HDMI vs DisplayPort: Standards Reference by Version
HDMI vs DisplayPort. Use this HDMI vs DisplayPort chart to compare each version's bandwidth and the highest resolution and refresh rate it supports. The free responsive website tester runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is ever sent to a server.
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HDMI & DisplayPort Standards
| Standard | Max Bandwidth | Max Resolution / Refresh | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI 1.4 | 10.2 Gbps | 4K@30Hz, 1080p@120Hz | 2009 |
| HDMI 2.0 | 18 Gbps | 4K@60Hz, 1080p@240Hz | 2013 |
| HDMI 2.1 | 48 Gbps | 8K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz | 2017 |
| DisplayPort 1.2 | 21.6 Gbps | 4K@60Hz, 1440p@144Hz | 2010 |
| DisplayPort 1.4 | 32.4 Gbps | 4K@120Hz, 8K@30Hz (DSC) | 2016 |
| DisplayPort 2.0/2.1 | 80 Gbps | 8K@60Hz, 4K@240Hz | 2019 |
Once you know which standard you need, the HDMI and DisplayPort bandwidth calculator checks whether a specific resolution and refresh rate combination fits inside it.
The Display Cable Standards Reference settles HDMI vs DisplayPort by listing every current version next to its maximum bandwidth and the highest resolution and refresh rate combination it can carry. Pick a target combo from the Find standards that support dropdown — say 4K at 120Hz — and the table filters down to only the cable standards that can actually deliver it, so you stop guessing whether that cable in your drawer is the bottleneck.
Two plugs, a dozen version numbers and spec sheets that rarely say which one your screen needs: this HDMI vs DisplayPort standards reference lines up every revision of HDMI and DisplayPort by bandwidth, maximum mode and feature set, so you can see which digital display link your TV, monitor or PC can really drive. Both carry video and audio over a single cable and look identical at everyday settings. The real differences show up at high refresh rates, on multi-screen desks, in home theater audio and with gaming consoles that only speak one of them.
HDMI vs DisplayPort Standards Reference: Versions, Bandwidth and Resolution
The plugs have barely changed in two decades, while the bandwidth behind them has grown almost eightfold. HDMI is developed by the HDMI Forum and dominates consumer electronics; DisplayPort is a royalty-free standard from VESA, the industry body behind most computer display specs. The table lists each revision's raw link rate, the share left for pixels after line encoding, and the uncompressed modes it was designed around.
| Standard | Year | Raw link rate (Gbps) | Usable data rate (Gbps) | Headline modes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI 1.4 | 2009 | 10.2 | 8.16 | 4K at 30Hz, 1080p at 144Hz |
| HDMI 2.0 | 2013 | 18 | 14.4 | 4K at 60Hz (8-bit) |
| HDMI 2.1 | 2017 | 48 | about 42.7 | 4K at 120Hz, 8K at 60Hz (4:2:0 or DSC) |
| DisplayPort 1.2 | 2010 | 21.6 | 17.28 | 4K at 60Hz, multiple streams |
| DisplayPort 1.3 | 2014 | 32.4 | 25.92 | 4K at 120Hz, 8K at 30Hz |
| DisplayPort 1.4 | 2016 | 32.4 | 25.92 | 8K at 60Hz with DSC, HDR metadata |
| DisplayPort 2.0 / 2.1 | 2019 / 2022 | 80 | 77.37 | 16K at 60Hz with DSC |
- Raw vs usable bandwidth: older links lose 20% to 8b/10b encoding, so the 18 Gbps of HDMI 2.0 leaves 14.4 for pixels and the 21.6 of DisplayPort 1.2 leaves 17.28 Gbps.
- Leaner encoding: the 48 Gbps link of HDMI 2.1 and the 80 Gbps link of DisplayPort 2.0 use far more efficient coding, so their usable bandwidth sits close to the headline number.
- Same rate, new features: DisplayPort 1.3 and 1.4 share 32.4 Gbps; 1.4 added Display Stream Compression and HDR metadata, which is what lets it reach 8K with high dynamic range.
- Oldest still common: HDMI 1.4 stops at 10.2 Gbps, enough bandwidth for 1080p gaming but not for 4K beyond 30 frames per second, whatever resolution the screen itself supports.
HDMI 2.2, published in 2025, doubles the link to 96 gigabits per second, though devices using it remain rare.
Why Bandwidth Sets the Ceiling
A link either has room for the pixel stream or it doesn't, and the chain runs at the lowest supported version among the source, the cable and the screen. You can estimate what a mode needs from its resolution and refresh rate:
$$\text{data rate} \approx H \times V \times \text{refresh} \times \text{bits per pixel} \times 1.12$$The 1.12 factor covers reduced blanking. Take a 2560×1440 panel at 165Hz with 10-bit colour (30 bits per pixel): about 20.4 gigabits per second. HDMI 2.0 can't carry it, a 1.2 DisplayPort link manages that 1440p panel only at 8-bit colour (16.3), and a 1.4 link has headroom. When a mode exceeds the link, your video card falls back to compression (DSC) or chroma subsampling, or simply offers a lower refresh.
