Display interfaces are critical for delivering smooth, high-fidelity video and audio from computers and devices to monitors, TVs, projectors and other displays. As resolutions get higher and new display technologies emerge, the digital interfaces we rely on must evolve to carry more data at faster speeds.
DisplayPort and HDMI are two of the most popular standards used to connect PCs and consumer electronics today. Both interfaces serve fundamentally the same purpose – to transmit high-definition video and audio signals between devices. However, they have some key technical differences that may make one better suited for certain use cases.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare DisplayPort 1.2 vs HDMI 2.0 to reveal how these ubiquitous interfaces stack up across various metrics like resolution support, refresh rates, multi-display capabilities, video/audio quality, gaming features, compatibility and more.
DisplayPort and HDMI: A Brief Background
First released in 2006, DisplayPort was designed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) to be the successor to older PC display interfaces like VGA and DVI. It offers a sleek, reversible connector that carries both video and audio data.
HDMI originated in the early 2000s through a collaboration between leading media and tech companies. The goal was to standardize the connection between consumer electronics like Blu-ray players, gaming consoles and digital TVs.
Over the years, both DisplayPort and HDMI have seen various revisions to support technological advances in display resolution, refresh rates and new capabilities:
- DisplayPort 1.2 was released in 2009, building on improvements that came with DisplayPort 1.1a
- HDMI 2.0 arrived in 2013, offering nearly twice the bandwidth of the previous HDMI 1.4b spec
In their latest iterations, both standards are capable of powering 4K displays at 60 Hz refresh rates. However, DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 2.0 still have crucial differences when you dig into their specs and features.
DisplayPort 1.2 vs HDMI 2.0: Key Spec Comparison
Here’s a high-level specs comparison between DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 2.0:
| Spec | DisplayPort 1.2 | HDMI 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Max Bandwidth | 21.6 Gbps | 18 Gbps |
| Max Resolution | 4K (4096×2160) | 4K (3840×2160) |
| HDR | No | Yes |
| Max Audio Channels | 8 | 8 |
| Multi-Stream Transport | Yes | No |
| Cable Length | ~50ft | ~30ft |
| Daisy-chain Displays | Yes | No |
| Backwards Compatibility | Yes* | Yes |
*requires dual-mode port or adapter to translate signaling
With the basics covered, let’s do a deeper comparison across some key categories:
Resolution and Refresh Rate Support
One of the most crucial factors to consider is the maximum resolution and refresh rate supported. This determines how sharp and fluid the image quality can be.
DisplayPort 1.2 supports up to 4K (4096×2160) at 60 Hz with 30-bit color depth. It can even push resolutions up to 5K (5120×2880) at 60 Hz with color compression.
Impressively, DisplayPort 1.2 enables stunning 1080p resolution at blistering 240 Hz refresh rates, which is fantastic for high frame rate gaming. AMD Radeon and Nvidia GeForce graphics cards in the HD 6000 and Kepler lineups respectively can drive 1080p240 through DisplayPort.
On the HDMI 2.0 side, you get 4K at 60 Hz but are limited to 24-bit in terms of color depth. Some HDMI 2.0 devices can technically support 1080p240, but may require chroma subsampling to make it work.
For the average user driving a single 4K 60 Hz monitor, both standards will deliver an excellent experience. But hardcore gamers hungry for ultra-high frame rates will appreciate DisplayPort’s greater headroom.
Advantage: DisplayPort
Multi-Display Support
Where DisplayPort really pulls ahead is with its robust support for multi-display configurations.
DisplayPort 1.2 utilizes Multi-Stream Transport (MST) to divide the interface’s total bandwidth between multiple displays on the same chain. This allows you to daisy-chain up to four 2560×1600 monitors from a single DisplayPort 1.2 output, each operating at 60 Hz.
With HDMI 2.0, you are limited to connecting only one display per port. Chaining multiple HDMI displays requires splitting the signal, which forces them to mirror instead of extending desktops.
Having the ability to extend displays across multiple monitors is extremely valuable for productivity. DisplayPort is clearly superior for running multi-screen setups.
Advantage: DisplayPort
Audio/Video Quality
Measuring audio/video quality comes down to assessing color depth, contrast ratio dynamic range and number of available audio channels.
As mentioned earlier, DisplayPort 1.2 supports 30-bit color at resolutions up to 4K60 for over 1 billion colors. Combined with support for High Bit Rate 3 (HBR3) encoding, it delivers stunning image quality perfect for color critical applications like photo/video editing and design work.
DisplayPort also enables transfer of uncompressed, studio-grade 8 channel LPCM audio. You can achieve a full 7.1 surround sound home theater system without any audio compression artifacts.
HDMI 2.0 is limited to standard 24-bit color but makes up for it with wider support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) content. HDR significantly boosts contrast for richer shadows and highlights up to 4000 nits peak brightness. It also expands the color gamut for more vibrant images. Any video content mastered for HDR will look better through supported TVs.
For audio, HDMI 2.0 matches DisplayPort 1.2 by carrying up to 8 LPCM channels. However, few devices actually implement 8 channel sound.
Ultimately DisplayPort delivers superior color depth and fidelity needed for creative work, while HDMI is geared more towards pure home entertainment.
