HDMI 2.1 vs DisplayPort 2.1: Best Cable for Gaming

HDMI 2.1 vs DisplayPort 2.1: Which Cable Does Your Gaming Setup Need?

You just bought a 4K 240Hz monitor. The box includes two cables—HDMI and DisplayPort. Which one do you use?

It's a question that stumps a lot of people. Both connectors look professional enough. Both promise high resolutions and smooth refresh rates. The specs seem comparable until you start reading the fine print about bandwidth, DSC, and VRR. Then it gets confusing.

The answer depends on what you're connecting. A PS5 to a TV? HDMI, no question. A high-end GPU to a 4K 240Hz gaming monitor? Probably DisplayPort. But the nuance matters, and getting it wrong means your expensive hardware might not perform at its best.

This guide breaks down when to use each cable, what the specs actually mean for your gaming experience, and why cable quality matters more than most people realize.

Quick Recommendation: Which Cable Should You Use?

If you want the short answer:

Use DisplayPort 2.1 for:

• PC gaming, especially at 4K 120Hz and above
• Multi-monitor setups with daisy-chaining
• Maximum refresh rates (4K 240Hz, 8K 60Hz)
• Future-proofing your setup

Use HDMI 2.1 for:

• Console gaming (PS5, Xbox Series X—they only have HDMI)
• TVs (HDMI is the universal TV standard)
• Single monitor simplicity
• Audio return channel (eARC) to soundbars

Both work great for 4K 120Hz—the current sweet spot for most gamers. The differences only matter at the extremes.

Understanding the Specs: Bandwidth Is Everything

The single most important spec is bandwidth—how much data the cable can carry per second. More bandwidth means higher resolutions at higher refresh rates.

HDMI 2.1: 48 Gbps maximum bandwidth

DisplayPort 2.1: Up to 80 Gbps (UHBR20 mode)

That's a significant gap. DisplayPort 2.1 at full spec offers 67% more bandwidth than HDMI 2.1.

What This Enables

Here's what each cable can handle:

• 4K 120Hz: Both handle this natively. This is the current standard for high-end gaming.
• 4K 144Hz: HDMI 2.1 requires DSC (compression); DisplayPort 2.1 handles it natively.
• 4K 240Hz: HDMI 2.1 cannot do this; DisplayPort 2.1 handles it natively.
• 8K 60Hz: HDMI 2.1 requires DSC; DisplayPort 2.1 handles it natively.
• 5K 165Hz: HDMI 2.1 cannot do this; DisplayPort 2.1 only.

What Is DSC?

DSC stands for Display Stream Compression. It's a visually lossless compression standard that lets cables carry higher resolutions than their raw bandwidth would normally allow.

"Visually lossless" means you can't see the difference in normal use, but the image is technically compressed. Some purists prefer uncompressed signals, but in practice, DSC works well. Both your GPU and monitor must support DSC for it to work.

The key difference: DisplayPort 2.1 can hit 4K 240Hz without any compression. HDMI 2.1 simply can't reach that spec at all, even with DSC.

Gaming Features Compared

Both standards support the features gamers care about, but they implement them differently.

Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)

VRR syncs your display's refresh rate to your GPU's frame output, eliminating screen tearing without the input lag of traditional V-Sync.

• HDMI 2.1: Uses HDMI VRR, which is the standard for consoles. PS5 and Xbox Series X both use this.
• DisplayPort: Uses Adaptive-Sync, which is the basis for both AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible.

Both work well. For most users, there's no perceptible difference in VRR quality between the two standards.

Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)

ALLM is an HDMI feature that automatically switches your TV to Game Mode when it detects a gaming source. This reduces input lag by disabling image processing.

This feature matters for TVs, not monitors. Monitors don't have the heavy image processing that TVs do, so they don't need ALLM. If you're connecting to a TV for console gaming, ALLM is convenient. For PC gaming on a monitor, it's irrelevant.

