The most often used connectors for improved audio and visual performance are DisplayPort and HDMI. There are a few key distinctions between DisplayPort and HDMI that will impact your experience. Despite the fact that both are typically utilised for transmitting music and video, there are some key distinctions that impact your experience. Therefore, it’s crucial to fully comprehend these differences if you want to edit professionally, play games, or simply have the best understanding on your TV or monitor.
The first section of this blog post will go over the main functions, compatibility issues, and performance differences between Displayport and HDMI. Next, we will look at important elements including refresh rate, resolution support, and device compatibility for audio functions. At the end, it will be evident which connection device best suits your requirements and improves your technological setup.
Overview of HDMI vs. DisplayPort
Video and audio signals are sent to display devices via the DisplayPort and HDMI interfaces. As a result, they are frequently utilised to link monitors and television screens. Additionally, they have an impact on the performance and quality of the display, though each has unique qualities. There is a wide range of their functionality:
Originally, DisplayPort was primarily intended for PC monitors. This connection, for example, works well at high resolution and refresh rates on 4K at 144 Hz or 8K at 60 Hz. Additionally, it enables extremely sophisticated features including support for multiple displays. Furthermore, it incorporates cutting-edge adaptive sync technologies like FreeSync.
TVs and soundbars, among other multimedia devices for home entertainment, are primarily supported via HDMI. But HDMI 2.1 has made it easier to distinguish between HDMI and DisplayPort, making it compatible with high-definition video apps and gaming consoles.
Main Distinctions
Whether you’re gaming, editing videos professionally, or connecting numerous displays, your demands will determine whether DisplayPort or HDMI is best for you. Both interfaces produce excellent audio and video quality, but you can choose the best one for your setup by being aware of their distinct features.
1) Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)
- DisplayPort: By default, DisplayPort does not support eARC. Even so, various modifications or adapters could be needed to relay the sounds.
- HDMI: Dolby Atmos and DTS: X are used to provide high-quality sound. Furthermore, HDMI 2.1’s eARC functionality enables both DisplayPort and HDMI. Thus, it is simple to obtain high-quality audio on all devices.
2) Alternate Mode for USB-C DisplayPort
- DisplayPort: High-bandwidth video and audio may be sent with a single cable thanks to the DisplayPort Alternate Mode with USB-C connections. Furthermore, by eliminating the need for additional connections, this feature enables a more efficient connection.
- HDMI: DP Alt Mode provides a great deal more versatility than USB-C to HDMI adapters. It is also intended for high-resolution and higher-bandwidth multiple monitors.
3) Variable Rate of Refresh (VRR)
- DisplayPort: It enables VRR configurations like AMD’s FreeSync and NVIDIA’s G-SYNC. By using a synchronized refresh rate between the GPU and display, it prevents tearing and stuttering. As a result, gaming monitors are more likely to have this capability.
- HDMI: The gameplay became more fluid when VRR capabilities was added via HDMI 2.1. VRR compatibility may be impacted differently by the GPU and display, though. Consequently, if you want the best performance and refresh rates, make sure your device supports HDMI 2.1.
4) Performance
- DisplayPort: The display port has a higher bandwidth than HDMI. Better resolutions, faster refresh rates, and more significant colour depths are thus supported. For high-performance screen applications, it is appropriate. It also performs exceptionally well in professional applications and gaming.
- HDMI: In comparison, DisplayPort often offers a higher bandwidth than HDMI 2.1, despite HDMI 2.1’s high quality and frame capacity. As a result, it may not be supported by certain expensive apps.
5) Compatibility
- DisplayPort: typically found in PCs and monitors. In the professional and gaming worlds, of course, this has a standard link. The device is also adaptable to other devices thanks to its use of USB-C with DP Alt Mode.
- HDMI: Though controversial, most people consider HDMI to be a standard interface. This recognisable interface is used by consumer electronics, TVs, and home theatre systems. Consequently, it guarantees widespread device compatibility.
Technical Disparities Between HDMI and DisplayPort
1) Pin configuration and connector design
- DisplayPort: A single row of 20 pins is included with DisplayPort connectors. Additionally, a lock mechanism is used to guarantee that the connection is tightened. As a result, forceful disconnections are discouraged. Additionally, even smaller variants have been created, such as Mini DisplayPort, which is typically seen on MacBooks.
- HDMI: Although each HDMI connector has 19 pins, they vary in size. Among the examples are:
- Type A (Standard): The majority of consumer gadgets, TVs, monitors, and home theatre systems use Type A.
- Type C (Mini HDMI): second is present in tablets and cameras. Furthermore, it is frequently found in a variety of portable gadgets.
- Type D (Micro HDMI): Last but not least, is the smaller version frequently found on action cameras and other gadgets. In addition, it is smaller than previous HDMI varieties.
