Mini DisplayPort to SL DVI-D Active Adapter (M/F)

No drivers required

Plug 'n Play

These adapters have a chip that helps convert video for the GPU. Your GPU will be able to do this for two monitors but an active adapter is needed for more. Active adapters can only be adapter off of a DP or mDP on a graphics card or docking station. The reason for this is a feature that DP has that makes it natively active. Should you be connecting a DP monitor to a DP or mDP port on a card active adapters are unnecessary.

Non active adapters are called passive adapters. There is no easy way to tell the difference between an active and passive adapter. Most often they look exactly alike. Most manufacturers put the word active somewhere on their active adapters, like VisionTek. Though this is not always the case. Rule of thumb is, if it does not say active on the adapter assume it is passive.

DVI-D is a digital signal. Also known as single link DVI, it is capable of 1900 x 1200. There are two different types of DVI, DVI-I and DVI-D. DVI-I has a built in component that allows DVI to be converted to VGA. DVI-D does not have this and cannot be converted to VGA.