DisplayPort vs HDMI: Which Cable Should You Use?

Your monitor has both ports. Your GPU has both ports. So which cable should you actually buy? The honest answer: for many setups either works — but each standard has clear wins, and picking the right one avoids the classic "why is my refresh rate capped?" support ticket.

The short version

  • PC to monitor, especially high refresh: DisplayPort.
  • TV, game console, projector, soundbar: HDMI.
  • Laptop with only USB-C: a USB-C to DisplayPort or HDMI cable/adapter, depending on the screen.

What each standard carries

HDMI 2.0 moves 18Gbps — enough for 4K at 60Hz. HDMI 2.1 raises that to 48Gbps: 8K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz, variable refresh rate and eARC for full-bandwidth audio back to a receiver or soundbar. If you're driving a 4K/120 TV from a current-generation console, the cable must be an Ultra High Speed certified HDMI 2.1 cable — an older high speed cable will negotiate down and quietly cost you half your frames.

DisplayPort 1.4 carries 32.4Gbps (HBR3), which handles 4K@120Hz, 1440p at very high refresh, and 8K@60Hz with DSC. It's the native language of PC graphics: adaptive sync (G-Sync and FreeSync) is most dependable over DP, and daisy-chaining multiple monitors (MST) is DP-only. A VESA certified cable matters here for the same reason HDMI certification does — the logo means the cable was tested at full bandwidth rather than hoped at it.

Where people get burned

  • Cheap "4K HDMI" cables at 4K@120: 4K@60 and 4K@120 are different bandwidth classes. Check for Ultra High Speed certification, not the resolution printed on the bag.
  • High-refresh gaming over HDMI on a DP-native monitor: many monitors only expose their full refresh rate on the DisplayPort input.
  • Long runs: passive copper gets unreliable past roughly 25 ft at full bandwidth. For in-wall and room-length runs, use an active or CL3-rated cable — our guide to HDMI for long runs covers the options.
  • Mixing the two: going from a DP output to an HDMI input (or the reverse) needs the right directional cable or adapter — DP-to-HDMI conversion is its own product, not just a plug shape.

Match the cable to the job

Every cable we list states its exact version, certification and tested bandwidth. Still unsure? Send us your GPU/console and display models and we'll tell you which cable — including when the cheaper one is the right answer.

Back to blog