Connectors & Adapters

  • All Michigan Engineering classrooms provide the ability for instructors to display their laptop or other device by connecting via the HDMI or VGA cables provided in the room.
  • If your device does not have a compatible HDMI or VGA port, you will need to supply your own adapter if you want to connect it using a wired connection.
  • The chart below can be used to identify other connection plugs and ports a device may have, and the appropriate adapters required to connect.

Type Laptop/Device Port Adapter Name Example Adapter
Audio
(3.5mm stereo)
Audio port laptop
(No adapter required)
HDMI
HDMI Port
(No adapter required)
VGA
VGA port
(No adapter required)
Mini-DisplayPort
Mini-display port
Mini-DisplayPort to VGA
VGA dongle
DisplayPort
Display port
DisplayPort to VGA
VGA to display
Micro-DVI
Micro-DVI
Micro-DVI to VGA
Micro-DVI to VGA
Mini-DVI
Mini-DVI
Mini-DVI to VGA
Mini-DVI to VGA
DVI
(DVI-I)
DVI Port
DVI to VGA
DVI to VGA dongle
DVI-D
DVI-D
DVI-D to VGA converter + scaler
(more expensive; will work with all computers)
DVI-D to VGA converter + scaler
(more expensive; will work with all computers)
Apple Dock Connector (iPhone/iPad/iPod)
Iphone
Apple Dock Connector to VGA
(does not work with all apps)
Iphone to usb dongle

Note: Not all cables that connect a laptop or other device to the VGA cable will properly transmit a video signal. Make sure you are using the correct adapter, and that it supports the output of a VGA video signal with your hardware and applications. For example, VGA adapters for mobile devices (iPhone/iPad/iPod) like the Apple Dock Connector will only transmit video signals for the applications that support it.