If you’re looking to connect your PC or console to a TV or gaming monitor, there’s a good chance you have multiple options and even more cables. HDMI and DisplayPort cables both allow you to transfer multiple audio channels and high-definition video from your gaming device to your display of choice. But what are the benefits and limitations of each format? And which option is right for your display? Here’s what you should know about HDMI and DisplayPort cables and the best options available in each format.

What is HDMI?

HDMI stands for high-definition multimedia interface, and the cable allows users to transfer high-definition video and audio to a connected TV or monitor. HDMI has been used since 2003, so unless you’re planning to game on a CRT, your TV or monitor almost certainly supports HDMI. If you’re using a TV, it likely has multiple ports, too.

HDMI versions

• HDMI 1.0 to 1.2a (1080i or 720p, 4.95Gbps)
• HDMI 1.3 to 1.4a (1080p and 4K at 30Hz, 10.2Gbps)
• HDMI 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0b (4K at 60Hz, 18Gbps)
• HDMI 2.1 (8K at 60Hz, 4K at 120Hz, 48Gbps)

What is DisplayPort?

DisplayPort, like HDMI, is a cable format for transmitting high-definition video and audio. The latest version, DisplayPort 2.0, debuted in 2019, but there are not yet any commercial products that support it. That approval process was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so DisplayPort 1.4 is currently the most recent usable version.Come from Sports betting site VPbet

DisplayPort is not nearly as mainstream as HDMI. You won’t find a DisplayPort jack on your game console and your TV likely won’t support it either. Instead, DisplayPort is most useful (and sometimes essential) for PC gamers because it can connect from a monitor to the PC’s dedicated graphics card, and it supports higher resolutions, higher refresh rates, and more bandwidth than HDMI.

DisplayPort versions

• DisplayPort 1.0 to 1.1 (4K at 30Hz, 10.8Gbps)
• DisplayPort 1.2 (4K at 75Hz, 21.6Gbps)
  • 1.2a added adaptive sync
• DisplayPort 1.3 (5120×2880 at 60Hz, 32.4Gbps)
• DisplayPort 1.4 (4K at 144Hz, 32.4Gbps)
• DisplayPort 2.0 (16K resolution at 60Hz, 80Gbps)

HDMI vs. DisplayPort: How they compare

Video and bandwidth

Over the years, HDMI has gone through multiple iterations. HDMI 2.1 is the latest (and best), introduced in 2017. With the introduction of this version, HDMI added support for higher resolutions and refresh rates: 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz. This newest cable is capable of transmitting 48Gbps, a huge increase over the 18Gbps of previous cables. Of course, older versions are still compatible with most devices, but won’t provide the same image quality or bandwidth.

DisplayPort 1.4, by contrast, has a maximum bandwidth of 32.4Gbps and can support 4K resolution at 144Hz. DisplayPort 1.2 is older, introduced in 2010, and less capable than 1.4, supporting a maximum bandwidth of 21.6Gbps, with 5K resolution at 30Hz, 4K at 75Hz, and 1080p at 240Hz.

Devices that support DisplayPort 2.0 should arrive later this year. None of them will be able to take advantage of DisplayPort’s full capabilities as the newest cables allow for a jump in resolution all the way to 16K–a future-proofing measure, to be sure, as few commercially available displays support 8K. However, DisplayPort 2.0 will be more powerful than HDMI 2.1 in nearly every way, with a max bandwidth of 80 Gbps and 16K for 60 Hz single display configurations. By comparison, HDMI 2.1 maxes out at 48 Gbps and 10K.

Audio

HDMI and DisplayPort support the same number of audio channels (eight) at the same level of quality (24 bit, 192kHz). The primary difference between the two formats, where sound is concerned, is that HDMI includes an audio return channel, meaning the cable can transmit audio both ways.

PC vs. console

HDMI has one huge advantage if you’re planning to play on console: Both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S include support for HDMI 2.1, the newest and best version of HDMI. Neither console support DisplayPort. If you’re a PC user, however, DisplayPort will likely be your best bet for optimal performance (though the most optimal performance won’t be available until DisplayPort 2.0-enabled devices show up on store shelves sometime in 2021).