Active vs Passive adapters

[Octavialicious]

Can anyone explain the difference? Also, how do you know when you need to use active? Lastly, would a displayport to minidisplayport cable need to be an active, or is it irrelevant speaking it's one cable?

Thanks!




inquiring about the 7990 if that's needed

[EcoBoost]

You'll need active if you want to run the monitor you're connecting to the adapter in an Eyefinity array. Otherwise just passive will do.

[Octavialicious]

I have three monitors but I only want to game on the first one, and I don't want to multi monitor game. Would I need an active connector for that?

@EcoBoost

[EcoBoost]

I have three monitors but I only want to game on the first one, and I don't want to multi monitor game. Would I need an active connector for that?

@EcoBoost

No, because that is just standard multi-monitor extended mode, not Eyefinity.

[Octavialicious]

No, because that is just standard multi-monitor extended mode, not Eyefinity.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119594&cm_re=mini_displayport_displayport_rosewill-_-12-119-594-_-Product

http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Mini-DisplayPort-Thunderbolt-Adapter/dp/B00C28L51G/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417917680&sr=1-1&keywords=mini+displayport+to+hdmi

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-DVI-Cable-Adapter-DVIVGAMF/dp/B000067SOH/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417917695&sr=1-1&keywords=vga+to+dvi

Would all three of these work?

[EcoBoost]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119594&cm_re=mini_displayport_displayport_rosewill-_-12-119-594-_-Product

http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Mini-DisplayPort-Thunderbolt-Adapter/dp/B00C28L51G/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417917680&sr=1-1&keywords=mini+displayport+to+hdmi

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-DVI-Cable-Adapter-DVIVGAMF/dp/B000067SOH/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417917695&sr=1-1&keywords=vga+to+dvi

Would all three of these work?

Don't see why not. However the best thing you could do, is purchase a mini DP adapter locally first, to test it out and make sure 100% that it works. If it doesn't or it does but you want to save some bucks by ordering it online afterwards then simply return it to the store.

[TheKDub]

Can anyone explain the difference? Also, how do you know when you need to use active? Lastly, would a displayport to minidisplayport cable need to be an active, or is it irrelevant speaking it's one cable?

Thanks!

inquiring about the 7990 if that's needed

 

Active adapters are needed for when converting a digital signal to analog such as HDMI to VGA, or when converting from an analog signal to a digital signal.

Passive adapters would be used when converting from digital to digital such as DVI-D/DVI-I to HDMI, HDMI to DP, Mini-DP to DP, etc..., or when going from Analog to Analog such as VGA to DVI-I. (DVI-D is Digital only, DVI-I is both Digital and Analog)

[Octavialicious]

Active adapters are needed for when converting a digital signal to analog such as HDMI to VGA, or when converting from an analog signal to a digital signal.

Passive adapters would be used when converting from digital to digital such as DVI-D/DVI-I to HDMI, HDMI to DP, Mini-DP to DP, etc..., or when going from Analog to Analog such as VGA to DVI-I. (DVI-D is Digital only, DVI-I is both Digital and Analog)

Alright, so the only one I need to watch out for would be my VGA monitor. But speaking I'm using a vga to dvi-d adapter now, it should be fine speaking the 7990 has one DVI-D port. Thanks!

[EcoBoost]

Alright, so the only one I need to watch out for would be my VGA monitor. But speaking I'm using a vga to dvi-d adapter now, it should be fine speaking the 7990 has one DVI-D port. Thanks!

Actually DVI-D means digital-only. DVI-I is the one you want for VGA

[EcoBoost]

Active adapters are needed for when converting a digital signal to analog such as HDMI to VGA, or when converting from an analog signal to a digital signal.

Passive adapters would be used when converting from digital to digital such as DVI-D/DVI-I to HDMI, HDMI to DP, Mini-DP to DP, etc..., or when going from Analog to Analog such as VGA to DVI-I. (DVI-D is Digital only, DVI-I is both Digital and Analog)

Even when converting from digital to digital, such as mini DP to HDMI, an active adapter is still required for Eyefinity.

[Octavialicious]

You'll need active if you want to run the monitor you're connecting to the adapter in an Eyefinity array. Otherwise just passive will do.

I just read a bunch of the eyefinity requirements, and luckily for me I have a DP monitor for the third monitor. But, any DP to Mini DP cable will work right. It doesn't need to be active?

[EcoBoost]

I just read a bunch of the eyefinity requirements, and luckily for me I have a DP monitor for the third monitor. But, any DP to Mini DP cable will work right. It doesn't need to be active?

afaik yes, it's only from DP to HDMI/DVI/VGA that you'll need active for Eyefinity. If you're only gaming on one monitor though this shouldn't matter.

[Octavialicious]

afaik yes, it's only from DP to HDMI/DVI/VGA that you'll need active for Eyefinity. If you're only gaming on one monitor though this shouldn't matter.

alright, and luckily amd has a list of active adapters on their website for the hdmi monitor. Thanks for all the help!

Oh, and speaking the 7990 has a DVI port, I assume the DVI to VGA adapter im using right now will still work right? Speaking it has to be active to work in general?

[EcoBoost]

alright, and luckily amd has a list of active adapters on their website for the hdmi monitor. Thanks for all the help!

Oh, and speaking the 7990 has a DVI port, I assume the DVI to VGA adapter im using right now will still work right? Speaking it has to be active to work in general?

Yes it will still work.

 

The whole active/passive adapter thing is only for the mini-DP ports. It does not apply to the DVI-I port.

[Octavialicious]

Yes it will still work.

 

The whole active/passive adapter thing is only for the mini-DP ports. It does not apply to the DVI-I port.

Alright, so I'll just buy the mini dp to hdmi adapter amd recommends. Thanks for all your help!