MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4g - converter
Sophia Terry 
I recently assembled a PC. After I finished my build, I turned it on, but there was nothing on screen, just a black screen.
If I test my PC with a borrowed HDMI monitor it works.
I only have a VGA monitor, so I had to use a DVI to VGA adapter to connect the graphics output.
My question is: I used this adapter in a lot of old graphics cards and never had this problem until now. I'm asking if the problem is that, this specific graphics card needs necessarily an active adapter or if it doesn't really support any kind of adapters?
My second question: Besides connecting directly via HDMI to a monitor (which means I have to buy a new monitor), if I can't get a HDMI monitor, is it better to use the HDMI TO VGA or DVI TO VGA adapter.
Specs:
- Mobo: MSI B250M Mortar
- CPU: I5-7400 6MB 3.0GHz LGA1151
- GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB OC
- RAM: Hyper Fury 1x8GB DDR4 2133MHz
- PSU: Corsair cx430W
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
1 Answer
I am using a VGA monitor, so i had to use a DVI to VGA adaptor to connect to the GPU.
You are using a DVI-I to VGA adapter. The MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4g OC has a DVI-D port. A DVI-I (digital and analog) converter is not compatible with the DVI-D (digital only) connector on your GPU. VGA is an analog only signal, your current DVI-I to VGA adapter can only convert the DVI analog signal to a VGA signal.
Video Output Function
- DisplayPort x 1
- HDMI x 1
- Dual-link DVI-D x 1
Specifications: MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4g OC
i used this adapter in a lot of old GPUs and never had this problem but now, so i'm asking if the problem is that, this especific GPU needs necessarily an active adapter or if it doesn't really support any kind of adapters.
In your previous use cases your GPU had a DVI-I port, which is easily converted to VGA, which si the reason your passive DVI-I to VGA adapter worked. DVI-D is a digital only signal, which requires an active converter, in order to convert it to a analog siganl like VGA. Your current adapter does not have this capability.
is it better to use the HDMI TO VGA or DVI TO VGA adapter.
You can do either one just make sure you purchase a DVI-D to VGA converter if you don't select the other option. Active DVI to VGA adapters typically have the following limitations.
