HDMI and DisplayPort are two of the most common media interfaces that you can use to transfer video signals to your display. When comparing HDMI vs. DisplayPort, you'll notice that most multimedia devices like TVs and Blu-ray players only have HDMI ports. Computers and monitors often have both ports, so which one should you use with your monitor? You should use the connection that takes full advantage of both your computer and monitor, which depends on the bandwidth available. However, if you can get the same refresh rate and resolution with either connection, using HDMI or DisplayPort doesn't impact your monitor's performance.
If you want to learn more, check out all our monitor guides and articles.
HDMI vs. DisplayPort: Physical Differences
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HDMI and DisplayPort connections are physically very similar. HDMI uses a 19-pin cable, while DisplayPort has 20 pins. Most DisplayPort connectors have a physical latch that prevents accidental disconnection, even though it isn't part of the DisplayPort standard. On the other hand, very few HDMI connectors have latches.
While the most common inputs and cables have the standard HDMI and DisplayPort connector types, Mini HDMI, Micro-HDMI, and Mini DisplayPort connectors also exist. They're smaller but still support the same media formats and bandwidth. Modern monitors don't have these connections, though.
HDMI and DisplayPort each have their own programs to certify the performance and compatibility of cables. Although there are plenty of cables that work, not all of them receive this certification. You can consult the HDMI and DisplayPort websites to learn more about their cable certification programs.
Maximum Cable Length
| HDMI | DisplayPort |
|---|---|
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Although there's no maximum cable length for officially certified HDMI cables, longer cables have a greater chance of introducing issues, like dropped signals. Because of this, for a cable to receive HDMI certification, it needs to properly work at whichever length it's available. Of course, it's easy for manufacturers to make longer cables and claim they work without official certification, but buying one of these poses the risk that it won't work.
The same issues occur with long DisplayPort cables. Because of this, DisplayPort has set a recommended maximum length of 10 feet, but most cables are shorter, particularly those that support higher bandwidth. Like with HDMI cables, you can easily find longer ones, but they may not work.
Another thing you may want to consider for both HDMI and DisplayPort cables is that there are both passive and active cables available. Passive cables are more common because they transmit data without requiring additional power or processing. Active cables contain internal electronics that amplify the power and must be connected in a proper direction from the source to the display. The main advantage of using an active cable is that they support higher bandwidth at longer lengths, even more than 15 m. This is also why there's no real maximum cable length for HDMI or DisplayPort; you just need to make sure you're buying the right cable for your setup. However, keep in mind that active cables are more expensive.
HDMI vs. DisplayPort: Versions And Bandwidth
Both HDMI and DisplayPort have released different versions throughout the years with various bandwidth limitations and supported formats. They each have released slight revisions of their initial releases, so sometimes you may see HDMI 2.0 called HDMI 2.0a, for example. Below, you can see some of the features of more recent HDMI and DisplayPort versions.
| Type | HDMI | DisplayPort | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Version (Alternative Names) |
2.0 (2.0a, 2.0b) |
2.1 (2.1 a, 2.1 b) |
2.2 | DP 1.2 (1.2a) |
DP 1.4 (1.4a) |
DP 2.1 (2.0, 2.1a) |
| Release Year | 2013 | 2017 | 2025 | 2010 | 2016 | 2019 |
| Max Bandwidth | 18 Gbps | 48 Gbps | 96 Gbps | 21.6 Gbps | 32.4 Gbps | 80 Gbps |
| Compression | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| HDR | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Not all monitors allow the maximum bandwidth of the version they support. For example, there are HDMI 2.1 monitors with 24 Gbps bandwidth and DisplayPort 2.1 monitors that support UHBR10 with 40 Gbps bandwidth. Technically, these are still HDMI and DisplayPort 2.1 monitors, but just not at the full bandwidth the version supports.
HDMI announced version 2.2 at CES 2025. It offers double the bandwidth as HDMI 2.1, but it will likely take some time before monitors are equipped with it.
You can learn more about HDMI 2.1 here.
Supported Signals
The maximum resolution and refresh rate you can get depend on the specific versions of both your monitor and your source, as it's limited to the lowest common denominator. This means you can have an HDMI 2.1 monitor, but if your graphics card only supports HDMI 2.0 bandwidth (or vice versa), your signal is limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth. Essentially, the max resolution and refresh rate depend on the lowest bandwidth available from both your source and monitor.
Below, you can see the max refresh rate with common resolutions using uncompressed 8-bit and 10-bit signals with chroma 4:4:4. You can use Display Stream Compression (DSC) to reach higher refresh rates as long as your graphics card supports it, which most do. Although DSC is advertised as visually lossless, it can still create some artifacts or prevent certain features from working, like DSR/DLDSR.
Keep in mind that the refresh rates below are theoretical maximums, and the maximum refresh rate that you can get with your monitor is often below that. Most of the time, a monitor's max refresh rate is a common refresh rate, like 144Hz, 240Hz, 360Hz, etc., and you'd need to create a custom resolution to get a different refresh rate.
| Resolution | Color Depth | HDMI 2.0 | HDMI 2.1 | HDMI 2.2 | DP 1.2 | DP 1.4 | DP 2.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920x1080 | 8-bit | 246Hz | 589Hz | 1178Hz | 289Hz | 406Hz | 885Hz |
| 10-bit | 202Hz | 499Hz | 998Hz | 238Hz | 338Hz | 771Hz | |
| 2560x1440 | 8-bit | 147Hz | 379Hz | 758Hz | 174Hz | 251Hz | 610Hz |
| 10-bit | 119Hz | 314Hz | 628Hz | 142Hz | 206Hz | 517Hz | |
| 3440x1440 | 8-bit | 112Hz | 297Hz | 594Hz | 133Hz | 194Hz | 492Hz |
| 10-bit | 91Hz | 245Hz | 490Hz | 108Hz | 158Hz | 412Hz | |
| 3840x2160 | 8-bit | 69Hz | 188Hz | 376Hz | 82Hz | 120Hz | 324Hz |
| 10-bit | 55Hz | 153Hz | 306Hz | 66Hz | 97Hz | 267Hz |
We also test for the max refresh rate on every monitor we review, including without DSC if it has an option to turn it off. It's best to check our reviews if you want to know its max refresh rate.
