Cables Explained: The Difference Between HDMI and DisplayPort

So, you’ve upgraded your graphics card, your processor, your monitor, and more. Are your cables up to scratch though? Although an innocuous piece of kit, having an ancient cable is going to hamper your gaming more than you would think. Say goodbye to 4K resolutions, high bandwidths, and full colour. Without an up-to-date cable, you are going to miss out. The important question though, is which do you go for: HDMI or DisplayPort? You are in luck, we’re here to break down the difference and which of these cables is best for you. 

Cable Specifications

First up, here is a table breaking down all the features available on the different generations of HDMI, followed by one for DisplayPort, and then a direct comparison between the latest cables.  

History of HDMI at a Glance 

*Daisy Chain 

HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface, and this cable has been in the industry standard for many years now. Developed in 2002 by big names like Hitachi, Sony, and Phillips, HDMI has been mass adopted across modern technology – including GPUs and gaming monitors. As a result, HDMI cables come in a variety of sizes and lengths, with support for resolutions up to 7680 x 4320. 

The HDMI cable has been developed to meet the ever-increasing demands of HD viewing, all the way up to 8K. Currently, we are on HDMI 2.1 which was announced in 2017 and made available towards the latter end of 2020.  

History DisplayPort at a Glance 

*Daisy Chain 

DisplayPort was designed by a collective of PC component manufacturers in 2008 with the goal to replace VGA and DVI. Whilst offering backwards compatibility with these ports, its specs are on par with HDMI and serves as an alternative to HDMI.  

How it differs, DisplayPort cables utilise a packet data transmission system that requires much fewer pins. Similar to the transmission systems found in PCIe, this technology embeds micro packets of information into the data stream, thus allowing for higher resolution. Plus, it has great potential for future upgrades. Plus, in addition to carrying audio and video, DisplayPort is capable of bi-directional USB signals, whereas HDMI is not. 

Latest Gens Compared 

Both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.0 offer amazing performance when it comes to your visuals. With high refresh rates and support for incredible resolutions, whichever you pick your gaming is going to be phenomenal. In terms of future-proofing, DisplayPort 2.0 has the edge but it is not yet widely available whereas HDMI 2.1 has been the standard for a while now. 

OcUK Gaming HDMI 2.0 Cable, 2m Red LED

• HDMI cable version 2.0
• Integrated red LEDs
• 2m long
• Braided cable
• Backwards compatible

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OcUK Gaming DisplayPort Cable – 5m

• DisplayPort monitor cable
• Rubber cable casing
• 5m long
• Male to Male ports
• Gold connection pins

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Cables Specifications Explained 

There are a few terms in these specification tables which might have you scratching your head. They are HDCP, HDR, and WGC. I’ll briefly go into all these terms, to help you understand why they are awesome for your gaming experience. 

HDCP stands for High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection. This is copy protection and was introduced back in 2015. Currently, we are on version 2.2. What this means for you is that your content is protected from being copied. Livestreams cannot be recorded, Blu-rays cannot be copied, and you can safely enjoy your Ultra HD content. If one device in your set-up doesn’t support HDCP 2.2, then playback simply does not happen. No audio, no picture, nada. HDCP = important. 

HDR means High Dynamic Range, which allows your monitor to better display true-to-life colours. Those that are close to the human perception of brightness. This goes in hand with WCG which stands for Wide Colour Gamut. WCG allows for an increase in the variety of colours displayed onscreen. This is achieved with greater bit depth, making the RGB spectrum more vivid. Over a billion colours can be displayed with WCG. All three of these features are available on both HDMI and DisplayPort – from 2.0a and 1.4 respectively.  

Developing this further is Dynamic HDR. Ordinarily, the parameters for brightness and contrast are static throughout playback. With Dynamic HDR, however, these can both be set per frame. This allows for better distinguishing between light and dark scenes, and more colours to display. The only drawback is that this is only available on DisplayPort 1.4 onwards. If only I had known about this during the Battle of Winterfell episode! (Game of Thrones, 8.3 “The Long Night”) 

What are the Standard Ports of Graphics Cards? 

Currently, most graphics cards will come equipped with both ports to allow for maximum flexibility, granting you the freedom of choice. The latest graphics cards, Nvidia RTX 30 series and Radeon RX 6000 series are equipped with the ultra-fast HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 in a combination of ports, providing a maximum of four. This grants you flexible options when connecting to your gaming monitor or television. 

If you would like one of the latest graphics cards with HDMI and DisplayPort connectivity, then do browse our selection here. 

