USB-C to HDMI adapter not working on Acer Aspire 5. Please help!!

Hi All,

I bought a USB-C to HDMI/VGA adapter from amazon so I can have an external display: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07J4Z2LP9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This works with my work laptop (lenovo thinkpad) but does not work with my new personal laptop (Acer Aspire 5). Every time I connect it, it says it has malfunctioned. I've tried uninstalling and installing the driver again but nothing works.

I'm assuming nothing is wrong with the adapter itself since it seamlessly works with my work laptop.

The goal is to have a dual monitor setup with my laptop lid closed and two monitors able to show TWO different images. My laptop is already connected to one of the monitors via HDMI.

Any reason why the USB-C doesn't work?? Any help would be much appreciated,

Thanks!

Accepted answers

All comments

JackE

What is your full Aspire 5 model number A51x-xx? Some models do and some don't support USB-C video out or dual independent external displays. Jack E/NJ

waleedk3

Hi,

It is A515-54

JackE

Sorry your USB-C port is a Gen1 that does not support video out. However, the HDMI 1.4 port also supports displayport 1.2 out with an adapter. It will also support multiple identical external displays using an HDMI hub. Jack E/NJ

waleedk3

Hi Jack,

That's unfortunate. Thanks for confirming.

For your HDMI comment, I only have one HDMI port on my laptop and it is already being used for 1 external monitor. The goal is to have two monitors with the laptop closed and have two non-identical displays (i.e. be able to extend the display). So I guess that's not possible with an HDMI splitter?

Do you think this product from amazon will work? USB 3.0 to HDMI adapter. Let me know what you think

https://www.amazon.ca/ABLEWE-Converter-Graphics-Projector-Compatible/dp/B082SVYQ8M/ref=sr_1_3?crid=16DPCKTKOXJIU&keywords=usb+to+hdmi+adapter&qid=1586452489&sprefix=usb+to+hdmi+ada%2Caps%2C367&sr=8-3

Thanks!

JackE

Sorry again. None of the USB ports support video signals according to the specs. You can try the USBA adapter but the result will likely be as with the USBC adapter. USB video output is usually mentioned as a special feature if it's supported. Jack E/NJ

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/bi/81aypf9rnxne.jpg

waleedk3

Thanks Jack,

I'm sort of confused, my old HP laptop from 8 years ago had one HDMI and VGA so I was able to get a dual monitor setup.
You're telling me this new Acer laptop has no chance of completing a dual monitor setup that shows two different displays?

JackE

As mentioned, your HDMI port is capable of both 1.4 HDMI and 1.2 displayport output signals. So I expect a passive HDMI-to-DP adapter should also drive a DP input monitor from a passive HDMI hub. Jack E/NJ PS: You might also be able to find an HDMI-to-HDMI+DP dock that'll do the same thing.

waleedk3

Sorry, I didn't know what that meant. Neither of my monitors have a DP input, only HDMI and VGA.
Can you perhaps show me a link to a product on amazon or such that you think should work for my laptop? I'm not very tech-savvy haha

JackE

Today's trend in monitor standards is toward HDMI and DisplayPort inputs due their higher resolutions & frame rates possible than the older VGA standards also present on my old reliable HPG72-B66US dinosaur. The other trend is fewer and fewer video output ports with more flexible ones that can support more than one video standard. Something like this adapter will probably work OK https://www.amazon.com/DisplayPort-Converter-FOINNEX-Adapter-Powered/dp/B07G796JF8 . Just google 'hdmi-to-displayport adapter' for others. Like mentioned earlier, your HDMI 1.4 output port also supports DisplayPort 1.2 output with an adapter. Jack E/NJ

waleedk3

So if I understand you correctly, even though none of my monitors have a DP input and my laptop only has one HDMI input, my laptop will still be able to support DP output with an adapter?

Based on the link you sent, I will connect that HDMI to my laptop, and then I would need something like a "DP to Two HDMI inputs" so each HDMI can connect to both of my monitors?

That's the only way I'm making sense of this

JackE

If you buy one HDMI 2-port hub splitter, you then have two options.

(1) You can directly connect two HDMI external monitors with two common HDMI-to-HDMI cables.

OR

(2) You can connect one HDMI monitor with one common HDMI-to-HDMI cable AND one DisplayPort monitor with an HDMI-to-DisplayPort cable.

