HDMI is one of the most commonly used types of cords out there, working for anything from gaming consoles to connecting your PC to your screen of choice with minimal hassle. It takes care of everything for you, transmitting both audio and video from point A to point B, and looks quite snazzy while doing it. No, you don’t need to spend extra money on gold-plated HDMI to get the best video quality, as almost any old HDMI cable will do.
But if you’re looking to get the most out of your fancy computer monitor, it may be time to ditch HDMI in favor of DisplayPort. Why? Well, there are a myriad of different reasons that DisplayPort is favored for PC gaming over HDMI, and it took me far too long to discover all of those reasons, but it didn’t “hertz” when I learned I wasn’t taking full advantage of my display.
Higher refresh rates and resolutions
HDMI is catching up, but I’m loving 240Hz at 1440p via DP
Before I finally upgraded my monitor to something outside of the realm of basic, I was more than content using HDMI. The first monitor that I had for my PC, a Viewsonic with a 60Hz refresh rate, got me through Cyberpunk 2077, as well as the earliest days of my career in the field of writing. But after upgrading to a KTC OLED display, it was finally time for me to start using DisplayPort to its full advantage.
Both monitors in my dual-monitor setup have high refresh rates, with my vertical monitor going up to 144Hz, and my main monitor displaying 1440p at 240Hz. My OLED display does feature an HDMI 2.0 port, but these typically top out at a 60Hz refresh rate, and don’t always support your monitor’s special features.
- Brand
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KTC
- Screen Size
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27 inch
- Display Technology
-
OLED
G-Sync/VRR typically only works over DisplayPort
You’re losing out on valuable frames without this cord
When I got my Lenovo display, one that featured a 144Hz refresh rate, one of the biggest features that I saw was NVIDIA G-Sync. It’s a fancy way of saying that your GPU and your monitor are going to work perfectly in sync with one another, and it’s a great way to minimize or remove stutter. Basically, your monitor’s refresh rate adapts to the ebbs and flows of your game, making it appear smoother if you have sudden frame drops or other issues like screen tearing.
Unless your monitor supports HDMI 2.1, you’re likely going to need to use DisplayPort to take full advantage of features like this. Newer NVIDIA cards do typically support G-Sync over an HDMI connection, but it depends on your monitor’s ports if this feature will actually properly work over HDMI. Take the guesswork out and use DisplayPort to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
You can potentially daisy-chain multiple monitors together
Clean up your cords and keep your displays looking spectacular at the same time
If you’ve tried connecting multiple monitors to a single GPU, you already know that you’ll need to have a separate HDMI cord for each screen. But did you know that your monitor may support daisy-chaining, freeing up additional ports on your GPU and helping with desk clutter? It’s a thing that I recently learned about, but you’ll need to ensure that you meet the minimum requirements to make this work.
If you want to try daisy-chaining for yourself, you’ll need to do a little bit of research on your particular monitors. Do they support DisplayPort 1.2? That’s a good start. You’ll also need a DisplayPort In and DisplayPort Out option, known as Multi-Stream Transport, to make this work. If your monitors have both of these ports, then you can get to connecting up to four displays without using up all the ports on the back of your GPU.
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HDMI is still incredibly useful for many folks
ARC and CEC are incredible features I wish DisplayPort had
While I personally prefer using DisplayPort, I can’t look down on anyone who uses HDMI, as it powers many, many different things and does it quite well. Plus, if you’re looking for the most hassle-free setup possible, HDMI is where it’s at. If you’re using your PC with a TV, especially if you’re planning on buying or building a Steam Machine of your own, then this is likely the only way you’ll be able to display the image properly on your living room setup.
Plus, HDMI ARC and CEC are incredible technologies. Having your TV turned on when you power on your PC is amazing, and it’s something that DisplayPort wishes it could do. There’s a reason why HDMI is as popular as it is, and it’s because it just works and works well. Yes, DisplayPort may have it beat in the refresh rate department, but for things that don’t need it? I’ll take HDMI any day of the week.
Consider trying out DisplayPort for yourself
You may discover that your monitor is way better than expected
DisplayPort looks strangely daunting. The shape is strange, and if you’re unfamiliar with what DisplayPort can offer? You may think that HDMI is going to be the better overall choice. For quite some time, I was in the same boat. But after switching in 2022 or 2023, I’ve never looked back, and I will gladly continue using it into the foreseeable future.
Better refresh rates, better resolutions, and everything in between. DisplayPort has become a pivotal part of my life, and I could never imagine putting a PC build together in the future that doesn’t include it. Especially as I continue bumping my graphics card up — I want all that delicious detail, and I want it in the best resolution possible, please and thank you.
