Here’s What You Need To Know To Connect Your Cintiq Pro To Your PC Computer With Displayport Or HDMI
Cintiq Pro is a pretty good drawing device, it has low parallax & lovely new look, but it requires the new USB-C to connect to your computer, while many modern computers only have displayport or HDMI, and some has mini displayport or thunderbolt like in case of Macs. So connecting it to your computer can be an issue, especially with how many solutions & converters don’t work that well.
In this small guide, I hope I will be able to save you some time & money by giving you a solution that works right away. There are 4 common cases I will discuss right here, which will help you connect Cintiq Pro to most computers.
The rule of thumb is, you need either USB-C with alternate display mode, or a mini displayport. Since installing USB-C with such mode is not always an option, like in case you are using a laptop. Converting your existing port to a mini displayport is your best bet here. I will talk about the most common cases right now.
Tip:- In case your Cintiq Pro still didn’t work, make sure to update your graphics card driver, as that worked with some people. :)
Quickly go to:-
- Connecting Cintiq Pro To Your Computer Using USB-C
- Connecting Cintiq Pro To Your Computer With HDMI Port
- Connecting Cintiq Pro To Your Computer With Displayport Port
- Connecting Cinitq Pro To Your Mac Computer With Mini Displayport Or Thunderbolt
- What To Do If I Only Have VGA / D-Sub Or DVI Ports?
- Finally
- Sources & Useful Links
- See Also:-
Connecting Cintiq Pro To Your Computer Using USB-C
In case you plan to use the USB C port with alternate display mode (not all USB-C ports support it). Many PCI USB-C cards don’t provide ports that support that mode, so be careful when you are shopping for ones. However, the USB-C ports that comes with your motherboard tend to support it (still, some motherboards have USB-C port that doesn’t offer the alternate mode).
Connecting Cintiq Pro To Your Computer With HDMI Port
Update:- Wacom confirmed that Cintiq Pro works with HDMI using the right adapter.
This is the trickiest case to deal with, and it is pretty much advisable to go the other routes, if possible. So do it only if your computer, and particularly laptop, only has HDMI port.
You simply need to convert your HDMI port into a DisplayPort using an active adapter, which you could easily convert into a mini DisplayPort like I explain below. Kindly find an adapter that does that in the following Amazon links:-
#CommissionsEarned
Connecting Cintiq Pro To Your Computer With Displayport Port
If you have a display port on your computer, you can simply convert it to a mini DisplayPort using an adapter. Leif Mariussen explains the whole process in his video here:-
Kindly find the converter Leif used in the following Amazon links:-
#CommissionsEarned
If you have a 16-inches Cintiq Pro, and you want to get the 4K resolution it supports. Then according to this Unskilled Guy video. You need the Accell Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort 1.2 Cable with Locking Latch cable, which directly links your computer DisplayPort to your the Wacom Link’s mini DisplayPort port. You can find the cable in the following Amazon links:-
#CommissionsEarned
If you want to get 4K from your 16-inches Cintiq Pro using USB-C, then you need to use the upper-left USB-C port on your device. According to Wacom.
Connecting Cinitq Pro To Your Mac Computer With Mini Displayport Or Thunderbolt
Cintiq pro can be connected directly to thunderbolt for Mac users, and you won’t need to buy anything to get things to work. All you need to do is to connect the mini display cable from your Mac to the Wacom Link, and then connect a USB-C cable from the Link to the Cintiq Pro, and you are done. :>
What To Do If I Only Have VGA / D-Sub Or DVI Ports?
As far as I know, you can’t connect Cintiq Pro to a computer with only these ports, if you are using a desktop, your main choice is to upgrade your graphics card or to install a PCI USB-C card with alternate mode. In case you are using an old laptop, you are out of luck. This is one of the time where upgrading what you have is a must.
In case you are desperate, there are cables that converts such ports into HDMI ports, which you could in turn convert into a mini display port. However, bear in mind that this method hasn’t been tried yet, and I don’t know if you will get a good picture that way. Here are buying links to the adapter I am talking about:-
#CommissionsEarned
List of adapters that didn’t work
Here’s a list of adapter that didn’t work with the Cintiq Pro, courtesy of Dani in the comments below:-
- Staples Mini DP to HDMI Adapter.
