Why would a motherboard not include a VGA port? And how can I add one to my system?

frc · 16 Dec 2011 at 20:44

Many, many new monitors today are still connected by VGA, not just HDMI or something else. I have a gigabyte Z68AP-D3 which disappointingly has no VGA port. They saw fit to include a serial and parallel port, though! :confused:

But no VGA...

What is the reasoning behind this?

In any case, what's my best option? I don't really want to spend £120 on a different monitor (I only just got this one). Is it worth getting a cheap graphics card to act as an adaptor?

frc · 16 Dec 2011 at 20:54

Zefan said:
Don't worry, just use an adapter!

They seem expensive, got to convert between digital and analogue?

frc · 16 Dec 2011 at 21:02

Zefan said:
I'm assuming your graphics card has DVI? Dsub adapters should be a couple of quid at most.

I don't have a graphics card...

Apart from some USB and audio business on the front of the case, this is every way I can plug things in to my computer:

frc · 16 Dec 2011 at 23:21

shadesofgrey said:
Then I stand by my unadulterated first post, yes, your best bet is a £20 gpx card.

Seems a shame to then cut off the i5's integrated graphics :/
From what I gather, until a certain graphics card price level I'll be downgrading essentially - paying extra to get worse graphics performance - compared to the integrated graphics :/

I could have just got a cheaper mobo that can't make use of them.

And it would have probably had a VGA port anyway, hah.

Any way I look at it this is a bizarre choice by Gigabyte not to include a VGA port...
And I'm surprised no one mentioned it ever - it's a popular board.

frc · 16 Dec 2011 at 23:23

Orcvader said:
This. And from a quick search on the jungle they're only £5? However I'm not sure if the IGP will detect this and can correctly send analogue signals instead of digital.

I can't quite figure out yet if they work. Many vendors warn not to use them with a PC-->monitor situation.

frc · 24 Dec 2011 at 16:44

In case anyone is as slow as me and finds themself in the same situation, I resolved this by using a HDMI<--->DVI cable (minimal cost) to make many more monitors available to me, not just those with HDMI-in.

Thanks for your help, everyone.

frc · 24 Dec 2011 at 17:17

PhillyDee said:
So your monitor has a DVI port?

Well, if you had only said so . . . .

It didn't, no, but I was able to get another one that did, second hand, rather than buy a brand-new one.