The majority of gamers must be familiar with Displayport and HDMI. These are the two most common types of display connections. However, few of them understand the difference between these two ports.
Most of them are only concerned with connecting their computer, laptop, or console to an external display, regardless of the method. There are some differences between them that you should be aware of if you want to know which one fits the best to your needs.
This article will provide you information about it, allowing you to learn more about this technology-related topic.
Latest Version
As technology advances, these two display connections improve their versions in order to provide improved functionality. HDMI, which was first introduced in December 2002, is gaining popularity in modern technology, having replaced DVI cable as the only display connectivity option for years. Starting with HDMI 1.0, the technology has progressed to HDMI 2.1, their most recent version. Displayport, on the other hand, was approved by VESA for their first version release in 2006. Their latest version is also competing with the current HDMI model, which is Displayport 2.1.
Specifications
When comparing the two models, the pin numbers are different from each other. While HDMI has a 19-pin connector, Displayport has a 20-pin connector. The transfer speed between the two connectors depend entirely on their specific versions. Compared to their newest versions, HDMI 2.1 and Displayport 2.1, there is a massive difference in this area. The maximum transfer speed of HDMI 2.1 is only 48 Gbps. Displayport 2.1, on the other hand, nearly doubles the speed of the competitor, with a maximum speed of 80 Gbps.
The maximum resolution and frame rates are decided by the transfer speed of the two connectors. HDMI 2.1 is capable of displaying 4K resolution at 120Hz refresh rate or 8K resolution at 60Hz refresh rate. Displayport, on the other hand, outperforms HDMI 2.1 with maximum limits of 4K 240Hz, and 8K 120Hz if you want to push the resolution to the highest level. From this point of view, Displayport 2.1 without any doubt outperforms the competitor in terms of specifications.
Universal Usage
Though Displayport doubles the performance of HDMI, the superiority is not reflected in overall device usage. If you look at modern devices, whether they are laptops, computers, TVs, or other devices related to this subject, you will notice that they all have HDMI ports, making this connectivity easy to find anywhere, regardless of the version they have. Displayport, on the other hand, seems to be less popular than HDMI, proven by the modern devices that typically only have HDMI and no Displayport connectivity.
Summary
It is difficult to say whether one is better than the other. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses that are hard to compare. You can, however, choose one over the other if you have specific needs for which only one provides the feature. If you want to reach the maximum speed available and have the time to research which devices support the one you choose, Displayport is the best option. However, if you don’t have a device with an outstanding specification that can run at 4K 240Hz or 8K 120Hz, or if you simply don’t want to spend much time thinking about connectivity options, HDMI seems to be a suitable choice in this case.