Connector Types: Pins, Locking Mechanism and Mini DisplayPort
Full-size HDMI, called Type A, has 19 pins in a symmetrical shell with no latch, so a heavy cable can work loose. Smaller devices use mini HDMI (Type C) and micro HDMI (Type D), which carry the same signal. Full-size DisplayPort has 20 pins in a shell with one clipped corner, and most plugs add a locking mechanism: two hooks you release by pressing the button on top.
Mini DisplayPort arrived on Apple laptops in 2008 and later shared its port shape with Thunderbolt 1 and 2, which is why older Macs and docks still carry it. Within each family the versions keep backward compatibility, so a new cable works in an old port and simply runs at the old speed.
HDMI or DisplayPort for a Multi-Monitor Setup
An HDMI output drives exactly one screen. DisplayPort can feed several screens from one port, which matters on a laptop with a single video output or a workstation where productivity depends on three screens side by side.
Multi-Stream Transport and Daisy-Chaining
Version 1.2 of DisplayPort introduced multi-stream transport (MST), which packs several independent video streams into one link. You either chain screens one after another (daisy-chaining, which needs a DisplayPort output on every screen except the last) or plug into an MST hub that splits the streams out. The streams share the link, so the bandwidth math above still applies: two 2560×1440 screens at 60Hz need about 11.9 gigabits per second and fit comfortably on version 1.2, while a third pushes the total to 17.8 and doesn't. Windows supports MST natively; macOS doesn't, so Macs need one port per screen.
DisplayPort vs HDMI for Gaming: Refresh Rate and Adaptive Sync
On a gaming PC, the graphics card typically has three DisplayPort outputs and one HDMI. Fast panels, 240Hz and 360Hz models in particular, usually reach their top refresh rate over DisplayPort first, and some only list it there. A higher frame rate is pointless if the link caps the refresh, so check which input reaches it.
Variable Refresh Rate, G-Sync and FreeSync
VRR lets the screen wait for each finished frame instead of refreshing on a fixed clock, which removes screen tearing and V-Sync stutter. AMD FreeSync works over both connectors. NVIDIA G-Sync launched as DisplayPort-only; its Compatible mode now also runs over HDMI 2.1 on supported TVs, while monitors with a dedicated G-Sync module still want DisplayPort.
Consoles Need HDMI 2.1 on PS5 and Xbox Series X
PS5 and Xbox Series X have HDMI outputs only, so DisplayPort is not an option for them. Getting 4K/120 with VRR needs a full-bandwidth HDMI input on the screen; on an HDMI 2.0 port the console falls back to 4K/60 or a lower-resolution 120 mode. For home entertainment setups, check that the TV's 4K/120 support covers every HDMI input, since many sets offer it on only two.
Audio Return Channel and eARC: How HDMI and DisplayPort Handle Sound
Both carry up to eight channels of uncompressed audio, but only HDMI sends sound back the other way. Audio Return Channel (ARC), added in 2009, lets the TV pass audio from its built-in apps down the same HDMI cable to a soundbar or AV receiver, though only in compressed formats. eARC reuses the wire pair of the HDMI Ethernet Channel to deliver lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which is why a serious home theater build centres on the HDMI port labelled eARC.
DisplayPort has no return path. A PC on DisplayPort sends audio to the monitor's speakers or headphone jack, and surround systems are usually fed by HDMI or USB instead.
Cable Length and Connector Cables: HDMI Cable vs DisplayPort Cable
Copper loses signal quality as frequency rises, so the usable cable length shrinks each time bandwidth doubles. A passive DisplayPort cable at full 1.4 speed is dependable to about 2-3 m; HDMI at the same speed class stretches a little further, and beyond that signal loss shows up as sparkles, blackouts or a forced drop to a lower mode.
High-Speed HDMI Cable vs Ultra High-Speed HDMI Certification
HDMI cables are certified by speed tier, not by version number, so look for the tier name on the packaging:
- Standard: 720p and 1080i only.
- High-Speed HDMI cable: 4K at 30 frames and 3D; any tier can also add Ethernet.
- Premium High Speed: tested at full 2.0 speed for 4K at 60 frames with deep colour.
- Ultra High-Speed HDMI: certified for 48 gigabits, the only tier for 4K/120 and above, with a scannable label on the box.
Active Cable vs Passive Cable for Long HDMI and DisplayPort Runs
A passive cable is plain copper and works either way round. An active cable adds a chip that re-drives the signal, and optical versions carry it over fibre for 10-30 m runs to a ceiling-mounted projector. Long active HDMI leads are easy to find; long DisplayPort leads are rarer, so a desk run past about 3 m at full 1.4 speed often ends up on HDMI instead. Active leads are directional: the end marked "source" goes into the computer or player.
