XPS M1530 External Screen - how to connect?

Question

I'm looking at buying an M1530 but see it does not have a DVI connection. I have a 3 year old Dell LCD Screen with DVI input, so don't want to use the analog VGA connection. Can I use a HDMI to VGA cable to connect the two? I'm worried HDMI has HDCP which will not let the screen read the signal?

One other question, it has 3 USB ports. Does that mean once I've pluggeed in a mouse screen and exteranl hard disc, I cant hook up my scanner?

Thanks in advance!

Phoenix_123 · Answer

To save on USB ports get the bluetooth option and use a bluetooth mouse.  Those are my plans.

bon_ed · Answer

Well i am not sure about your monitor problem..

But to get past the usb problem, which i'm guessing is mostly at home is to get a usb extension. Mine has 1 -> 4, I personally have my home mouse, keyboard and printer plugged into it, my external harddrive is connected directy leaving one free usb (my laptop also has three usb's). I wouldn't put two usb connections which both require high bandwidth mind you. I rarely use my printer so it is fine in there.

The added benefit is that when using the laptop at home I just plug in one norm unless I need the external Hdd instead of three. minor benefit though.

cr1530 · Answer

hdmi to dvi should work fine...done that to a viewsonic vp231wb as well as to my Sharp Aquos lcd tv.   hdcp should not be an issue unless you are playing a movie looking for an hdcp handshake...

harrytamarasue · Answer

Thanks - just what I wanted to hear.

ButtonMasher · Answer

You can buy HDMI to DVI adapters but I recommend HDMI-to-DVI cables.

Even if you want to watch a movie blu-ray movie on your monitor and it doesn't support HDCP you can still do it but it won't go above 480p - i.e. standard def. DVDs are not affected by this cap.

HDMI also gives you Digital audio out so it's even better than having a standard DVI port.

moniker_xs · Answer

Did the HDMI-to-DVI work for you? I've tried it on two different monitors and the pictures comes out looking green and pink.

ButtonMasher · Answer

Haven't tried it yet - but green and pink indicates a loose or faulty connection. Either the cable is damaged or your monitor DVI port is.

moniker_xs · Answer

I thought it was the cable too, so I tried three others. I also tried two different monitors. I know the DVI port works because I can connect them to my desktop computer with a standard DVI-to-DVI cable. The HDMI-to-DVI cables work with my HDTV at home.

cr1530 · Answer

Mine works fine!

ButtonMasher · Answer

Could be a number of things - fault with the graphics card, fault with the HDMI port, compatibility issues.

Try different graphics card drivers. Test at different resolutions - (some say that if the res is set to low it can cause the colour effect or ghosting) - the monitors native resolution would be best.

Failing that get on to Dell.

Does HDMI to HDMI work ok?

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XPS M1530 External Screen - how to connect?

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