Refresh Rates and Resolution

The next things to consider are refresh rates and resolutions. Both are vitally important for making your gaming buttery smooth. But what are they? Refresh rate refers to the number of images displayed per second on your screen, whereas the resolution is how many pixels are on the screen. When it comes to refresh rates, the sweet spot for gaming tends to be around 144Hz, although 240Hz is becoming popular too. In comparison, your work screen refresh rate will be 60Hz. To get your game as smooth as possible, you will need a monitor, graphics card, and cable that all support the maximum resolution at the highest refresh rate. Otherwise, your game will be juddery and you may have to operate at, *shudders*, lower resolutions. 

When looking at the specs, DisplayPort is the way to go if you are after some hardcore gaming. Working your way through Halo Infinite on a substandard definition is not how we want to play. On the other hand, if you’re using your monitor for more run-of-the-mill tasks, like staring at endless spreadsheets, then an HDMI cable is the better option. The latest generation is more widely available and has better bandwidth than DisplayPort 1.4.  

What about 4K and Ultra HD? 

Scroll back up to the tables and take from HDMI 1.4 onwards. Yep, 4K is possible from that point on. It’s possible on DisplayPort 1.4, as well. The refresh rates on HDMI are limited, with a maximum of 60Hz. If you are a casual gamer, hitting the farming sims like Stardew Valley more often than Battlefield 2042, then HDMI is sufficient. However, if you’re looking for better image transmission at 4K resolutions, then it is DisplayPort all the way. So long as your GPU and monitor support 4K, then DisplayPort is going to have you gaming at amazing resolutions. The way Battlefield was meant to be played! 

If your monitor has lacklustre resolution and refresh rates, do check out our wonderful selection. 

What is AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync? 

AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync are technologies for synchronising frame rates between graphics cards and monitors. As a result, this vastly improves gameplay as everything is running cohesively, and does not overtax your graphics cards. Ordinarily, monitors do not have a fixed frame rate and thus your graphics card does not always necessarily match what your monitor is showing. It can work too hard or not enough! As a result, your gaming suffers. Images tear or shatter, stuttering occurs, and a bad time is had all round. FreeSync and G-Sync eliminate this. Both of these technologies are supported by HDMI and DisplayPort. 

Multiple Monitor Set-Ups 

In the specification table, I mention “multi-stream” which is referring to the cable’s ability to daisy chain monitors in sequence. This can only be achieved with DisplayPort and means that not every monitor needs to be directly plugged into your graphics card, unlike with HDMI. One connection is sufficient and able to be continued from one monitor to the next. Cable management is much easier and you get amazing connectivity on all your monitors. That is *chefs kiss* indeed! 

Cables Summed Up 

Both HDMI and DisplayPort have amazing features that are evolving all the time with the releases of new generations. Both have their benefits for different styles of gaming and the reason you’ll be using your computer. 

1080p Gamers 

For casual gamers or even entry-level gamers, 1080p and HDMI cables are the simplest options. Exploring higher resolutions and different cables can wait until you’ve found the game in your library just needs to be played at 4K. For now, Overclockers UK stock a range of HDMI 2.1 cables that come in a variety of colours and lengths. I like this one because it’s purple. 

OcUK Gaming HDMI 2.1 Cable

• HDMI 2.1 cable
• PVC coated cable in purple
• 1.8m long
• 99.9% pure OFC copper cable
• 24k gold-plated connectors

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4K Gamers 

Gaming at 4K requires the cable to support it. With an OcUK Professional HDMI cable, you can game in 4K, watch in 3D, and sync up your home audio system with just one cable. Plus, with its metallic finish and braided cable, this is a stylish addition to boot. 

OcUK Professional HDMI 1.4 with Ethernet Cable

• HDMI 1.4 cable
• 2m long braided cable
• 4K and 3D support
• Type A metal connectors
• Stylish chrome finish

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Alternatively, any DisplayPort cable is just as suitable for this new frontier of gaming. Available as 1m, 2m, 3m, and 5m models, means there is a cable to suit your set-up. 

OcUK Gaming DisplayPort Cable – 3m

• DisplayPort cable
• 3m cable
• Male to male connector
• Gold connector pins
• Monitor cable

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Multi-Monitor Gamers 

Whatever resolution you game at, if you are using more than one monitor, then you will want DisplayPort. Their ability to daisy chain is going to revolutionise your life. We have a number of shorter cables, up to 1m long, that will be much more manageable when linking your numerous monitors together. 

OcUK Gaming Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable – 1m

• Mini to standard DisplayPort cable
• 1m long
• Male to male connectors
• Use with graphics cards and certain computers
• Gold connectors for stability

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Here at Overclockers UK, we have an incredible range of both HDMI and DisplayPort cables. If none of my suggestions match your needs, then get exploring!