THE BUYING DESK / PUBLIC-SOURCE SHORTLIST
Choose the direction from the device sending the picture to the screen receiving it. An HDMI laptop feeding a VGA projector needs a different converter from a VGA computer feeding an HDMI monitor.
01 / CHECK THE COMPLETE SETUP
Identify the source output and display input, then record the supported timing and required audio route. These active conversion arrangements work in their specified direction; reversing the cable ends does not reverse the conversion.
Do not substitute a similar product name or a different regional package. The sources linked under each entry support the named model and its stated conditions.
02 / THE COMPARISON
Scroll the table horizontally on a small screen. Limits are manufacturer claims, not measurements. Ask the maker about a condition that is decisive and still unknown.
| Model | Source → display | Published picture limit | Converter power | Audio route | Restriction to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01Cable Matters HDMI-to-VGA adapter113046 | HDMI source → VGA display only | Up to 1920×1080 at 60Hz | Optional Micro-USB power when the HDMI source supplies insufficient power | No audio; provide a separate supported audio path | No HDCP support; not a reverse VGA-to-HDMI converter |
| 02StarTech HDMI-powered VGA adapterHD2VGAE2 | HDMI source → VGA display only | Up to 1920×1080 at 60Hz | HDMI-powered active converter; no external power supply specified | No audio output | Maker expressly excludes Samsung Chromebooks; verify the source and display timing |
| 03Cable Matters VGA-to-HDMI with USB audio103070-BLACK | VGA computer → HDMI display only | Up to 1080p; supported lower VGA timings must match source and screen | Integrated USB lead powers the converter | USB audio from the computer is embedded into HDMI; select the USB audio device in Windows | USB is not a replacement for the VGA video input; no HDMI-to-VGA reverse function |
| 04StarTech VGA-to-HDMI with USB power and audioVGA2HDU | VGA computer → HDMI display only | Up to 1920×1080; additional supported timings listed in datasheet | USB powered; integrated USB connection | Native USB audio specified for Windows; audio joins HDMI output | Maker says adjust volume on the output equipment rather than the computer OS |
03 / THE EXACT MODELS
Exact model: 113046
An HDMI computer and a VGA monitor or projector, including a route that may need supplemental power.
The source is VGA, audio must travel through the adapter, or content requires an HDCP path.
Also compare: The HDMI-powered option when the exact source is supported
Exact model: HD2VGAE2
A supported HDMI laptop or desktop used for office content on a VGA screen.
You need optional external power, analog audio output, reverse conversion or the excluded Samsung Chromebook setup.
Also compare: The HDMI-to-VGA arrangement with an optional USB power input
Exact model: 103070-BLACK
A VGA-equipped computer feeding an HDMI screen, with the documented USB audio route if needed.
The source is HDMI, there is no suitable USB connection for power, or you expect sound from the VGA signal alone.
Also compare: The other VGA-source option, noting its Windows audio and volume restrictions
Exact model: VGA2HDU
A VGA computer and HDMI display when Windows USB audio and receiver-side volume control fit the setup.
You require confirmed non-Windows USB audio, computer-side volume control or the opposite conversion direction.
Also compare: The VGA-source option with a separately documented Windows USB audio selection route
04 / PUT IT TO WORK
Choose one of the HDMI-source models. Bring a supported VGA cable and establish the projector timing. If sound is needed, plan a separate audio route rather than expecting the VGA cable to carry it.
Choose one of the VGA-source models and connect its USB lead. That USB connection supplies converter power and, on the documented platform, audio; the picture still comes from the VGA output.
Check the source and screen labels before purchasing another cable. An additional gender changer does not change analog-to-digital conversion into digital-to-analog conversion. The active converter must match the required direction.
05 / EVIDENCE & SCOPE
The four models cover two directions, with two documented arrangements for each. They are not ranked for image quality, sharpness, delay or reliability; we have not measured those properties. No adapter upgrades the resolution of a VGA source or guarantees compatibility with every projector timing. VGA video does not carry an HDMI audio channel. Keep USB power, USB audio and USB graphics data as separate functions.
Each entry has an original fit explanation, an exclusion and an alternative. We selected the models for distinct documented arrangements rather than copying another publication's order. Unknown fields are not filled by estimates, and manufacturer marketing measurements are not relabeled as independent tests.
Read our editorial method and commercial disclosures. For the complete host path, see the buying guides and the USB-C hub comparison.
SCENARIO WORKSHEET
| Sending device | Receiving screen | Required converter |
|---|---|---|
| Computer HDMI output | Projector or monitor VGA input | HDMI → VGA |
| Computer VGA output | Monitor or TV HDMI input | VGA → HDMI |
| Computer USB data port only | HDMI monitor | A supported USB graphics adapter, not either VGA converter |
| DisplayPort output | HDMI monitor | A suitable DP → HDMI arrangement, not a VGA conversion chain |
This direction follows the picture, not the order of connector names in a marketplace title. Some source descriptions use the names loosely; use the explicit input/output roles and the exact product manual. A passive cable-shaped item should not be assumed to perform active analog/digital conversion.
If the mismatch is digital DP versus HDMI, compare DP-to-HDMI or HDMI-to-DP by the actual direction. Avoid adding VGA in the middle when the devices already offer a suitable direct digital route.
On the two VGA-source models, video enters through VGA. The USB lead powers the converter and provides the documented USB audio function. Plugging in USB without a working VGA source is not a substitute for a USB graphics adapter.
On the HDMI-source side, Cable Matters 113046 offers optional USB power for sources that need it. This is a power input, not a capture or graphics data connection. HD2VGAE2 instead documents operation without an external supply and excludes a specific Chromebook application.
For a computer that has only a spare USB data connection, compare software-based USB graphics adapters. For native USB-C video, check the host port’s video function. Those decisions require different host support.
The HDMI-to-VGA models here do not provide audio output. Use a separately supported computer audio output or interface if the room needs sound. A VGA socket does not preserve an HDMI audio stream simply because the picture displays.
For the opposite direction, 103070-BLACK embeds computer USB audio into HDMI and documents selecting the USB audio device in Windows. VGA2HDU also ties its native USB audio guidance to Windows and specifies output-equipment volume control. Do not generalize the video path’s OS independence into universal USB audio support.
Check that the HDMI monitor has the audio output or speakers you intend to use. If the goal is a separate analog headset on the computer, a USB audio adapter is a different, potentially more direct audio route.
The listed 1080p ceiling is not a promise that every source or screen accepts that timing. A monitor’s native resolution and its accepted input timings can differ. Conversion also does not create extra detail in the source picture. We have not compared sharpness or measured scaling quality among these four models.
For a blank picture, check direction, power and shared timing before adding more adapters. Cable Matters explicitly excludes HDCP support for 113046, so a working desktop and unavailable protected playback need not have the same cause. Keep content requirements within the documented path.
Your final order should identify the exact model, source-to-screen direction, needed VGA/HDMI cables, power connection and audio arrangement. This combined page covers both directions so the decision stays in one place.