HDMI to DVI Cables

HDMI and DVI-D carry the same digital video signalling, which is why conversion between them needs no active electronics. A passive cable simply reroutes the pins, and the connection works in either direction: an HDMI source into a DVI monitor, or a DVI source into an HDMI display.

What does not carry across

DVI has no audio channel. Connecting an HDMI source to a DVI monitor gives you picture only, and sound needs a separate path to speakers or a receiver. This surprises people regularly when connecting a laptop to an older conference room display.

DVI also predates HDCP 2.2 and the higher bandwidth modes, so these connections are practically limited to 1920x1200 at 60Hz. Protected 4K content will not pass to a DVI display. For anything beyond 1080p, the display itself is the constraint rather than the cable.