- Insignia Mini DP to DVI Adapter.
- Insignia Mini DP to HDMI Adapter.
- Insignia USB Type C Multiport Adapter.
- Apple Mini DP to DVI Adapter.
- Apple USB C Digital AV Multiport Adapter.
Finally
I hope this mini guide helped you connect your Cintiq Pro to your computer, please share your experience with me so I could update this guide to help more people.
Sources & Useful Links
- Warning about the Cintiq Pro (USB C)
- Success report: USB-C-only connection on a PC works
- [Build Help] USB-C – Are there motherboards available that support it, and is it worth waiting for?
- Wacom Cintiq Pro 13″ unable to work on my windows desktop computer!
- Cintiq Pro 13 display won’t get signal
- Cintiq Pro question about cables?
See Also:-
- Cintiq-Pro-Connect-To-HDMI-Mini-DisplayPort-DisplayPort
- Wacom MobileStudio Pro Review – with comparison between 13 inches & 16 inches models
- Learn Photoshop CC With Pictures
Hi
Thanks so much for this article!
Have you tried the HDMI method with active converter to display port? I have a laptop with HDMI only, and a bit weary if this method has not been proven to work?
Thanks
Ruach
Hello Ruach,
No, I haven’t tried it, and I am yet to see anyone do so. I just posted it in the guide as a last resort for anyone willing to do so.
If you plan to try it, please let me know how it goes~
I tried usb C but strangely it wasn’t recognised by my computer as a screen, so I tried to use the minidisplay and usb connection and it worked ! I still have problem though… Although the pointer is following the pen, I cannot clic and when I go in the diagnosis window, it shows 0% of pressure at all times ! I don’t know how to correct that. Any ideas ?
Hi Isabelle,
Your USB-C probably doesn’t support the alternate display mode, which is why it didn’t work. As for the click & pressure problem, this happens in many Wacom products. I suggest you restart Wacom service by following the steps in this article:-
https://www.gametextures.com/fix-your-wacom-drivers-without-restarting-win/
I hope that helped~
Hi,
can you post a list of pci usb-c cards supported?
Cheers.
I will try, the problem is, not all these cards state if they support the alternate mode, so it is safe to assume that the card or motherboard won’t support it in such case.
Hello guys! This manufacturer, Startech, have a conversor that works very well with the cintiq and uses usb power suply, wich is much better for the setup. I bought it and it work. Follow the link to the manufacturer product page: https://www.startech.com/AV/Converters/Video/hdmi-displayport-converter-4k~HD2DP
Do you only needs to bought an DP to miniDP conversor toguether. Heres the link to the dp conversor: https://www.startech.com/Cables/Audio-Video/DisplayPort/6in-DisplayPort-to-Mini-DisplayPort-Video-Cable-Adapter-Male-to-Female~DP2MDPMF6IN
Thank you for sharing this with us, at least we know someone who tried the HDMI adapter~ ^^
Does this work on a laptop that only has HDMI?
I just built a computer with a MSI Pro Carbon Z170A that has usb-c … doesnt work.
Other adapters Ive tried THAT DID NOT WORK so you dont have too…
Staples Mini DP to HDMI Adapter
Insignia Mini DP to DVI Adapter
Insignia Mini DP to HDMI Adapter
Insignia USB Type C Multiport Adapter
Apple Mini DP to DVI Adapter
Apple USB C Digital AV Multiport Adapter
sigh…Wacom came into our office. Sold us on the product so I sold my 22HD…and now I’m trying anything and everything to fix this… :(
Oh and I tried a cheap Rankie Mini DP to HDMI cable off amazon.
The two Startech parts you recommended are coming in the mail tomorrow and Monday.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us Dani,
I will publish the list in the article, if you don’t mind. I hope you get your Cintiq Pro to work soon~
Yes definitely list :)
The two Startech products worked!
Also I recommend triple checking to make sure your graphics card drivers are upto date. No matter what windows or geforce says. Turns out there was an update post cintiq that came out. Once I manually downloaded it – it worked!
This is for anyone whose get a No Signal/ Display Port “3” on the screen.
Yaay, I am glad they did ^^
Updating the graphics cards driver is good too, it is possible that many people may encounter a problem related to that. ^^
Hi, Does this work on a laptop that only has HDMI & USB?
