The key differences between HDMI and DisplayPort:
- Bandwidth and Performance:
- DisplayPort generally supports higher resolutions and refresh rates compared to older HDMI versions.
- The latest HDMI 2.1 offers 48 Gbps bandwidth, while DisplayPort 2.0/2.1 can reach up to 80 Gbps.
- DisplayPort 1.4 (32.4 Gbps) outperforms HDMI 2.0 (18 Gbps).
- Resolution and Refresh Rate Support:
- DisplayPort 1.4 supports 4K at 120Hz without compression, while HDMI 2.0 is limited to 4K at 60Hz.
- HDMI 2.1 supports 8K at 60Hz and 4K at 144Hz.
- DisplayPort 2.1 can handle even higher resolutions and refresh rates.
- Compatibility:
- HDMI is more widely supported, especially on TVs and consumer electronics.
- DisplayPort is more common on computer monitors and graphics cards.
- Features:
- DisplayPort supports Multi-Stream Transport (MST) for daisy-chaining multiple monitors.
- HDMI supports features like ARC (Audio Return Channel) and CEC (Consumer Electronics Control).
- Licensing and Cost:
- DisplayPort is an open standard, while HDMI requires licensing fees.
- This often results in more DisplayPort ports on graphics cards.
- Gaming Performance:
- For high-end gaming, especially at high resolutions and refresh rates, DisplayPort is often recommended.
- However, the latest HDMI 2.1 is also very capable for gaming.
- Adapters:
- DisplayPort to HDMI adapters are common, but HDMI to DisplayPort is less so.
In summary, while both can deliver good gaming experiences, DisplayPort is generally preferred for PC gaming and high-performance monitors, especially with older hardware. However, with the latest versions, both standards are highly capable, and the choice often depends on the specific devices and use case.