Option 2 might give you a bit more flexibility than simply extending or duplicating laptop screen. But not 100% guaranteed. If it was mine, I'd just get the HDMI hub splitter and see what I can do with two plain-vanilla HDMI cables and two plain-vanilla HDMI monitors or TV sets

Jack E/NJ

waleedk3

I always thought the HDMI splitter wouldn't work because it cannot display two external monitors at once.

See amazon product, it says "2 displays cannot display at the same time" in the second picture
https://www.amazon.ca/Techole-Splitter-Bi-Directional-Switcher-External-Required/dp/B07Y9JKVK9/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=hdmi+splitter&qid=1586470346&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNFNDWE42NjgwQThSJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDI4MjgwRk1BUlhYWVg3SkNZJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2NjQ3NTQxOVVMQTFaUE4xOVlUJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Looks like there really isn't a way for me get two extended displays because of this laptop I bought. Pretty unfortunate.

JackE

No. This is an el-cheapo switch, not a hub. A hub is more expensive because it usually has a separate power supply. Jack E/NJ

jaghen71

How about the following solution -

Purchase a Displayport to HDMI Converter Cable and a display port to hdmi 1x2 splitter.

Plug the hdmi to display port cable in to your laptops hdmi. Then plug the display port part of the cable in to the "display port to hdmi 1x2 splitter.

Lastely, plug the hdmi cables running from your monitors, into the hdmi ports on the "display port to hdmi 1x2 splitter.

Once all monitors come up, extend the desktop via the OS graphic card settings. Saw videos on Displayport to HDMI videos on youtube and figure that might be the way to go.

aphanic

jaghen71 said:

How about the following solution -

Purchase a Displayport to HDMI Converter Cable and a display port to hdmi 1x2 splitter.
Plug the hdmi to display port cable in to your laptops hdmi. Then plug the display port part of the cable in to the "display port to hdmi 1x2 splitter.
Lastely, plug the hdmi cables running from your monitors, into the hdmi ports on the "display port to hdmi 1x2 splitter.

Once all monitors come up, extend the desktop via the OS graphic card settings. Saw videos on Displayport to HDMI videos on youtube and figure that might be the way to go.

Wouldn't work I'm afraid, the laptop only has an HDMI port and there's no way to transmit more than one stream over HDMI. A splitter wouldn't work either for this purpose, it just produces two outputs equal to the input it receives.

The A515-54[G], like many mid tier laptops, can only output to one external screen since its USB type C port doesn't implement any alternate mode.

NilsKampen

This seems strange. I have a Samsung S8 mobile phone with USB-C (USB3.1 Gen 1 connector) and this works fine towards a monitor with just a USB-C HDMI converter cable. So it needs to be more than just the connector hardware version.

NilsKampen

I also have the Aspire 5 with the same issue

JackE

Some USB gen1 ports support video out. Some don't. For the one's that don't, you need to use a costlier smart active USB-to-video signal converter, not a simple passive USB to HDMI or Displayport adapter which simply change the connector form factor and no signal conversion. Some folks have reported success with the following USB to video converters.

hdmi
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPEV1XK/

displayport
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-DisplayPort-Supporting-Resolution/dp/B018YHTUNI/ref=sr_1_10?crid=35VF6GFPGK43N&dchild=1&keywords=cable+matters+usbc+to+displayport+adapter&qid=1598400106&s=electronics&sprefix=cable+matters+usb+to+displayport,electronics,171&sr=1-10

Jack E/NJ

ThatMasonKid

In the same boat with an A515-54-7724. I've just verified that my AOC USB portable display works, so I'm going to try a combination of HDMI to VGA and USB to VGA adapters for my dual desktop monitors. At the very least, I know I can get one monitor working from the HDMI port plus my portable display.
this is my portable display if curious
https://www.amazon.ca/AOC-e1659Fwu-16-Inch-USB-Powered-Portable/dp/B00CMKOVMO/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1Z9XB54YQ6LZ&dchild=1&keywords=aoc+portable+monitor&qid=1598464140&sprefix=aoc+port,aps,172&sr=8-5

ThatMasonKid

Following up to my post the other day, I am now successfully running two screens (in addition to the laptop screen) by using HDMI to VGA and USB 3.0 to VGA adapters on my Aspire 5, so it can be done on my model at least. For the USB to VGA, the driver had to be installed first.

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