Advantage: DisplayPort (color), HDMI (contrast/HDR)
Cable Length and Signal Stability
Cable length is an easily overlooked factor when comparing these display interfaces. But it turns out to play a vital role in signal integrity as cables lengthen.
DisplayPort benefits from better equalization and symbol encoding techniques that allow their copper cables to reliably span longer distances. DisplayPort 1.2 signals can travel efficiently up to ~50 feet over passive copper cables. Beyond that may require active signal boosting.
The HDMI 2.0 specification officially mandates support only up to 32 feet. Signal repeaters can extend an HDMI connection further, but video artifacts often creep in past the 32 foot mark as signal strength diminishes.
The superior resilience of DisplayPort makes it the safer choice for longer runs between computers and displays. Stability is also better when hot plugging DisplayPort cables mid-stream.
Advantage: DisplayPort
Gaming Features
Gaming requires tight synchronization between GPU framerates and monitor refresh rates to minimize ugly screen tearing artifacts.
Both DisplayPort and HDMI implement Adaptive-Sync variable refresh rate technologies to dynamically match refresh rates with GPU output. DisplayPort has AMD FreeSync while Nvidia supports G-Sync Compatible over DisplayPort and HDMI.
One advantage HDMI has is mandatory support for Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) starting with version 2.1. ALLM automatically switches TVs into low latency gaming modes when consoles like the Xbox Series X boots into a game.
However, HDMI 2.0 lacks support for Nvidia G-Sync, a proprietary form of VRR that enhances Framerate over traditional V-Sync. You need to step up to HDMI 2.1 for full G-Sync compatibility.
Advantage: Tie
Compatibility
When looking at the devices we actually use DisplayPort and HDMI with, compatibility support trends towards HDMI.
Being pioneered for home entertainment, HDMI is universally supported across pretty much all televisions, AV receivers, Blu-ray/media players, cable boxes and gaming consoles released in the past decade. It’s expected that anytime you need to cable a video source into a TV, you use an HDMI cable.
In the computing space, most modern graphics cards and motherboards feature both HDMI and DisplayPort. However, consumer laptops tend only to offer HDMI connectors if they allow external monitor output at all.
Very few computer monitors support HDMI input – typically you would run DisplayPort to drive high resolution, high refresh rate PC displays. Apple’s Pro Display XDR uniquely uses Thunderbolt 3 instead of either HDMI or DisplayPort.
Unless you are building a multiple display productivity workstation, chances are your everyday devices simply work best with trusty old HDMI.
Advantage: HDMI
Hot Plug Detect and Reliability
Hot plugging refers to the ability to connect and disconnect display cables while devices are powered on and active. This convenient feature spares users from having to fully shut down systems when temporarily adding or removing monitors.
Both standards incorporate hot plug detect (HPD), signaling monitors to power down when unplugged and auto-detect when reconnected. In theory, video input sources immediately recognize the display is gone and adjust output accordingly to prevent issues.
In practice however, HDMI HPD can be iffy when used with longer cables. Users often report black screens, flickering issues or frozen images if an HDMI cable is unplugged then reconnected midstream. The problem seems most prone to occurring above 10 feet.
DisplayPort tends to be more robust in gracefully handling sudden disconnections. Its symbol encoding method provides stronger signal lock even as cable lengths increase. DisplayPort HPD very reliably resets to recalibrate video modes when plugging cables back in.
Advantage: DisplayPort
Use Cases and Recommendations
Now let’s summarize the key advantages of DisplayPort vs HDMI to help crystallize what use cases they are best suited for:
DisplayPort 1.2 Advantages:
- Higher resolutions – Up to 5K 60 Hz
- Faster refresh rates – 1080p at 240Hz
- 30-bit color depth – Over 1 billion colors
- Multi-display (MST support)
- Longer cable runs
- More reliable hot plugging
HDMI 2.0 Advantages:
- Wider device compatibility
- HDR support
- ALLM auto low latency mode
- Mandatory for G-Sync Compatible
Here are some general guidelines given these capabilities:
- Gaming – DisplayPort preferred for high refresh rate gaming, HDMI needed to enable G-sync/variable refresh.
- Content Creation – DisplayPort for photo/video/design work given higher bit depths.
- Enterprise/Productivity – DisplayPort superior for multi-display office setups
- Home Theater – HDMI is perfect for connecting media boxes/consoles into A/V receivers and TVs.
If you need to connect a device with HDMI only to a DisplayPort monitor or vice versa, cheap bidirectional adapters are available. Just keep in mind adapting signals introduces some compromises depending on source/display capabilities.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully this guide has clarified some of the key technical differences between DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 2.0.
Both standards have evolved to support high bandwidth 4K 60 Hz video along with uncompressed multi-channel audio. Each interface brings its own set of capabilities catering to specific markets like PC gaming and home entertainment.
For pure performance and multi-display productivity, DisplayPort still holds some crucial advantages. But HDMI offers convenience and ubiquity given how universally adopted it is among consumer devices.
So pay attention to the ports on both your video sources and target displays when buying cables. Understanding DisplayPort vs HDMI differences helps ensure you can achieve the best image quality and feature compatibility.