DisplayPort to HDMI Adapters and USB-C Alt Mode
Most thin laptops now output DisplayPort through a USB-C port using Alt Mode, so reaching an external monitor or TV with an HDMI input takes a converter or dongle. Direction matters: going DisplayPort to HDMI is simple, while HDMI to DisplayPort needs a powered converter, since an HDMI source can't produce a DisplayPort signal.
Active Adapter or Passive Dual-Mode Adapter
A passive adapter relies on a dual-mode (DP++) port, where the source switches itself into HDMI signalling and the adapter just rewires pins, so you get whatever HDMI speed that port supports. An active adapter converts the signal with its own chip. You need one when the port lacks DP++, when you want full-speed HDMI output, or when older graphics cards drive more than two HDMI screens at once.
Choosing Between Display Connection Standards by Device
Read the HDMI vs DisplayPort standards reference against your own hardware: the right link is the newest version both ends share, carried over a cable certified for it. Compatibility usually settles the question before performance does.
| Device or setup | Best link | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Living-room screen with a soundbar | HDMI | Only HDMI returns lossless audio |
| Games console | HDMI, full bandwidth | No DisplayPort output; 4K/120 needs 48 gigabits |
| Gaming PC with a 240Hz+ panel | DisplayPort 1.4 or newer | Top refresh and a locking plug |
| Three-screen desk | DisplayPort with MST | Several screens from one port |
| Laptop in a meeting room | HDMI | Almost every projector and screen has it |
Picking DisplayPort or HDMI at equal bandwidth changes nothing you can see; these audio/video connectors differ in features, reach and where they appear in consumer devices, not in picture quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between DisplayPort and HDMI?
- DisplayPort is developed by VESA and is primarily used in PC monitors and graphics cards, offering higher bandwidth and features like daisy-chaining multiple monitors. HDMI is developed by a consortium of consumer electronics companies and is common on TVs, projectors, and AV equipment. DisplayPort 2.1 offers up to 80 Gbps while HDMI 2.1 provides up to 48 Gbps — both support 4K and 8K, but DisplayPort generally leads in raw bandwidth and PC use cases.
- How do I check which DisplayPort version my GPU or monitor supports?
- On Windows, right-click the desktop, go to Display Settings > Advanced Display, and look for the display information. For your GPU, check the manufacturer's product page or use GPU-Z software which lists the supported DisplayPort version. On a Mac, go to Apple Menu > About This Mac > System Report > Graphics/Displays.
- Does DisplayPort support audio?
- Yes, DisplayPort supports multi-channel audio transmission over the same cable as video — no separate audio cable is needed. It supports up to 8 channels of 24-bit audio at 192 kHz. This applies to all versions of DisplayPort from 1.0 onwards.
- What is Display Stream Compression (DSC)?
- Display Stream Compression is a visually lossless compression standard that allows higher resolutions and refresh rates over existing cable bandwidth. For example, DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC can drive 8K at 60 Hz or 4K at 144 Hz, which would otherwise require the full bandwidth of DisplayPort 2.0. DSC is supported from DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 onwards.
- How do I daisy-chain multiple monitors using DisplayPort?
- DisplayPort Multi-Stream Transport (MST) allows you to connect multiple monitors in a chain using a single DisplayPort output. Your GPU must support MST (available from DisplayPort 1.2+), and each monitor in the chain (except the last) must also support MST passthrough. Connect the first monitor to the GPU, then connect subsequent monitors from the DisplayPort output of each preceding monitor.
- What is Dual-Mode DisplayPort (DP++)?
- Dual-Mode DisplayPort, marked with DP++, allows a DisplayPort port to output an HDMI or DVI signal using a passive adapter. This means you can plug a passive DP-to-HDMI or DP-to-DVI adapter into a DP++ port without needing an active adapter. However, the maximum resolution through a passive adapter is limited to the HDMI or DVI standard's own capabilities.
- Is USB-C the same as DisplayPort or HDMI?
- USB-C is a physical connector shape, not a display standard itself. USB-C ports can carry DisplayPort signals via 'DisplayPort Alt Mode', HDMI signals via 'HDMI Alt Mode', or Thunderbolt video. The cable and the device must both support the relevant alt mode. A USB-C cable that supports DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode can carry the same bandwidth as a standard DisplayPort 1.4 cable.
- Can I use an old VGA or DVI cable for 4K displays?
- VGA is an analog standard with practical limits around 1080p or 1440p at lower refresh rates, and it does not support 4K. DVI-D Dual Link can reach a maximum of 2560×1600 at 60 Hz, which is below 4K. For 4K and beyond, you need HDMI 2.0 or higher, DisplayPort 1.2 or higher, or USB-C with the appropriate alt mode.