HDMI cables are most commonly used to connect TVs and monitors. Those are great specs for watching movies and working, but what if you’re a gamer? RTX 4090 GPUs aren’t powerful enough to drive 4K 240Hz gaming monitors. If you want the best performance from your gaming gear, you need DisplayPort (DP).
1. You can play 4K 240Hz on DisplayPort
Gamers need a lot of frames per second (what does FPS mean?). This is why you can get 4K displays with 165Hz refresh rates. DisplayPort 2.0 support is required for this feature, though. The latest HDMI standard, HDMI 2.1, only transmits up to 48 Gbit/s. Basically, it only supports 4K 144Hz gaming. As for DisplayPort 2.0 and up, the maximum speed is 80 Gbit/s.
In spite of HDMI’s 4K support, it’s limited to 144Hz. 240Hz is the maximum speed you can get when you choose DisplayPort. Games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Valorant, and other competitive games benefit from this huge frame rate boost.
2. DisplayPort ports are on most midrange GPUs and up
You’ll have an advantage as a gamer by using multiple monitors. As well as the wider field of view, you can use your other displays to show other apps, like streaming controls if you’re a game streamer or a game guide if you’re playing.
Typically, midrange GPUs and up only have one HDMI port and a few DisplayPorts. Multiple displays can be connected directly with the DisplayPort cables included with them, so you don’t have to buy a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter.
3. MST support in DisplayPort
Is it possible to have a gaming laptop instead of a gaming desktop? Gaming laptops used to have only one HDMI port and one Mini DisplayPort before USB-C became ubiquitous. How do you connect your gaming laptop to multiple monitors? Thanks to MST, you can run two or more monitors off one DisplayPort. You don’t need multiple DisplayPorts on your device to daisy chain up three or more monitors to one DisplayPort.
MST-enabled monitors don’t need to be plugged into your computer. It’s easier to attach one display to another via MST. When DisplayPort 1.2 came out, daisy-chaining could be used for one 4K 60Hz or four Full HD 60Hz displays at 21.6Gbit/s. Now that DisplayPort 2.0 can handle 80Gbit/s, you could theoretically connect 16 Full HD monitors at 60Hz. This technology also works on laptops with USB-C and DisplayPort alt mode that don’t have DisplayPort.
4. Cable selection made easy with DisplayPort UHBR
You can also choose the right cable easier with DisplayPort as a gamer. Make sure your cable works with a high-resolution, high-refresh monitor.
An HDMI 2.0 cable and a 4K 165Hz gaming monitor didn’t work for me once. I’ve had problems with my computer and had to restart it several times even though the monitor ran a couple of times. The old cable I was using wasn’t the right one. With the HDMI 2.1 cable included, I was able to fix all my problems.
We couldn’t easily figure out which cable was right. It took me a while to figure it out. You won’t have this issue if you use DisplayPort. The DP standard has been simplified thanks to DisplayPort UHBR. With DisplayPort, UHBR cables have to display their speed capacity instead of being a mess of cables without labels.
In short, you’ll be able to spot a 4K 240Hz DisplayPort cable when you’re out looking for a cable or digging through your collection of wires. No need to troubleshoot a 4K monitor that’s not working (it took me four hours!) and then find out it’s an incompatible cable.
5. DisplayPort to HDMI can be easily converted
There’s a difference between DisplayPort and HDMI. Unless your computer has Dual-Mode Display Port, you can’t use a passive DisplayPort to HDMI. Your computer will detect the HDMI display via a passive adapter if it has the DP++ symbol. HDMI won’t understand the port’s output if that’s the case. Using an active DisplayPort to HDMI converter cable is required if your computer doesn’t have the feature. It’s still widely available even though it’s more expensive.
DisplayPort also has the advantage of splitting into two or three HDMI signals, so it’s better than HDMI. Multi-monitor setups are possible with a DisplayPort to HDMI MST hub. That’s handy if you already have HDMI monitors. The hub lets you enjoy multi-monitor setups without spending loads of money on new DisplayPort screens.
However, you can’t convert HDMI signals for a DisplayPort monitor using an active or passive DisplayPort to HDMI cable.
6. DisplayPort to HDMI Adapters are more expensive
DisplayPort and HDMI are incompatible. HDMI doesn’t have a technology that converts its signal to HDMI, like DisplayPort does. You need an active HDMI to DisplayPort adapter if your computer only has DisplayPorts and you want to plug in an HDMI monitor.
The HDMI signal will be converted into DisplayPort outside your computer with this adapter. Adapter cables typically have a box inline, containing a converter, since they require their own circuitry. Occasionally, it needs external power via USB, which makes it a hassle. Since HDMI to DisplayPort adapters add these extras, they’re more expensive. They’re usually cheaper than $10, whereas the former start at $15.
DisplayPort makes gaming gear better
A 4K 240Hz gaming monitor will help you maximize the power of your gaming PC running the latest GPUs, such as the 4090 or 7900XTX. It’s not possible with HDMI. DisplayPort is the only way to enjoy your hardware. You should invest in a couple of 4K monitors and some DisplayPort DP80 cables if you’re building one monster PC.
