HDMI vs DisplayPort vs DVI — Which Cable to Use
A plain-language guide to monitor and TV cables. So you pick the right one the first time and get the picture quality you paid for.
At a Glance
Know what each cable carries
~21sMatch the HDMI version to what you need
~19sMatch the DisplayPort version to what you need
~19sPick the right cable for the device
~18sUse adapters when you have to
~15sYou Did It!
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There are three display cables you are most likely to run into today: HDMI, DisplayPort, and the older DVI. All three carry a video signal from your computer or media device to a screen. HDMI and DisplayPort also carry audio (so you can hear sound through TV or monitor speakers without a separate cable). DVI is older, video-only, and mostly found on older monitors and desktop computers from before about 2015.
Where it gets confusing is the versions. HDMI 1.4 tops out at 1080p at 60 frames per second — fine for older TVs but not enough for 4K. HDMI 2.0 handles 4K at 60Hz. HDMI 2.1 handles 4K at 120Hz and up to 8K. DisplayPort 1.4 supports 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz. DisplayPort 2.0 (and 2.1) handles 8K at 60Hz with HDR, and up to 16K. A cable rated for an older version will not magically carry a newer signal — if your setup is 4K at 120Hz, you need a cable that supports that speed.
As a general rule of thumb: use HDMI for TVs, game consoles, streaming boxes, and any home theater gear (it is the only one most TVs accept). Use DisplayPort for gaming PCs and higher-end computer monitors. It has slightly more bandwidth and better support for high refresh rates. Use DVI only for older monitors that do not have newer ports. Adapters between them exist (HDMI to DisplayPort, DVI to HDMI) and work fine for most uses.
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