If you’re looking for a good gaming monitor, you sometimes can’t see the wood for the trees. Many factors are important. But what can be a decisive factor is the presence of ports. For example, you often have the choice of HDMI or DisplayPort, but which one is better?
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer available. It really depends on your personal situation. It just depends on what you want to do and what kind of support you offer other hardware and software. In addition, you will still have to deal with versions of the aforementioned ports, which offer different specifications. So as a consumer you have to pay attention to a few things.
HDMI ports
For example, the HDMI port currently offers three versions: 1.4, 2.0 and 2.1. The differences are:
- HDMI 1.4: Supports up to 4k (4,096 by 2,160 pixels) at 24 Hz, 4k (3,840 by 2,160 pixels) at 30 Hz, or 1080p at 120 Hz
- HDMI 2.0: supports up to 4K at 60 Hz, and later versions (hdmi 2.0a and 2.0b) also support high dynamic range (hdr)
- HDMI 2.1: Supports up to 10K at 120Hz, as well as HDR with dynamic metadata, enhanced audio return channel (arc) and variable refresh rates (vrr)
Although the standards differ on some other points, these are the most important things you want to know for now. You also want the HDMI port to support at least AMD FreeSync, so you won’t encounter any ‘cracks’ in the image while gaming.
The DisplayPort
Unlike the HDMI port, the DisplayPort is made for computers and monitors. In many cases, both standards are similar; and we mean in particular what they can do. DisplayPort can also present images in high resolutions, for example. This is what you want to know for now:
- DisplayPort 1.2: Supports up to 4k at 60Hz, 1.2a ports may support AMD FreeSync
- DisplayPort 1.3: Supports up to 4k at 120 Hz or 8K at 30 Hz
- DisplayPort 1.4: Supports up to 8K at 60Hz and HDR
- DisplayPort 2.0: Supports up to 16K with HDR at 60 Hz and 10K without HDR at 80 Hz
The DisplayPort has the handy advantage of supporting both AMD FreeSync and the comparable Nvidia G-Sync technology. If your monitor offers support for this, then you are assured of a tear-free image. You do not have that certainty with HDMI, because it does not always support G-Sync. You can also connect more monitors with one DisplayPort.
Which one is better?
To determine which is actually better, you have to look at your personal situation. For example, if you have the choice for DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0, then the first is the best choice. But if you have to choose between DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 2.0, then HDMI 2.0 is the better option again. Moreover, HDMI is the better option if you like to game in HDR, provided your computer supports that technology.
And that’s really what it’s all about at the bottom: what options do your computer components offer? If you know that, then you also know which monitor best suits your options. Make sure that the connections on your video card and monitor are always the same. Does your monitor offer HDMI 2.1, but your video card does not? Then the screen falls back on the possibilities of HDMI 2.0, for example.
If you build your PCs yourself, you may already be taking this into account; but when you buy a laptop or computer in the store, pay close attention to such specifications.
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