Comparing Compatibility On DisplayPort vs. HDMI
HDMI has an advantage over DisplayPort in terms of compatibility and device support. Most common devices, from Blu-ray players to soundbars, have HDMI ports, while DisplayPort is mainly available with computers and monitors. Luckily, most monitors have HDMI ports, allowing you to connect devices like your gaming console alongside your PC.
| HDMI | DisplayPort | |
|---|---|---|
| TVs | Yes | No |
| Projectors | Yes | No |
| Monitors | Yes | Yes |
| Computers | Yes | Yes |
| PS5 & Xbox Series X|S | Yes | No |
| Blu-ray Players | Yes | No |
| Soundbars and Receivers | Yes | No |
| Streaming Devices | Yes | No |
| Cable Boxes | Yes | No |
Graphics Cards
Many modern graphics cards support at least HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, which NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series, AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series, and newer graphics cards support. There are graphics cards available with DisplayPort 2.1, such as the Radeon RX 7000 Series, GeForce 50 Series, and newer cards.
Key Features And Differences Between DisplayPort vs. HDMI
Each interface supports a few features, so choosing one over the other can depend on which you want to use.
| Feature | Variable Refresh Rate | Multi-Stream Support | DisplayPort Alt Mode | eARC/ARC | Auto Low Latency Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connection | DisplayPort & HDMI | DisplayPort | DisplayPort | HDMI | HDMI |
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Most modern monitors and graphics cards support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) to reduce screen tearing, which works over HDMI and DisplayPort. The main difference between these two connections is that NVIDIA's G-SYNC technology doesn't work over HDMI with all monitors. That said, there are more monitors that are supporting G-SYNC over HDMI, like those that also support HDMI Forum VRR or have NVIDIA's chip built in.
If you have an NVIDIA graphics card and want to use VRR, it's best to use a DisplayPort connection unless you know your monitor supports it over HDMI.
You can learn more about the difference between FreeSync and G-SYNC here.
Multi-Stream Transport (MST)
First introduced with DisplayPort 1.2, Multi-Stream Transport (MST), also known as daisy chaining, allows you to connect multiple displays to each other in a chain from a single DisplayPort connection on your computer. You either need an external hub or a DisplayPort out connection on your monitor. Although the signal's total bandwidth can't exceed the port's maximum bandwidth, in theory, this technology allows you to run up to 63 separate displays on a single port.
HDMI doesn't natively support MST, but it's possible to achieve similar results using DisplayPort to HDMI hubs. This still requires a DisplayPort connection on the source device.
Also see our recommendations for the best monitors for dual setup.
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
HDMI and DisplayPort aren't the only ways to get video signals from your computer. The most common alternative is using DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB-C. As the name suggests, DisplayPort Alt Mode is a type of DisplayPort media interface, so it supports many of the same features and bandwidth. Devices with USB-C ports, like laptops, support DisplayPort Alt Mode to send a video signal to a monitor that also supports it.
There are a few advantages to using DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB-C. Many monitors provide power over USB-C, so you can charge your laptop while using it with one cable. The USB-C port also serves as a USB upstream port, so you can connect your devices directly to other USB ports on the monitor and use them with your computer.
You can learn more about different USB ports on your monitor here.
EARC/ARC
One of the most popular features that HDMI has, which DisplayPort doesn't, is eARC/ARC support. This allows you to connect a compatible soundbar over HDMI and passthrough common audio formats from an external source to the soundbar. For example, you can connect your Blu-ray player to the display and have a soundbar play high-quality audio signals, like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. However, this feature is uncommon on monitors and is more common on TVs, so if you have a monitor, it's best to connect your soundbar directly to your multimedia device.
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Another feature HDMI has that DisplayPort doesn't is Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). This is something mostly TVs support, and it's mainly used with gaming consoles. Powering the console on automatically switches the TV's picture mode to Game mode for the lowest latency. However, monitors don't need this feature, as they tend to have low latency in any mode.
DisplayPort vs. HDMI For Gaming: Which Should You Use?
Besides the different max refresh rates and resolutions each connection type supports, there really isn't much difference between HDMI vs. DisplayPort in terms of the monitor's pure performance. A monitor's gaming performance is impacted by other factors that the connection doesn't impact, like its picture quality, response time, and input lag. When choosing a connection, it depends on which allows you to make full use of your graphics card and monitor. If both connections yield the same resolution and refresh rate, there's no difference between them.
If you want to look for a specific monitor, check out the best gaming monitors.
Conclusion
When comparing HDMI vs. DisplayPort, you'll see they deliver very similar performance, but they each have advantages and disadvantages. HDMI is supported on more devices, but DisplayPort, designed for computers, offers a few technical advantages. Overall, if you're connecting your computer to a new monitor, choosing the connection type depends on your device, as you'll want something that takes full advantage of your computer and monitor's capabilities. With everything equal in terms of resolution and refresh rate, there's no difference in performance between the connection types, so use the one that best suits your setup.