What does vga output mean?

How do I hook my computers vga output to my dvi input on my monitor?

• Does anyone know if they make an adapter or cable to hook the VGA output on my computer to my DVI input on my monitor? I know it will still going to only be vga quality but I want to free up the VGA input on my monitor so I can hook up my Xbox. I looked at adapter but I was told it only goes from DVI to VGA not VGA to DVI. I know I can buy a DVI output card for my computer but I don't want to go through trouble or expense. Anyone have any ideas?

• Answer:

  It depends if it is a DVI-I connector or a DVI-D. Look at the connector, one one side is a slot for a tab. If this looks like a cross with four contacts in the corners, then it is DVI-I and you are O.K. YOu can use a DVI to VGA adapter. Whomever told you that they only work one way has no idea what they are talking about. DVI comes in three flavors: DVI-D. This is a digital connection. DVI-A. This is analog, exactly the same signals as in a VGA connector, but in a different connector. DVI-I. This combines the contacts for the digital signals and the contacts for the analog signals into one connector, allowing for a single connector to provide (or receive) either and digital DVI-D connection or and analog DVI-A. So, if you have a DVI-I connector, then it will accept an analog signal on the DVI-A set of contacts. If you have a DVI-D connector (shorter tab, no cross and contacts around the tab) then it needs the digital signals, and no dongle is going to simply convert analog VGA to digital DVI-D.