Does the HP Pavilion a6040n (manufactured in 2007) have a DVI port?

[rick707]

Does my ancient HP Pavilion a6040n desktop, manufactured in 2007, have a DVI port? I looked at the back panel and it seems to, but when I look at prouct specifications page here and go to the 'I/O ports on the back panel' section, I don't see 'DVI' listed.

Isn't this a DVI port (upper right)?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The white port you see in the back is definitely a DVI port.

Does your PC have an add on video card?

It seems to me that it does, or the video ports would not be facing in that direction.

The specs state that it has integrated (onbaord) video.

[rick707]

Thanks very much.  I'm a little bit slow with this stuff and I want to make sure I understand what you're saying.  You're suggesting that the reason the specs don't say anything about a DVI port is that this port is part of an add-on video card; that the computer originally didn't come with a DVI port but that this port is part of an add-on card?  Thanks for the help.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

That is correct.

Go to the device manager, click to expand the display adapters device manager category and tell me what is the name and model of the graphics adapter listed there.

I should be able to tell you if that is an integrated (onboard) or add on graphics adapter.

[rick707]

It's an NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Yes, that is an add-on video card.

I have the same model card in my HP 8000 Elite CMT business desktop PC.

My model has the onboard Intel graphics which becomes disabled when a discrete (add-on) video card is added.

Your PC probably works the same way.

So, if you want to use the DVI port so you can get HD video, that is where you need to connect to.

You would need a DVI cable and your monitor would need a DVI port.

[rick707]

Fantastic.  A friend of mine just gave me a giant 27" X-Star DP2710 monitor (much larger than what I'm using now) which has a DVI port and an HDMI port.  I don't have an HDMI port on my ancient computer, so it seems this DVI port will work fine. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yes that will work fine, or you can get a DVI to HDMI cable.

Either way.