From what I heard from Wacom, yes~
Hi I also bought Cintiq Pro to, but its doesn’t work with any converter so far. But from what I read in wikipedia this Displayport have 4 types of version (1.0-1.1) (1.2) (1.3) (1.4) and each version support certain/different datarate, resolution & framerate. Same goes to HDMI and other I think. Do this thing has anything to do with this? Because from what I read Cintiq Pro resolution was 4K, so maybe we need to use mini displayport 1.2 or higher convert to the right HDMI/displayport version. If yes I’m glad that I being able to help people who need it. I haven’t it yet but I’m gonna try it soon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI
Hi! I just got my hands on Cintiq Pro 13.
And Yes. My PC don’t have USB Cable.
In My Country it’s Really Hard to get Mini DP to DP Port Especially the one they you recommended.
So I wonder if this method will work?
I connect The Cintiq Pro to Mini DP port to HDMI Adaptor, and Plug it to HDMI to a (full size) DP port Cable. and to my PC.
Hopefully someone can help me, THANKS A LOT!!!
Hi there~
I don’t know anyone who tried your method. But for that to happen. The adapters you use require to be two-way active adapters that convert the signal rather than just maps it to the other connector. If you can get your hand on that, then it could be a viable solution. Another way to go is to import the one I suggested in the post (I import a lot of my stuff that way).
I tried the suggested cables for the Wacon Cintiq Pro 16 and they didn’t work. Also tried the cable for the Pro 13 and that failed as well. It seems Wacom has designed the Cintiq Pro as a Mac only device, because they failed to account for the lack of Videocards with a usb-c port or minidisplay Port. Wacom support just hasn’t any answers to fix this issue. Looks like, I have wasted a lot of money on cables and recommended adapters to no avail. The Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 is a total bust and not worth purchasing if you own a PC. It is a Only Mac Product and they have miss led customers into purchasing a tablet that fails to measure up to Wacom’s known quality, reliability and ease of use. If you own a PC Do not purchase any adapter or cable. They will not solve the problem. All you get is a Intous device, that will not display on the tablet itself. So you can use only the pen and the display will be dead. Three calls and several e-mails to Wacom and problem still is unsolved. PC Owners Stay Away From Cintiq Pro line!
While I agree with you that Wacom messed up by not accounting to a large number of people who don’t have the required ports for Cintiq Pro, the Cintiq Pro works fine with PC, as I have did it myself.
I don’t know the configuration of your computer, so I can’t say anything about it, but your problem could be related to their driver too (I had many driver issues with Cintiq Pro).
Hi :) Would you know if the dell precision 5820, the dell AIO 5720 or the HP Z4 g4 workstations would be compatible with Cintiq pro? I’m going a little mad trying to find a computer that would be compatible without having to build from scratch.
Thanks !
Hi there,
I took a look at the computers you listed. Dell AIO 5720 comes with a DisplayPort, so you could easily connect it to Cintiq Pro using the adapter I recommended. The other two computers depends on the configurations to be honest. For one, HP Z4 G4 can be equipped with NVIDIA Quadro P600, a quick search made me see that it has 4 mini-Displayports, which are compatible with Cintiq Pro.
Whatever the computer you get, make sure you get one with one of the following:- Displayport, mini-Displayport or USB-C port with alternate mode.
I hope that helped!
So it doesn’t matter if the tower itself has these ports, as long as I get a graphics card with compatible ports?
The HP Z4 G4 has a usb type-C port at the front, would I be able to connect it straight to that if it supports dp alt mode? Or would it still need to be connected to the graphics card at the back?
Thanks for your help! :)
Hi,
Thank you for this helpful article. I have the Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 UHD from 2017. I have to connect it with the HDMI Port. I see that the StarTech.com Active HDMI to DisplayPort Converter only supports resolutions up to 1920 x 1200. Has Wacom confirmed the Cintiq Pro 16 will work with any other adapters (particularly those that support 4K)? Thank you!
Hi! thanks you so much :)
I’m using a Wacom link for a Cintiq pro 16 to a Windows PC.
The Cintiq works, but I’m experencing lot of flickering, really annoing.
Is it possible thats some cables are not well working? When I connect it to a Mac the flickering seems to be much more less. Which option do you raccomend for this model?
Thanks in advance