HDMI does not have a locking mechanism as DisplayPort does. Therefore, unless the cable is tight, it may occasionally lose its connection.
2) Maximum Length of Cable
- DisplayPort: For optimal performance, the cable length cannot be more than 10 feet (3 meters). More significantly, it is required at higher refresh rates and resolutions. Additionally, cables with longer lengths experience signal deterioration.
- HDMI: For optimal performance, HDMI cables should not exceed 6 feet (2 meters) in length. They can, however, also penetrate 40–50 feet (13–15 meters) with extremely high stabilisation and very little signal loss.
3) MST, or multi-stream transport
- DisplayPort: DisplayPort supports MST. Daisy chaining allows for the support of several monitors on a single connection. Because of this, users can use multiple monitors at their workplaces, which is advantageous when a multi-monitor configuration is in place. Additionally, it can maintain configuration organisation while making the best use of the ports that are available.
- HDMI: Multistream Transport and MST are not built into HDMI. Thus, in DisplayPort vs. HDMI, one monitor is connected to a single HDMI connector. Therefore, additional hardware will be needed for multiple display configurations. As a result, this gear needs to function at its best and manage several monitors.
Supported DisplayPort vs. HDMI Resolutions and Refresh Rates
1) DisplayPort
- DisplayPort 1.2: The original 1.2 DisplayPort has 8-bit colour depth and up to 4K resolution at 60 Hz. Additionally, it supports refresh rates greater than 60 Hz, up to 240 Hz, at resolutions like 1080p and 1440p.
- DisplayPort 1.3: This version is suitable for expensive screens. It also has DSC support for 4K at 120 Hz and 8K at 60 Hz.
- DisplayPort 1.4: supports 8K with a maximum refresh rate of 60 Hz and 4K at 120 Hz. It also employs Display Stream Compression (DSC) to increase refresh rate and improve resolution.
- DisplayPort 2.0: More bandwidth is available with DisplayPort 2.0, which supports 4K at 240Hz and 8K at 120Hz. It is therefore perfect for professional displays and virtual reality.
- DisplayPort 2.0: The support for is also available for DisplayPort 2.1. Nevertheless, it is more effective and works better with numerous displays and higher resolutions.
2) HDMI
1.4 1080p at 120Hz and 4K at 30Hz are supported by HDMI. Higher resolutions and refresh rates are its limitations, though.
In addition to supporting greater refresh rates for 1080p and 1440p, 2.0 HDMI provides 4K at 60Hz. It offers 10-bit colour at 4K as well. Nevertheless, resolutions greater than 4K, like 5K or above, are not supported.
4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz are supported via 2.1 HDMI. It also provides more bandwidth for HDR, better resolutions, and refresh rates. It is therefore perfect for gaming and future configurations.
The maximum refresh rate of a display is determined by a few things. These include the capabilities of the display and GPU, the panel technology, and the visual interface bandwidth—which may be better with HDMI than DisplayPort.
Additionally, the maximum refresh rate will depend on your GPU’s capabilities and the quality of the video connection. Especially at higher resolutions and more expensive models, DisplayPort frequently offers more flexibility and performance than HDMI.
Uncompressed Resolutions and Refresh Rates Overview
• 1.2 DP (8-bit): 289Hz, 406Hz, 885Hz, 147Hz, 246Hz, 589Hz.
• 2560×1440 (1440p): 174Hz, 251Hz, 610Hz, 86Hz, 147Hz, 379Hz.
• 3840×2160 (4K): 30Hz, 60Hz, 120Hz, 39Hz, 69Hz, 188Hz.
• 1.2 DP (10-bit): 1.2 DP (10-bit), 1.4 DP (10-bit), 2.1 DP (10-bit).
• 1920×1080 (1080p): 238Hz, 338Hz, 771Hz, 120Hz, 202Hz, 499Hz.
Note: Generally, 8-bit uncompressed colour depth and 4:4:4 chroma subsampling can yield refresh rates. Nevertheless, obtaining a refresh rate necessitates additional bandwidth, which gets harder as colour depth or subsampling demands increase.
4) Resolutions Supported
The device supports various resolutions, including 1920×1080 (1080p), 2560×1440 (1440p), and 3840×2160 (4K), with varying refresh rates and resolutions, ensuring optimal viewing experience.
Versions and Bandwidth
The differences between DisplayPort and HDMI have changed over time. In order to support increasingly demanding display technology, each subsequent iteration adds more bandwidth. An overview of the main versions and the associated bandwidths may be seen below:
Versions of DisplayPort and Bandwidth
Introduced in 2010, DisplayPort 1.2 boosts bandwidth to 21.6 Gbps.
In 2014, DisplayPort 1.3 was introduced, increasing bandwidth to 32.4 Gbps.
