HDMI has become the standard followed for the transmission of audio and video signals. Over time and with various updates, it has become increasingly Support for higher resolutions and refresh ratesThis makes it an essential component for any multimedia content-related purpose.

But there has been another type of connection that is very similar, which for some reason we have never seen on TV for decades. This standard is reserved almost exclusively for PC monitors. and we are talking about DisplayPort. But despite all its advantages and improvements in many of its features compared to HDMI, it is not a typical connection on Smart TV.

Today they have differences but they are not important for the user

Both connections have their own functions and also share many other functions. Although both HDMI and DisplayPort specialize in one thing: transmit audio and video signals with high bandwidth. Especially the latest versions that provide signal acquisition at high resolution and frequency.

There are several aspects that make DisplayPort better than HDMI. For example, MST (Multi-Stream Transport) technology provides: Connect multiple displays serially using a DisplayPort cableThe only limitation of this technology is not to exceed the maximum bandwidth of the connection.

This feature is not offered by HDMI, but can be emulated using a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter on a DisplayPort source.

HDMI has evolved greatly since the release of version 2.1. supports high bandwidthsupport for VRR technology to synchronize the panel’s refresh rate with the content’s frame rate, and other well-established features in the world of video games.

Another of these is eARC/ARC technology. HDMI specific and this is very important today, especially if you tend to connect additional audio peripherals to your TV or monitor. eARC/ARC is a software that allows most audio formats to be played back to an audio device transition.

This way, you can connect a Blu-ray player and soundbar to the TV with a single HDMI cable, as long as the TV supports this technology. The main difference between ARC and eARC is the maximum bandwidth allowedtherefore, eARC is used for content with formats such as Dolby Atmos.

Image: TheRegisti (Unsplash)

If we compare HDMI and DisplayPort in terms of performance, there is not much difference between an HDMI 2.1 cable and a DisplayPort 1.4 cable today (DP 2.1 is still found in very few monitors). The image quality will be the sameand response times and input lag are also practically similar in both connections.

Among the most used devices; Only monitors and computers use the DisplayPort standard. Neither TVs, projectors, consoles, Blu-ray players, streaming devices nor soundbars use the DisplayPort standard, preferring only HDMI. In the past, there was a significant difference in performance between the two standards, but with the advent of HDMI 2.1, these differences have narrowed.

Monitor connected to a PC via DisplayPort cable

Perhaps the adoption of HDMI in the vast majority of devices, standard appeared on the market earlier (around 2004) compared to DisplayPort which came with the Dell 3008WFP monitor around 2008. Another theory is that the HDMI standard has been supported by many TV manufacturers in their consortium since its adoption. Brands like Panasonic, Philips or Sony and many more have supported the use of HDMI in the past.

In addition, it should be noted that the HDMI consortium charges a fee to any manufacturer who wants to add this standard to their product. However, HDMI offers copy protection from the start (HDCP) is a feature that has received significant attention from manufacturers and producers for preventing copying of digital content. DisplayPort can also support HDCP, but this integration is often avoided due to compatibility issues.

Definitely, HDMI is the most common standard in the industry Due to factors such as wider distribution, earlier release, usage licenses, and HDCP protection, DisplayPort is often a favorite of video game fans, as it is a standard typically found only on monitors and computers.

HDMI has been used in TVs for almost two decades now, so it’s unlikely that the industry will switch to another standard today. So if you’re always unsure about which standard to use on your computer, the best thing you can do is decide based on how many monitors you have that are compatible with the standard. the number of DisplayPort and HDMI ports your graphics card has.

Cover image | Xataka

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