Are you confused about which HDMI port is best for gaming? If yes, you landed here on the very right page. Different ports have different compatibility, and not all the ports offer the same value.
Many people are confused between the HDMI port and the DisplayPort. They don’t even know which port is right to hook up your monitor. Today in this guide, we will clear everything about HDMI ports and clear you which HDMI port is best for gaming. So, please read our article further to grab as much information you can.
What Is HDMI?
HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. The work of HDMI cables is to transmit high-quality audio and video between devices. An HDMI port is only an HDMI port. True? Of course, yes, but when selecting an HDMI port for your device, there are few factors to consider in mind. Let’s take a quick look at the factors below.
● The first and the foremost thing to notice is, when you plug the new monitor into your gaming computer, you always notice two similar-looking ports at the back of the computer. These ports are called HDMI ports and display ports.
● The second factor to consider is that any HDMI port works best on older HDMI devices like Blu-ray players or cable boxes because of its backward compatibility.
● The final factor to consider is that you always use the best port for your HDTV to enjoy 4K input.
DisplayPort Vs. HDMI Port
Displayport
The display port is specially made to replace the DVI and VA interfaces. It helps the manufacturers to cut the royalty fees of using HDMI ports. A display port is best for video sourcing to a display device. With the display ports, it’s pretty easy to transfer the USB data and audio data from one device to another. Connect the 4K monitors with a display port and enjoy 4k and 8K resolution. Also, the display port offers a refresh rate of up to 24 H. The fantastic feature of the display port is that you can run multiple screens or monitors simultaneously using hubs and displays. At the display port, you can enjoy gaming at high FPS and 4k Resolution.
HDMI Port
HDMI port is best for transferring audio and video data to an output device like a TV or display. Earlier, the performance of the HDMI ports was not as good as DisplayPorts because of their low refresh rate. But the updated HDMI version changed the whole scenario, and now the latest HDMI version supports a resolution of up to 10K. The best part is that HDMI ports now support 4K displays with a refresh rate of 240Hz.
HDMI ports are basically for TVs because they send high-definition audio and video with a single cable connection. There are multiple versions of HDMI ports causing users to confuse which port is best for gaming. We will address every combination of the following ports in the sections below:
In-Depth Analysis of HDMI Ports:
HDMI 1.4:
- Resolutions Supported: HDMI 1.4 can handle 4K resolutions but at lower refresh rates of 24Hz and 30Hz. This makes it suitable for movie enthusiasts but less ideal for fast-paced gaming.
- Audio and Video Formats: While it supports standard audio and video formats, it lacks the advanced audio features found in later HDMI versions.
HDMI 2.0:
- Resolutions Supported: HDMI 2.0 is a significant improvement, offering 4K support at a smoother 60Hz refresh rate. This makes it more suitable for gaming, especially for those with 4K displays.
- Audio and Video Formats: It provides support for advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, enhancing the overall gaming and entertainment experience.
HDMI 2.1:
- Resolutions Supported: HDMI 2.1 takes things to the next level, supporting resolutions up to a staggering 8K at 60Hz. While most users won’t need such high resolutions, it’s future-proofing for more demanding applications.
- Audio and Video Formats: This version includes support for advanced gaming features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), crucial for competitive gaming. It also handles high-end audio formats, making it an excellent choice for gaming and home theaters.
More Specific Gaming Recommendations:
HDMI 2.1 for Competitive Gaming:
Recommended for: Fast-paced competitive games such as first-person shooters and multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs).
Why: HDMI 2.1 offers support for VRR and ALLM, reducing input lag and screen tearing. These features are crucial for competitive gaming where split-second reactions matter.
HDMI 2.0 for 4K Immersion:
Recommended for: Single-player games with rich storytelling, open-world adventures, and immersive single-player experiences.
Why: HDMI 2.0 provides 4K resolution at 60Hz, ideal for gaming with high-quality graphics and detailed environments. It balances performance and visual fidelity, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
HDMI 1.4 for Casual and Older Titles:
Recommended for: Casual gaming, older games, or when using a secondary display for non-gaming tasks.
Why: While HDMI 1.4 may not support the highest resolutions and refresh rates, it’s suitable for less demanding games and other non-gaming activities like browsing or streaming on a second monitor.
DVI Port
DVI ports are also known as Digital Visual Interference, and computer users mainly use these ports. As the name stands, DVI is only for video data transferring from the different displays and HDMI ports. But now, it can also transfer the audio data in new graphic cards. For playing games, you can use the DVI port @ 60 or higher FPS. But if you are a high-end gamer and want to play 4K gaming, this port is not for you.
HDMI Vs. Display Vs. DVI For Various Resolution Gaming
1080P Resolution For Gaming
If you want to experience games on a 1080p monitor @ 60Hz refresh rate, all three ports offer similar display options, but you cannot get high-quality resolution in the DVI port compared to HDMI or DisplayPort. But DVI port can handle 1080p gaming resolution well, which means you cannot face many difficulties while playing.
But if you want to play 1080P @ 144Hz resolution, the best option is to prefer HDMI or DisplayPort for the DVI interface; you will need a dual-link DVI cable because it does not work on a single cable. Overall, for mid-level gamers at 1080P resolutions, all the ports work best, and you don’t want to buy extra accessories for that.
1440P and 4K Gaming
As discussed above, not all people or pro gamers can play games at more than 4K resolution. All three ports work best with 4K gaming resolution, but you will need a dual-link DVI cable for 4K gaming. Of course, you want to play games at a very high resolution rather than low or average quality. To keep this factor in mind, always opt for HDMI or display port to enhance your gaming skills.
The compatible display interface is all three ports if the monitor configuration is 1440 @ 60 Hz refresh rate. But if you want to play at 1440P @ 144Hz+ refresh rate, only HDMI 2.0 and display port 1.0 works well.
If you are an experienced gamer and want to play at a 4k resolution @ 30Hz refresh rate, the compatible display interfaces are HDMI port 1.3, DisplayPort 1.0, and dual-link DVI port. But if you want to enjoy at 4K with a 144Hz refresh rate, the compatible ports are Display port 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 port. DVI port does not work in this case.
Conclusion
So, here the guide ends for which is the best HDMI port for gaming. If you are a mid or beginner-level gamer, all three ports will work best for you. But if you want to upgrade or switch, the interface-type DVI port won’t work.
That’s all for now, and thanks for your time. We hope this article clears your vision and you can choose the right port according to the monitor configuration. For more information, do follow us and stay tuned at the Laptop Reviews Pro.