HDMI and DisplayPort are two of the most popular cable connectors for many devices, from game consoles and monitors to various televisions. However, these connectors have had some friendly competition for some time now. They may seem similar but in practice they are different.
Are you in a dilemma about which one you should choose?
In this article, we will help you choose the best option. Learn the features and which devices work best with each connector.
HDMI: optimal for both televisions and PCs
HDMI is most commonly used in TVs to send high definition audio and video signals over a cable to connect the TV with ISP boxes, STB receivers or game consoles. It is also the preferred choice for low to mid-range PC monitors. Since modern HDMI is standardized, it is easy to plug and play with widespread support across all makes and models.
Modern displays, modems, and graphics cards typically have a combination of the following ports:
- HDMI 1.4: Supports resolution up to 4K at 24 Hz, 4K at 30 Hz or 1080p at 120 Hz. Bandwidth (data throughput rate) is 10.2 Gbps.
- HDMI 2.0: Supports up to 4K at 60 Hz with 18 Gbps bandwidth. Later versions (2.0a, 2.0b) also include HDR (high dynamic range) support to improve image contrast.
- HDMI 2.1: Supports up to 10K at 120Hz. The bandwidth is 48Gbps. This release has improved HDR support with dynamic metadata and an improved Audio Return Channel (eARC).
It is important to note that not all devices are compatible with the latest version of HDMI and you should research what options are available to you. As a general rule, newer HDMI versions are superior. You can always check the HDMI connectors of your devices or the user manual to check the compatibility of their versions.
Fortunately, modern HDMI (1.4 and higher) is backwards compatible, so you can connect an HDMI 2.1 display to a 1.4-compatible device. In these cases, the older device (in terms of HDMI compatibility) will decide the overall image quality.
The same compatibility applies to cables. Connecting an HDMI 2.0 cable to two 2.1 compatible devices will limit them to the bandwidth of the 2.0 standard. It will also disable additional features provided by the updated standard. For HDMI, buying a cable is as essential as choosing the devices to connect.
Fortunately, the options are almost limitless and nowadays you can even get an RGB cable.
DisplayPort: a PC upgrade
Although DisplayPort looks like an HDMI cable on the surface, it is more commonly used in PCs than in televisions. It has high definition video and audio and its standards are different.
On graphics cards, monitors, and some modern televisions, you can find the following versions of DisplayPort cables:
- DisplayPort 1.2: Supports up to 4K at 60 Hz. Bandwidth is 17.28 Gbps.
- DisplayPort 1.3: Supports up to 4K at 120 Hz or 8K at 30 Hz. Bandwidth is 32.4 Gbps.
- DisplayPort 1.4: Supports up to 8K at 60Hz. The bandwidth is 32.4 Gbps.
- DisplayPort 2.0: Supports up to 16K with HDR at 60Hz. The bandwidth is 80Gbps.
Plus, DisplayPort supports AMD’s Free Sync and Nvidia’s G-Sync, so you can have a great gaming and design experience no matter what video card you use.
Another advantage that DisplayPort cables offer is connecting multiple monitors from a single connection through a daisy chain. This is useful if you want to connect two monitors to the PC and your graphics card only has one DisplayPort installed. If you are using a portable device, you can also send DisplayPort signals through the USB-C port.
DisplayPort cables are also universal for that connection standard. This effectively means that purchasing a single DisplayPort cable is future-proof or at least very likely to remain so.
How to choose between HDMI and DisplayPort
The first thing you should do is check which connection versions your device supports. Generally, a newer standard will work better and will be obsolete later. For example, if your device supports HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4, DisplayPort would be the best option.
However, HDMI offers some advantages due to its age. As it becomes more widespread, more devices will have this connection port. If you travel frequently for business and want to connect your laptop to a wider range of devices in your accommodation, an HDMI would be the best option.
If you are on a budget and are purchasing a monitor, HDMI is the most obvious choice as almost all monitors have it. However, if you plan to upgrade to a new graphics card, purchasing one with a DisplayPort connection would be a smarter decision.
The best solution would be to choose the best cable for your particular setup to get the optimal performance.
Using HDMI and DisplayPort for gaming
You might think that the best cable to use is the one that came with your computer, but there are some differences that can affect the refresh rate, color quality, or both.
Before making any purchasing decisions, you may want to consider the capabilities of your graphics card’s video output and your display’s video input.
In most cases, when it comes to gaming, it is best to use a DisplayPort cable to connect your graphics card to your monitor. It offers the best bandwidth and full support for adaptive update features like G-Sync and FreeSync. Adaptive sync technologies help synchronize game frame output with monitor refresh rates to prevent issues like tearing. Allows a higher frame rate monitor to run smoothly when working with lower frame rate programs.
For modern, high-end systems, DisplayPort 1.4 is the ultimate solution. It supports HDR, compression and 32-channel audio, while delivering maximum resolution potential for the highest quality experience. If you’re using a budget monitor or a PC without a discrete GPU, HDMI is a better (and usually the only) option between the two.
The DisplayPort vs HDMI debate can be decided depending on your graphics card and monitor type. Nvidia’s G-Sync requires DisplayPort, and AMD’s FreeSync supports both connection types. Some older AMD cards may only have one HDMI port. However, typically monitors that need to use Adaptive Sync technologies (typically at 144Hz and above) will have a DisplayPort port and an HDMI port.
HDMI is the format of choice for home theater equipment and gaming consoles like the Xbox Series X and Play Station 5. DisplayPort is not yet available for these devices and can use HDMI 2.1. However, when it comes to older consoles, you should pay attention to their HDMI version and the specific list of features they support.
When it comes to quality and pure visual acuity, DisplayPort is preferred among professionals and gaming enthusiasts, closely followed by HDMI 2.1.
It’s also worth noting that Apple monitors do not support HDMI, making DisplayPort a clear winner for this brand.
Sometimes there is no winner
HDMI and DisplayPort have similar performance, but each has advantages and disadvantages. HDMI is widely supported by most devices, but DisplayPort offers some features that HDMI does not. However, the right choice still depends on the equipment you are using and what you want to get by choosing between the two types.
We hope this guide has helped you make the right decision for your needs.
