I experienced this issue using an HDMI to DVI adapter from my 2018 Mac mini to a Dell Ultrasharp display. After purchasing a replacement cable that didn't remedy the problem, I discovered that it's a known issue.

The fix was to use a USB-C -> DisplayPort cable (using DisplayPort via USB-C alternative mode). It appears that the HDMI port can't be used with a DVI converter. DVI ports have been replaced by DisplayPort, HDMI, and DisplayPort for some time but it was still a disappointment.