VGA to HDMI (or possibly component) Converter box

Hey all,

Looking for some suggestions on a good VGA to HDMI, or possibly component, converter box.

We're re-doing our conference room here at work, and naturally this involves inputs for presentations, so we need HDMI and VGA inputs. So I have a HDMI and VGA+1/8" stereo run from the conference table, and I need to get them in the receiver, so I need to convert that VGA into HDMI or component. (From my research so far it seems HDMI will be less problematic as there is all sorts of fun signaling considerations involved in component, however that may be mitigated by the receiver.)

I've been poking around and all I've found a few basic ones from Monoprice, Amazon and a model by Aluratek, but they always seem to have occasional issues/caveats (which is not unexpected with something like this). The signal to noise ratio for these things in google results is pretty bad, so I was wondering if there were some higher-end models people were aware of that were a bit more reliable...I'd really love to not be called into the conference room to troubleshoot every time someone wants to throw a powerpoint or spreadsheet up on the screen.

Thanks in advance for any replies, let me know if you have any additional questions about the setup.

Hi mbrodie, thanks for the reply.

I've seen the ones on Monoprice already, and that's what I'm going to try if I can't find anything better. The only issue with that one and the others I've found is they can be a little problematic, especially when dealing with a multitude of systems. I'm assuming it's mostly because they just do a fairly basic level of signal conversion.

I guess what I am really hoping to find is something that emulates a monitor on the VGA side so it can work with many resolutions without fuss, and then covert it, scaling to 1080p and preserving the aspect ratio (black side bars on 4:3 resolutions is just fine) on HDMI.

I know that may not exist, and if it does it's likely going to cost a good deal more, but reliability and consistency with a bunch of different laptops is really what I am after here more than anything, so I am willing to get whatever is going to get me as close to that goal as possible.

In the mean time, I have found this: http://www.amazon.com/Atlona-AT-HDVI.../dp/B00384D67O which from the views indicate it may be a bit more reliable. Anyway, still looking.

EDIT: Hmm, I think I hit on the magical term of 'scaler' instead of 'converter', google is considerably more useful now. Just found this: http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=8915 And I think it may fit the bill. I'm still open to any suggestions, just updating my results for other searchers of the forums in the future.

Oh, absolutely, and if I was buying for myself that's what I'd go for without a second thought. The reason I came here is I was having trouble finding much of a selection, and I was also hoping for some first or secondhand accounts on a few as well.