggo monitors and HDMI to go to TV's on a wall. So in theory a cheapo 5450 card for example should suffice?

But, their cases only have 2 spaces on the back plates, so if you generally get a low profile card and associated shorter height bracket the VGA port will go onto it's own side and the DVI/HDMI ports will be attached to the card so generally taking up 2 back plate spaces.

They don't have a spare space for the second backplate for the VGA port alone as they put an RS232 adaptor in that place.

SO, most of these VGA ports are on a small cable from the card itself to the backplate.

Can this be removed and they use the DVI port as the main output port and a DVI to VGA adaptor fitted? Or will the VGA port being physically "unplugged" from the ribon cable away from the card cause problems?

If they can remove the VGA port and use the single low profile backplate, DVI as main output (with a DVI to VGA adaptor) and HDMI as a secondary clone output, I can find them a card with a suitable seperate backplate layout to suit their needs.

Sorry for any drivel, I'm rubbish at explaining stuff

Thanks all

 

[Surveyor]

You can do what you say.

Remove the large bracket and VGA connector.

Fit the low profile bracket and be left with a card with DVI and HDMI.

Now this is where it gets tricky.

In order to use the DVI connector with a VGA adapter you need to ensure it's a DVI-I connection (digital and analogue) and not DVI-D (digital only).

A couple of the low profile cards I've looked at only have a DVI-D connection so you couldn't use a VGA adapter.

Don't go by retailer's websites as to whether or not a connector is DVI-I or DVI-D, they're often wrong. Check the manufacturer's website.

 

[Stormster]

Thanks for the info mate I never would have thought about that, good thinking.

Will check out properly any cards I see Sounds like it can be done though minus the VGA adapter.

Cheers