As a result, it makes it possible for screens to have greater resolution and refresh rates.
The 32.4 Gbps bandwidth is maintained by DisplayPort 1.4, which was launched in 2016. Nonetheless, it integrates advancements in Display Stream Compression.
(DSC) 1.2 for managing higher refresh rate resolutions.
The 2019 announcement of DisplayPort 2.0 greatly expands bandwidth to 80 Gbps. It so makes it possible to handle several displays from a single connection.
DisplayPort 2.1, which was released in 2022, keeps DP 2.0’s 80 Gbps capacity. Nevertheless, it provides greater performance and efficiency, ensuring better compatibility with high-resolution screens and multi-monitor setups.
2) Versions of HDMI and bandwidth
- 1.4 HDMI: With a maximum bandwidth of 10.2 Gbps, the original 1.4 version was released in 2009.
- Then, in 2013, the 2.0 version of HDMI was made available. Additionally, it boosts bandwidth to up to 18 Gbps.
- 2.1 HDMI: This 2017 version enhances the experience with dynamic HDR and VRR. Along with many other features, it boosts bandwidth to 48 Gbps.
Let’s examine the differences between DisplayPort and HDMI. The following describe their versions, bandwidth, HDR compatibility, and compression capacity:
DP & HDMI Features
• Various DP types: 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.0, 2.1.
• HDMI versions: 1.4, 2.0, 2.1.
• Launch years: 2010-2019.
• Maximum bandwidth: 21.6 Gbps, 32.4 Gbps, 80 Gbps, 10.2 Gbps, 18 Gbps, 48 Gbps.
• HDR support: No.
• Compression: No.
The Difference Between Displayport 1.4 and HDMI 2.1: Which Is Better?
Perfect for home entertainment, 2.1 HDMI
The common video game console interface is HDMI 2.1. It is specifically designed for a home theatre system or television that can support high 4K or 8K refresh rates. It guarantees a smooth gaming experience with excellent video quality as a result.
Additionally, one of its primary benefits is that it supports VRR, which makes all games run more smoothly than they normally would. Moreover, eARC is incorporated, which improves audio quality. HDMI 2.1 is a great connection for televisions because of these qualities. It also performs exceptionally well with gaming consoles such as the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
Displayport 1.4 (suitable for a computer monitor)
On the other hand, DisplayPort 1.4 is intended for professional installations and expensive displays. It also boasts an 8K resolution and a frequency range of 60Hz. Moreover, it is more commonly utilised in PC gaming and multi-monitor configurations.
Higher bandwidth professional work and other related applications are also encouraged. DisplayPort 1.4 is therefore a must if you are constructing a PC-centric workstation or gaming setup with cutting-edge monitors. It is also capable of supporting Display Stream Compression (DSC) and related features.
In conclusion
In summary, the performance, compatibility, and best use cases of DisplayPort and HDMI are compared in this article. Key characteristics including eARC, USB-C Alternate Mode, VRR, and bandwidth capacities were first examined. We also spoke about which choice works best in a variety of settings, including professional settings and gaming. In light of their unique requirements and configurations, readers are able to make well-informed judgements.
The final decision between DisplayPort and HDMI is based on personal preference. More flexibility and bandwidth are provided by DisplayPort, which is advantageous for professional applications. It is also excellent for multi-monitor setups and gaming. HDMI’s remarkable features, such as eARC and VRR, also enhance multimedia interaction.
FAQs
What distinguishes DisplayPort from HDMI, specifically?
HDMI and DisplayPort are different in that DisplayPort offers more bandwidth. As a result, it provides enhanced capabilities for PCs and monitors. HDMI, on the other hand, is compatible with home entertainment systems, music, and video.
Is DisplayPort a better option than HDMI for connecting my PC to a TV?
Indeed, you can. For the connection, you may need a DisplayPort-to-HDMI adaptor, though, as the majority of TVs lack DisplayPort.
Is DisplayPort or HDMI a better option for creative and professional editing?
DisplayPort 1.4 is superior for creative and professional editing work since it supports multi-monitor setups and high refresh rates. It also provides accurate colour reproduction.
Which is better for gaming, HDMI or DisplayPort?
DisplayPort is better for PC gaming because of its support for greater frame rates, multi-monitor setups, and adaptive sync technologies like G-Sync and FreeSync. As a result, the game experience is improved and made more seamless. HDMI 2.1, on the other hand, contains features like VRR and ALLM and supports 4K/120 HD. It is therefore superior for console gaming and home cinemas.
Is it possible to connect numerous screens to a single HDMI cable?
But unlike DisplayPort’s Multi-Stream Transport (MST) hub, HDMI does not offer multi-display configurations. To connect several displays using HDMI, you will therefore need separate HDMI cables for each display.
