Reddit mentions of gofanco Pro-Series DVI-D to VGA Active Converter - with 3 Feet Micro USB Power Cable for Better Compatibility and up to 1920x1200@60Hz Black Male to Female (DVIDVGA)

Right, DVI-I has both digital and analog signals. DVI-D lacks a analog signal. You'll need an active converter. By active, this means there's a DAC used to convert the digital signal to analog. A regular adapter won't work. You should also notice it requires power, in this case from a microUSB cable.

They also make DP to VGA converters

There may be an active DVI-D to VGA cable but I haven't looked in awhile, but a normal Active adapter should work - https://www.amazon.com/gofanco-Pro-DVI-D-Active-Converter/dp/B00RWFT8NG

You were using a DVI Passive to VGA adapter which is why it doesn't work. Need an Active DVI-D to vga.

That's a passive adapter, and won't work AFAIK (without the 4 pins around the bar, there's no analog signal at all to pass to the VGA side).

You need something like this, an active adapter:

https://www.amazon.com/gofanco-Pro-DVI-D-Active-Converter/dp/B00RWFT8NG

I had the same problem when I bought my 1050 Ti. Basically, all you need is a VGA to DVI-D "active" converter, something like this.

You're going to need something like this then.

https://www.amazon.com/gofanco-Pro-DVI-D-Active-Converter/dp/B00RWFT8NG?th=1

The 1080 dropped support for VGA so you'll need an active adapter to convert the signal from digital to analog.

Here is an active adapter. I have no idea how good it works, but this is what you need.

https://www.amazon.com/gofanco%C2%AE-DVI-D-Active-Converter-compatibility/dp/B00RWFT8NG

that's your problem, you cannot convert DVI-D to VGA with a simple "adapter" like that. You got ripped off, that "adapter" is nothing more than 2 connectors with plastic around them, there is no connection between the two sides of the "adapter"

there are active adapters that will convert DVI-D to VGA, such as this

I personally don't think it would be a good thing to use two different graphic cards, consider one of them is just for your other monitor.

What I say you should do, and it's what im currently doing, is, to connect your main monitor (Acer), AND the 4:3 one to your GTX 970 card, it should have 2 DVI-D and 1 HDMI and 1 Display port input at the back. Get a VGA <-> DVI-D adapter, which is pretty cheap. This one for example Link. Or you could just go to a general electronics shop and get one for like 5$.

There are DVI-D to VGA active converters like https://www.amazon.com/gofanco-Pro-DVI-D-Active-Converter/dp/B00RWFT8NG
Yet buying a DVI or DP cable would be cheaper.

It feels wrong to use analong connections on such a beautiful monitor.

So, DVI-D Dual requires a powered converter. I actually use this converter and have had no issues. Make sure its the right type of DVI, better to double check than return, and it should work for ya.

The DVI-D output from the card is a digital signal. The VGA input on the monitor needs an analog signal. It looks like your adapter is just allowing the cables to connect to eachother. It is not changing the signal at all. You need a DVI-D to VGA adapter/converter that specifically converts the digital signal from the DVI-D/GPU into an analog signal. This will most likely require additional power to perform the change in signal. An example can be found here:

https://www.amazon.com/gofanco-Pro-DVI-D-Active-Converter/dp/B00RWFT8NG

With how cheap monitors are I would suggest just getting another monitor that supports digital signals.

Yep, either a DVI-D to VGA or Displayport 1.2 to VGA converter will work.

but why ?
What's the point, why would you want lower resolution and lower refresh rates? being a hipster?

How old is this "retro monitor", is it a full on 90's era CRT or older, as it does matter. If it's not ancient pre broadband internet era monitor just get yourself a DVI-DL to vga adapter similar to this if you are committed to this.

https://www.amazon.com/gofanco-Pro-DVI-D-Active-Converter/dp/B00RWFT8NG

Your graphics card should support 2 HDMI and a DVI input. Ditch the USB, and get a VGA to DVI or VGA to HDMI.

Ye right, that's so NOT going to work.

What non-reference RX480 has is DVI-D. This thing outputs ONLY digital signal. If it was DVI-I then sure, you can use $3 adapter and it would work but with DVI-D it gets trickier.

You would need this.

DVI-D is digital only and will not work with a DVI to VGA converter. VGA is analog and the DVI-I puts out both digital and an extra analog output, which the DVI-VGA converter can use. Most of your common DVI-VGA converters will not work with the DVI-D port.

What you need is an "active" DVI-VGA converter. It doesn't just connect pins, it actually contains an active digital to analog converter circuit. I've never had one of them, so hopefully I'm not missing something important. Here is a random one on Amazon for reference.



Side note: Dual versus Duel