Which cord to use for your computer monitor

Most monitors today have a lot of ports on the back, and choosing the best cable for your computer’s computer doesn’t always depend on how expensive or cheap the wire is.

Each type of wire has its own pros and cons, and they range in quality from low to high. However, the simplest answer is that you should use a DisplayPort cable to connect your video card to your computer (for later cards and monitors). DisplayPort has the widest bandwidth as well as support for features like G-Sync and FreeSync available on the market.

Of course there are still a few other ropes that would serve a better purpose. With that said, some video cards don’t have that port, as well as some monitors that don’t display the best signal. Therefore, it is very helpful to know the order of quality as well as which wires are replaceable. Together we will find out the pros and cons of HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI and the different specifications in each type of wire.

DisplayPort: top pick

Because of its features, DisplayPort is considered the first choice to connect a monitor to a computer. You won’t find DisplayPorts when buying TVs or non-computer components. They often come with new graphics cards and gaming laptops.

DisplayPort’s enormous bandwidth makes it superior to HDMI in every way. Even in early versions 1.0 and 1.1, DisplayPort supported 144hz at 1080p along with audio. Version 1.3 increases the transfer rate to 26 Gb/s.

The current version of DisplayPort is 1.4, which supports HDR, compression, and supports 32 audio channels. The fast transfer rate allows 4k monitors to enjoy 120Hz and 144Hz (to see 144Hz requires SDC compression). 1.4 can support up to 8K resolution at 60Hz.

Nvidia’s G-Sync requires DisplayPort, while FreeSync supports several types of HDMI. Other sync technologies are also supported by DisplayPort from version 1.2a for displays with DisplayPort ports.

Connecting to multiple monitors is also more convenient with DisplayPort, which the Thunderbolt port previously supported. This helps to work more efficiently, but gamers need to be aware that: connecting multiple monitors at the same time means bandwidth is also divided.

The USB-C interface also outputs images according to the DisplayPort standard, making it easier to export images from laptops or Android phones if there is a USB-C to DisplayPort (or HDMI) converter.

The next generation of DisplayPort has been confirmed and will increase bandwidth to 40 Gb/s, allowing for 4K uncompressed at 144Hz, 5K at 60Hz, 10-bit color output and compressed mode support up to 8K at 120Hz. You’ll have to wait a little longer for monitors to keep up with the trend.

So which DisplayPort monitor cable do you need?

The latest version of the DisplayPort standard (currently 1.4) needs new hardware from your video card and monitor to work to its full potential, but if your hardware doesn’t support it, it’s fine. Therefore, any DisplayPort wire Anything on the market today can be bought and used without any problems.

What will the next upgraded version have?

There is no new DisplayPort standard in 2017, probably coming in 2018. At present, DisplayPort has completely surpassed the bandwidth and resolution of the monitors available on the market, so despite the current version. The new version will not affect the quality of current screens at all.

HDMI: Made for the living room

Found everywhere, HDMI is handy and cheap, but pretty limited. Outdated version 1.4 is limited to 8-bit color, maximum bandwidth reaches 10Gb/s. Along with other limitations, HDMI can only support 4K at 24Hz to the fullest, while at 1080p can only achieve up to 60Hz.

Fortunately, HDMI 2.0 and 2.0a were released a few years ago and mostly support most of DisplayPort’s features. However, the bandwidth of this version is still limited to 18 Gb / s ie 4K only reaches a maximum of 60Hz. Most video cards support HDMI 2.0, but some monitors do not support it including high-end monitors, like Asus RoG Swift PG348Q Only support up to HDMI 1.4.

Version 2.0 or better HDMI usually comes with high-end TVs, like LG’s OLED C7 to support HDR. This makes HDMI 2.0 the perfect connection for those who want to play games with high refresh rates or 4K resolutions in the living room using a PC on large screens. Because HDMI 2.0 can support 4K at 60Hz and 1080p at 144Hz.

The next version is confirmed to be HDMI 2.1, bringing the limit of HDMI to a maximum resolution of 10K at 120Hz, HDR support and various refresh rates for gaming mode. While this happens, let’s hope HDMI 2.0 will be supported for the computer monitor market first.

So what kind of HDMI cable do you need?

There are many different versions of HDMI, but what you want is a high-speed HDMI cable (High Speed ​​HDMI Cable). This type will definitely support for 4K resolution and full bandwidth with HDMI 2.0.

When will the next version come out?

HDMI 2.1 could debut with high-end electronics in 2018. It will certainly need to buy a new cord, but the communication port will not change. Bandwidths go up dramatically from 18 Gb/s to 48 Gb/s, but they only really matter if you’re gaming at 4k/120Hz or similar.

DVI: I’m alive, not dead yet

DVI interfaces are still present in most computer video cards and are still valid today, although they are slowly being forgotten. Obviously, DVI is big, bulky, requires two screws to tighten, and they don’t carry an audio signal. But DVI supports 144hz, 1080p resolution, which HDMI cables cannot do, making DVI still the optimal choice for older systems. They also support 2560×1600 at 60Hz and have no problems at 1440p so they still work pretty well.

Considered an evolution from the aging VGA port of the 1990s, DVI comes in several versions including single-link or dual-link. Most of the DVI cables you buy on the market are high-bandwidth dual-link versions, but if you’re unfortunate enough to end up with old DVI cables, you may be limited to 1920×1200 resolution and horizontal refresh rates. similar to the basic single link DVI.

After 20 years on the market, the DVI interface is only seen as a temporary solution when there is no alternative.

So what kind of DVI cable do you need?

To achieve 1440p and high refresh rate, dual-link DVI is what you need.

When is the next version available?

You’ve been declared dead, my friend.

Communication switch port

One last thing: switch ports exist because they don’t have the right wires. Care must be taken when using converter ports because, when added, they can create problems such as signal loss or flickering, or HDCP (copyright) errors. Even if everything is perfect, you are limited by the slower speed of the switch ports.

As for DisplayPort converters, versions including active (from DisplayPort cables to other ports) and passive (from other ports to DisplayPort cables) work without problems. But in these cases, it is recommended to choose active because they support multi-monitor features, like a 3-monitor setup. Or you can save a bit with the passive port if you don’t intend to use more than 2 monitors at the same time.

Source: pcgamer