HDMI vs. DisplayPort Which is Better?

Are you unsure whether to connect your new monitor to your computer via HDMI or DisplayPort? Here's what you need to know about different ports' capabilities and compatibilities.

Monitor is the main gate between you and your PC, but which monitor is the best for you? There are several factor to consider before making the big purchases, one of them is port availability. Different port offers different specification. So take a quick look behind your pc to know what kind of port that is available. Some might think that it’s a simple matter, just pick a cable that comes with it and you’re done, but actually there’s more to this.

Different cable offers different specifications, if you’re just randomly pick what’s available what could happen is your monitor have loss of refresh rate, different color quality or even both. By today’s standard there are two types of cable that most people (gamers included) used, which is HDMI and DisplayPort. Of course, there are other type of monitor cable such as VGA, DVI but it’s not today’s standard anymore.

DisplayPort first appeared in 2006 while HDMI is a bit earlier which is 2002. Both types are digital standards which mean it translate pixel on your screen into 0s and 1s and zips it across your cable and then to the monitor. Before that, earlier monitor used DVI and if we're going back even further, we had VGA, but these cable is not up to standard for 2023 as they're old which mean any new GPU or motherboard won't support them.

So between HDMI or DisplayPort, which one is the best? Before answering this questions, not all HDMI and DisplayPort cable are equal. While both cable are backward compatible, which mean you can plug in an HDTV from mid-2000's and it should work just fine RTX 3000 series graphics card.

Let’s talk about HDMI first, HDMI is commonly used on TVs or any multi media player, sending a high-definition video and audio signals over cable. But did you know that there are several versions of HDMI cable? each is improving from the last. on any modern monitor, you should find any combination of the following ports:

• HDMI 1.4: 4k (4.096 by 2.160) Support at 24Hz, 4k (3.840 by 2.160) at 30 Hz and 1080p at 120Hz
• HDMI 2.0: Supports up to 4K at 60Hz, and later versions (HDMI 2.0a and 2.0b) include support for HDR.
• HDMI 2.1: Supports up to 10K resolution at 120Hz, improved HDR with enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) which allows sending Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio from the display to a receiver. HDMI 2.1 also includes variable refresh rate like FreeSync, though some HDMI 2.0 monitors also support the feature. A newer version (HDMI 2.1a) adds Source-Based Tone Mapping or SBTM.

These are a simplified explanation of each of HDMI version. for example, if you're running at 40 60 Hz with HDR on, you'll want a cable that labeled Premium High Speed or 18 Gbps or better. For 8k you'll need even more bandwidth, so always check the descriptions. In additions to that, modern HDMI support AMD's FreeSync technology which basically eliminate screen tearing in games by matching monitor's refresh rate to your graphics card output framerate.

DisplayPort cable is similar to HDMI cable but this used commonly on PCs than TVs. It allows high-definition video and audio but there is different standard to this. on modern monitor, you'll likely find any of the following port:

• DisplayPort 1.2: Supports 4K at 60Hz, with some 1.2a ports may also support AMD's FreeSync
• DisplayPort 1.3: Supports 4K at 120Hz or 8K at 30Hz
• DisplayPort 1.4: Supports up to 8K at 60Hz and HDR
• DisplayPort 2.0: Supports 16K with HDR at 60Hz and 10K without HDR at 80Hz. A newer DisplayPort 2.1, replaces this version and adds USB4 compatibility.

we also recommend you to pick the cable from DisplayPort’s certified cables list to ensure it performs as advertised. DisplayPort also support AMD's FreeSync and Nvidia's G-Sync so you have a tear-free gaming experience no matter which brand you currently using. You can also drive multiple monitor from one DisplayPort connection instead of having to use multiple ports.

So, with all that in mind, which cables should you choose? There is no such thing as the best cable, every and each one of them have their own places. if you have to choose between DP 1.4 or HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort would be the better option here as DisplayPort 1.4 offers almost twice transmission rate and max data rate from HDMI 1.4. On the other hand, if you're have to choose between HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0 could be the best option here as it offers HDR support as long as all your devices also support HDR. So each one have each own uses, one can’t rule them all, that is why it’s wise to know what you need so you know which of these cable is most well-suited for your need.

What is best for your specific setup is the best choice you can make. Before purchasing a cable, inspect each link in the chain to determine the best combination for optimal performance.