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I just got a new optiplex 3040. I go to hook it up on an older monitor with VGA cable. &nbsp;NO VGA port on the PC?! &nbsp;It has an HDMI and DP (display port)?<br />
<br />
I rummage through my parts box and find a cable - HDMI to DVI adapter from Dell I've had for a while.<br />
<br />
Connected the HDMI to the back of the PC, and a DVI cable to an older vga/DVI imput monitor. &nbsp;And turn the PC on.<br />
<br />
The monitor shows orange when connected to the PC and switched to digital input. &nbsp;If I disconnect the dvi cable to the PC, the monitor shows a test pattern / green light.<br />
<br />
a) any advice how to get this PC going? &nbsp;Does it need Display port for the primary monitor?<br />
b) VGA going away from PCs? &nbsp;Am I that far behind the times : )<br />
c) what's the most common connector for video these days?<br />
<br />
THANKS!
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I just got a new optiplex 3040. I go to hook it up on an older monitor with VGA cable.  NO VGA port on the PC?!  It has an HDMI and DP (display port)?

I rummage through my parts box and find a cable - HDMI to DVI adapter from Dell I've had for a while.

Connected the HDMI to the back of the PC, and a DVI cable to an older vga/DVI imput monitor.  And turn the PC on.

The monitor shows orange when connected to the PC and switched to digital input.  If I disconnect the dvi cable to the PC, the monitor shows a test pattern / green light.

a) any advice how to get this PC going?  Does it need Display port for the primary monitor?
b) VGA going away from PCs?  Am I that far behind the times : )
c) what's the most common connector for video these days?

THANKS!

Video outputs on Dell optiplex / desktops  VGA HDMI Displayport DVI - what adapters are needed?

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A monitor or a display is an electronic visual display for computers, usually comprised of the display device, circuitry, casing, and power supply. The display device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) thin panel, while older monitors used a cathode ray tube (CRT) about as deep as the screen size. They are connected to the computer via VGA, DVI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, LVDS or other proprietary connectors and signals.

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A desktop computer is a personal computer designed for use at a single location due to its size and power requirements, usually by one person. The most common configuration has a case that houses the power supply, motherboard, disk storage (usually one or more hard disk drives and optical disc drives); a keyboard and mouse for input; and computer monitor and printer for output. The case may be oriented horizontally and placed atop a desk or vertically and placed underneath or beside a desk.