DisplayPort to VGA Cables for Projectors and Old Monitors

Looking to connect your computer to a projector or monitor that only has VGA input? That’s where these DisplayPort to VGA cables come in really handy. VGA (Video Graphics Array) input may not be as common as it was in the 90s, but as you probably already know if you’re reading this article, it’s still around even in 2024. Read on to find out our recommended DisplayPort to VGA cables.

Why You Might Need a DisplayPort to VGA Cable

Monitors with VGA input were really common in the 90s but as technology progressed, they slowly got replaced by monitors with HDMI and DisplayPort inputs starting from the mid-2000s. Modern day computers and graphics cards typically have a DisplayPort. Older monitors and projectors, however, usually only have a VGA port.

To connect your new computer to an old monitor or projector, you will need a DisplayPort to VGA cable. VGA is analog, while DisplayPort is digital, so DisplayPort to VGA cables have an adapter to convert the signals from digital to analog. Note that the cables are uni-directional. What this means is that if you connect a VGA output computer to a DisplayPort screen using a DisplayPort to VGA cable, it wouldn’t work.

Here are a few reasons you might need a DisplayPort to VGA cable:

Legacy Equipment

Older monitors from the 90s or projectors might only have VGA input. Instead of buying a new monitor or projector, you can extend the life of your old equipment with a DisplayPort to VGA cable.

Presentations

If you’re in charge of the office conference rooms or auditorium, having a DisplayPort to VGA cable as a backup would be a safe decision. This is especially so if you have legacy equipment.

Compatibility

On the other hand, if you make a lot of presentations at clients’ offices, having a DisplayPort to VGA cable in your suitcase gives you the confidence that your DisplayPort device can connect to any VGA display. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a classroom, a conference room or an auditorium.

How to choose a good DisplayPort to VGA Cable

Keep the following in mind when shopping for a DisplayPort to VGA cable. For the most part, it applies to choosing good cables in general.

Build Quality

Look for cables with robust construction and gold-plated connectors which are corrosion resistant. Braiding and shielding are also good to haves. Also, look out for testing on how many bends and plugging/unplugging it can withstand.

Resolution Support

Ensure that the adapter can handle the resolution and refresh rate of your VGA display. The cables we’ve recommended can typically do 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz.

Active Adapter

Since you’re converting a digital signal to analog, make sure you get an active adapter, which includes a chip to perform the conversion.

Brand Reputation

Choose products from reputable brands to avoid issues like signal degradation down the road. BENFEI and CableCreation are two brands that have highly rated products across many different types of cable products.

Length and Flexibility

Last, but not least, the length and the flexibility of the cable, can affect how you position your devices. Longer cables also tend to have signal degradation issues. So, in general, try to get a cable that’s just slightly longer than what’s necessary.

DisplayPort to VGA Cable Recommendations

With some background information on why you might need a DisplayPort to VGA cable and what to look out for, here are our top recommendations for good DisplayPort to VGA cables. Before buying, make sure that your computer’s output port is DisplayPort and not a regular USB port or HDMI port.

The cables are also not bi-directional. They can only transfer the signal from a DisplayPort source device to a VGA monitor/ display/projector. Another important point to remember is that VGA doesn’t have audio unlike DisplayPort. Any audio in the DisplayPort signals will be lost when converting to VGA.  

Benfei DisplayPort to VGA Cable

Benfei’s a company that’s known for making good cables at an affordable price. They make audio and video accessories, cables and other consumer electronic devices. Many of their products have good reviews and we’ve also recommended some of their other cables on the site.

Here’s what we like about the Benfei DisplayPort to VGA cable. Its high-performance chipset converts the digital signal into analog efficiently and supports video resolutions up to 1920×1680@60Hz (1080p Full HD) as well as lower resolutions like 720p and 1280×1024.

The other thing that’s really good about the Benfei DisplayPort to VGA cable is its durability. It’s 24K gold-plated DisplayPort connector is corrosion resistant. Its joints have also been reinforced to improved durability. As for the cable, it has multiple layers of shielding to protect against RFI and EMI.

The Benfei DisplayPort to VGA cable comes in four different lengths, from 3ft to 15ft. Typically, 6ft should be more than enough for most home setups. For conference rooms, you might need a longer cable.

Benfei offers an 18-month warranty for the cable and customer service is easy to reach if you need to address any issues.

CableCreation DisplayPort to VGA Cable

Like Benfei, CableCreation is another brand that’s known for high quality cables. We’ve also recommended some of their other products, like their USB-C to DisplayPort cable and 8K HDMI cable.

The CableCreation DisplayPort to VGA Cable offers a direct connection from a DisplayPort-equipped computer to a VGA monitor or projector without the need for a separate adapter.

It is able to support up to 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz/ 1080P (Full HD) resolution and 162 MHz video DAC for analog VGA signal output. This means top-notch picture quality.

The connectors are gold-plated to make them corrosion resistant and the cables are shielded to reduce EMI susceptibility and improve performance.

If there is one downside, it is that there’s only a 6ft cable and there no other length options.

DteeDck DisplayPort to VGA Cable

For our final recommendation, we’ve chosen the DteeDck DisplayPort to VGA Cable. While it doesn’t have the brand recognition of Benfei or CableCreation, it is still a very popular and highly rated option.

With its durable braided cable and gold-plated connectors, not only does it look good but it is also built to last. According to the product specs, it has been tested for over 5000 bends. The one downside to this cable is that the DisplayPort connector doesn’t have a latch.

The DteeDck DisplayPort to VGA Cable is able to display Full HD 1080P@60Hz with no flicker. It supports resolution and refresh rate up to 1920×1200@60Hz.

The cable comes in three length options – 3ft, 6ft and 10ft. For most home setups, we’d recommend the 6ft option.

DteeDck provides a 24-month warranty for the cable but given the low price, it probably won’t be worth the hassle. There was an interesting comment about not being able to return the product, for what it’s worth.

Final Thoughts on DisplayPort to VGA Cables

A DisplayPort to VGA cable can be really useful to have if you have old monitors or projectors. They’re pretty cheap and allow you to continue to use perfectly good equipment and not throw them away just because they aren’t up to the latest standard. All three products come highly rated and you would do well with any one of them. In full disclosure, there are some affiliate links to Amazon. They won’t cost you any extra when you buy, but it will go a long way towards helping us maintain the site. Thanks for your support over the years.