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U2415, Lenovo ThinkPad T490, connection issue
My Dell UltraSharp U2415 monitor came with a DP to mDP cable that is not compatible with my Lenovo ThinkPad T490. The ThinkPad has neither a DP, mDP, or Thunderbolt 2 port to connect the cable. The ThinkPad has USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3, USB Type-C, USB 3.1, and HDMI ports.
I purchased a DP to HDMI cable thinking that it would work, but the U2415 does not display anything. I know that the U2415 is not defective because it works just fine with my MacBook Pro 2014 and Surface Pro 6 (those machines have Thunderbolt 2 and mDP ports, respectively). Does anyone know if there is a specific cable and/or adapter I should be using to get my U2415 to connect to my ThinkPad?
Thanks in advance.
CP
jphughan
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May 28th, 2020 13:00
@JCP.510 If you do decide to go with a USB-C solution like the ones @DELL-Chris M and I suggested, between the two I would suggest USB-C to DisplayPort, simply because USB-C uses DisplayPort for video output anyway. USB-C to HDMI cables need to incorporate an active converter chip to switch that DisplayPort signal to HDMI (since USB-C ports do not support Dual Mode DisplayPort), which is cost and complexity that you can avoid given that your display has a DisplayPort input.
But again, given that your U2415 has two HDMI inputs and your T490 has an HDMI output, a simple HDMI cable is likely going to make more sense unless you're already using both of those inputs for other devices. Plus it carries the added advantage of keeping your USB-C/TB3 port free for other purposes, such as attaching other USB-C/TB3 peripherals or even charging the system from a USB-C power source. Your USB-C/TB3 port can be used for all sorts of things, whereas your HDMI port is only usable for video output -- so if all you need is video output and you've got a port that you can use for that purpose, then keep the more versatile port free.
DELL-Chris M
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May 28th, 2020 12:00
A PC HDMI out port cannot upconvert to a monitor DP port via that conversion cable. You are using it backwards. It is designed to do the opposite =
PC DP out port --> DP to HDMI cable --> Monitor HDMI in port
You could purchase a USB Type-C to DisplayPort cable and setup as follows =
Lenovo ThinkPad T490 USB Type-C --> USB Type-C to DisplayPort cable --> U2415 DP in port
You could purchase a USB Type-C to HDMI cable and setup as follows =
Lenovo ThinkPad T490 USB Type-C --> USB Type-C to HDMI cable --> U2415 HDMI in port
jphughan
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May 28th, 2020 13:00
@JCP.510 Why didn't you just get a simple HDMI cable? You have an HDMI output on your T490 and an HDMI input on the U2415 -- actually you have TWO HDMI inputs on the U2415. Otherwise, you can use a USB-C to DisplayPort cable or USB-C to HDMI cable. A DisplayPort to HDMI cable can only be used to connect a DisplayPort source to an HDMI input, not the other way around as you're attempting. This is because most but not all DisplayPort sources support "Dual Mode DisplayPort" that allows them to switch to sending a native HDMI signal. But HDMI sources do not support sending a DisplayPort signal, and displays will not accept a native HDMI signal on their DispayPort input. There are some "active" DisplayPort to HDMI cables that are specifically designed to go in the direction you want by incorporating an active converter chip, but that's cost and complexity you can avoid because you have the other options I mentioned earlier.
JCP.510
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May 28th, 2020 14:00
Thank you @DELL-Chris M and @jphughan , much appreciated! I have an HDMI cable and that works to connect to my monitor. I did have to manually select the input source using the function buttons in the front panel controls on the bottom right corner of the monitor, next to the power button. It was set to DP, so I had to change it to HDMI (I was getting a "No DP cable" error message when I first connected my HDMI cable). Thanks again, appreciate your help!