Quick Frame Transport (QFT)

QFT reduces latency by transmitting frames as fast as possible rather than at a steady rate. Both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 support this feature. In practice, the latency difference is measured in fractions of a millisecond—not something most gamers will notice.

For Competitive Gaming

If you're playing competitive esports titles and every millisecond matters, DisplayPort is preferred simply because it supports higher refresh rates. A 4K 240Hz monitor running at full spec requires DisplayPort 2.1.

That said, for most competitive players, 1080p 360Hz or 1440p 240Hz monitors are more common choices, and both standards handle those resolutions just fine.

Console Gaming: HDMI Is Your Only Option

This one's simple: consoles only have HDMI ports.

PS5 and Xbox Series X

Both current-gen consoles have HDMI 2.1 ports and support:

• 4K at 120Hz (in supported games)
• VRR for smooth gameplay
• ALLM for automatic Game Mode
• HDR gaming

No console game currently runs at 4K 240Hz, and none are likely to in this generation. HDMI 2.1's 4K 120Hz support is more than consoles need.

Nintendo Switch

The Switch uses HDMI but doesn't support 2.1 features. It outputs 1080p 60Hz maximum in docked mode. An HDMI 2.1 cable works fine, but you won't benefit from its advanced features.

What Console Gamers Should Buy

For console gaming, you need an HDMI 2.1 TV or monitor. The good news: most gaming monitors include both HDMI and DisplayPort, so you can connect a console via HDMI and a PC via DisplayPort to the same display.

Check your monitor's specs carefully, though. Some monitors only support their highest refresh rates via DisplayPort, limiting HDMI to 4K 60Hz or 4K 120Hz.

PC Gaming: DisplayPort Usually Wins

For PC gamers, DisplayPort is generally the better choice. Here's why.

Higher Bandwidth Means Future-Proofing

DisplayPort 2.1's 80 Gbps bandwidth leaves headroom for future displays. As 4K 240Hz monitors become mainstream and 8K gaming eventually arrives, DisplayPort will handle it without compression.

Multi-Monitor Support

DisplayPort supports daisy-chaining—connecting multiple monitors with a single cable from your GPU to the first monitor, then another cable to the second, and so on. This reduces cable clutter and uses fewer GPU ports.

HDMI doesn't support daisy-chaining. Each monitor needs its own cable back to the GPU.

No Licensing Costs

HDMI requires manufacturers to pay licensing fees. DisplayPort is royalty-free. This is why budget monitors sometimes have more or better DisplayPort connections than HDMI.

4K 240Hz Specifically

If you're buying a 4K 240Hz monitor—currently the highest-spec gaming displays available—you need DisplayPort 2.1 to hit that full refresh rate. Some 4K 240Hz monitors can do 4K 120Hz over HDMI 2.1, but you're leaving performance on the table.

G-Sync and FreeSync Compatibility

• G-Sync (native module): Historically DisplayPort only, though newer modules support HDMI VRR too.
• G-Sync Compatible: Works over both DisplayPort and HDMI.
• FreeSync: Works over both.

Always check your specific monitor's specs. Some monitors enable VRR only on certain ports or at certain resolutions.

Cable Quality Matters More Than You Think

At these high bandwidths, cheap cables can cause problems—flickering, dropouts, or failure to hit advertised specs.

HDMI Cables

For HDMI 2.1's full 48 Gbps, you need an "Ultra High Speed" certified cable. Look for the official HDMI logo and certification—not just marketing claims like "8K Ready" or "4K 120Hz."

Key considerations:

• Passive cables work reliably up to about 3 meters (10 feet)
• Longer runs need active cables with built-in signal boosters
• Fiber optic HDMI cables work for very long runs (15m+)

DisplayPort Cables

For DisplayPort 2.1, look for VESA-certified DP80 cables. "DP80" indicates support for the full 80 Gbps bandwidth.

