Silly question. HDMI or DP?

Jakkels352 · 31 Jul 2020 at 11:32

Chaps, a naive question. Which is better, HDMI or Display Port? New rig and screen, for gaming

SonicSW20 · 31 Jul 2020 at 11:38

Display Port is the better standard, but most of the benefits it offers aren't utilised in a typical desktop setup.

Jakkels352 · 31 Jul 2020 at 11:44

OK thanks mate

Seearbe · 31 Jul 2020 at 12:17

Make sure the displayport cable is VESA certified to get the best.

https://www.displayport.org/product-category/cables-adaptors/

Jakkels352 · 31 Jul 2020 at 14:04

Thanks, will do

bremen1874 · 31 Jul 2020 at 14:08

It doesn't matter unless you're trying to run at a resolution/refresh rate that one or the other doesn't support. At that point, the decision is made for you.

Seearbe · 31 Jul 2020 at 14:54

bremen1874 said:
It doesn't matter unless you're trying to run at a resolution/refresh rate that one or the other doesn't support. At that point, the decision is made for you.

Not sure I follow. If the OP has a 4k 144hz monitor, he'd be wanting a certified DP1.4 cable to get the most from his monitor. The cable could be the limiting factor there, no?

bremen1874 · 31 Jul 2020 at 15:12

OP doesn't specify the resolution or refresh rate.

If he's running 1080P 60Hz it isn't going to matter what sort of connection he's using.

At higher resolutions, it's going to depend on the standard of the connection. If it's an older HDMI standard then he'll probably be forced to use DisplayPort. If it's modern HDMI at both ends then HDMI will probably be fine.

The quality of the cable will matter to some extent, but the underlying port standards matter more.

Basically the OP's question doesn't make much sense without knowing the specifics of what he's trying to connect to what.

Seearbe · 31 Jul 2020 at 15:21

bremen1874 said:
OP doesn't specify the resolution or refresh rate.

If he's running 1080P 60Hz it isn't going to matter what sort of connection he's using.

At higher resolutions, it's going to depend on the standard of the connection. If it's an older HDMI standard then he'll probably be forced to use DisplayPort. If it's modern HDMI at both ends then HDMI will probably be fine.

The quality of the cable will matter to some extent, but the underlying port standards matter more.

Basically the OP's question doesn't make much sense without knowing the specifics of what he's trying to connect to what.

I think I misread your post. I thought you were saying that the VESA certification doesn't matter whereas now I see you were saying the cable type doesn't matter unless the monitor is sufficiently good.

Although, because I can never truly admit when I'm wrong, I'd still buy a better quality cable if I needed to buy something as you never know what the future may bring. I'm stuck with an HDMI 1.4 cable channelled through my wall because I didn't think I'd need anything better than that at the time, then along comes UHD with HDR...

bremen1874 · 31 Jul 2020 at 15:31

OP was asking whether HDMI or DisplayPort was better.

To answer that question cable quality is irrelevant as it applies equally to both.