• Passive cables work best at 2 meters (6.5 feet) or less
• Active cables extend reliable range
• Cable quality varies more than with HDMI

What to Avoid

• Uncertified budget cables claiming high specs
• Extremely long passive cables (over 3m for HDMI, over 2m for DP)
• Marketing terms like "8K Ready" without actual certification
• Old DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 2.0 cables for high-spec use

Stick with reputable brands like Club3D, Cable Matters, or the cables that come with your monitor.

What About HDMI 2.2 and DisplayPort 2.1b?

New standards are always on the horizon. Here's what's coming.

HDMI 2.2

Announced in 2024, HDMI 2.2 doubles the bandwidth to 96 Gbps. This enables:

• 4K 480Hz
• 8K 240Hz
• Even higher specs with DSC

HDMI 2.2 requires new "Ultra96" cables and won't work with existing Ultra High Speed cables. Expect it to appear in high-end TVs starting in 2025-2026.

DisplayPort 2.1b

DisplayPort 2.1b is a refinement of the 2.1 spec with stricter cable certification requirements and improved tunneling support for USB4. It's backward compatible with existing DP 2.1 hardware.

Should You Wait?

For most people, no. Current HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 specs handle everything available today and the foreseeable near future. The monitors, GPUs, and games that could use these new standards don't exist yet for consumers.

If you're buying an 8K TV in 2026, wait for HDMI 2.2 support. For gaming setups today, current standards are more than sufficient.

Full Comparison Table

Here's a quick reference comparing the two standards:

The Bottom Line

Choosing between HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 isn't about which is "better"—it's about which fits your setup.

Console gaming: HDMI 2.1, period. Consoles don't have DisplayPort, and HDMI 2.1 provides everything current consoles can output.

PC gaming: DisplayPort 2.1 is generally preferred. Higher bandwidth, daisy-chaining support, and better future-proofing make it the go-to for PC setups.

TVs: HDMI is the standard. Most TVs don't have DisplayPort at all.

Gaming monitors: Check which port supports the highest specs. Some monitors only hit their maximum resolution and refresh rate over one specific port.

And remember: cable quality matters. At these bandwidths, a cheap cable can bottleneck expensive hardware. Buy certified cables from reputable sources, and keep them short when possible.

For more on building the ultimate gaming setup, check out our NVIDIA RTX 5090 review and our guide to understanding graphics cards and key GPU specs explained.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use HDMI or DisplayPort for my gaming monitor?

For PC gaming, use DisplayPort when possible. It offers higher bandwidth and better support for maximum refresh rates, especially on high-end monitors. Check your monitor's specs to see which port supports its highest resolution and refresh rate—some monitors only hit their full specs over DisplayPort. For console gaming, you must use HDMI since that's the only output consoles have.

Do I need HDMI 2.1 for 4K 120Hz?

Yes, if you're using HDMI. Older HDMI 2.0 maxes out at 4K 60Hz (or 4K 120Hz with chroma subsampling, which reduces image quality). HDMI 2.1 handles 4K 120Hz natively with full color. DisplayPort 1.4 can also do 4K 120Hz with DSC compression, while DisplayPort 2.1 handles it natively.

Is DisplayPort faster than HDMI?

DisplayPort 2.1 has higher bandwidth (80 Gbps vs 48 Gbps), which enables higher resolutions and refresh rates without compression. However, "faster" in terms of input latency is essentially identical—both standards deliver frames at the same speed. The bandwidth difference only matters when pushing extreme specs like 4K 240Hz.

Can I use DisplayPort on PS5?

No. The PS5 only has HDMI output. The same applies to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Nintendo Switch. If your monitor only has DisplayPort inputs, you'd need an active HDMI-to-DisplayPort adapter, which can introduce compatibility issues and typically doesn't support the highest specs.

Does cable length affect HDMI 2.1 performance?

Yes. At 48 Gbps, signal integrity becomes challenging over longer distances. Passive HDMI 2.1 cables work reliably up to about 3 meters (10 feet). For longer runs, you need active cables with built-in signal boosters or fiber optic HDMI cables. The same applies to DisplayPort—passive DP 2.1 cables should stay under 2 meters for reliable full-bandwidth operation.