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Which monitor is right for your computer? There are many factors to consider before you make a purchase, but a big one has to do with the ports the monitor will plug into. Different ports have different capabilities and compatibilities, but first take a look at the back of your PC to see what options are available to you.
If you're looking to plug a new monitor into your gaming computer, you'll probably notice two ports that look remarkably similar. There will be HDMI and DisplayPort ports to choose from, but what's the difference between the two, and does it really matter which one you use?
The answer, as always, is 'it depends.' What are you looking to do? For instance, you will have different needs depending on if you're gaming, or photo editing, or just looking to hook your Mac up to something that works.
But, I can't use HDR function through through DP with an adapter = GTX 1080 Ti DP out port - DP to HDMI adapter - High-Speed HDMI to HDMI cable - U2518D HDMI in port. The display becomes completely blurred, with colored vertical lines. Before purchasing the adapter, the seller informed me that I could use the function HDR with it. Go to System Settings Display & sound Video output. Under the Advanced. 4K isn't available when HDMI or DVI is manually selected. For HDR, check your TV manual to make sure your TV supports the HDR10 media profile.
Even if your monitor supports both connections, it may only support certain versions of each, which determines what resolution, refresh rate, and other features it can handle. Here's what you need to know.
Connecting With HDMI
Let's start by talking about HDMI, the standard with which you're probably most familiar. HDMI is most commonly used on TVs, like the LG OLED55E8PUA, sending high-definition video and audio signals over one cable for an easy, clean setup. There have been multiple versions of HDMI, each improving on the last. On modern monitors, you'll find any combination of the following ports:
- HDMI 1.4: Supports up to 4K (4,096 by 2,160) at 24Hz, 4K (3,840 by 2,160) at 30Hz, or 1080p at 120Hz.
- HDMI 2.0: Supports up to 4K at 60Hz, and later versions (HDMI 2.0a and 2.0b) included support for HDR
- HDMI 2.1: Supports up to 10K resolution at 120Hz, as well as improved HDR with dynamic metadata and enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) which allows sending Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio from the display to a receiver.
These are somewhat simplified explanations, as there are other feature improvements in each standard, but they're the things most PC users will care about.
In addition to the above, all modern HDMI ports should support AMD's FreeSync technology, which eliminates screen tearing in games by matching the monitor's refresh rate to your video card's output framerate (with newer HDMI versions supporting FreeSync at higher refresh rates). HDMI does not, however, support Nvidia's similar G-Sync technology—for that, you need DisplayPort.
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Connecting With DisplayPort
DisplayPort looks similar to HDMI, but is a different connector more common on PCs than TVs. It still allows for high-definition video and, in many cases, audio, but its standards are a bit different. On modern monitors, you'll likely find any of the following:
- DisplayPort 1.2: Supports up to 4K at 60Hz, some 1.2a ports may also support AMD's FreeSync
- DisplayPort 1.3: Supports up to 4K at 120Hz or 8K at 30Hz
- DisplayPort 1.4: Supports up to 8K at 60Hz and HDR
That may seem less powerful than HDMI (especially considering the features of HDMI 2.1), but DisplayPort is featured on some of our best monitors—including the Acer XR382CQK—and also has a few advantages.
First, it supports AMD's FreeSync and Nvidia's G-Sync, so you can have a tear-free gaming experience no matter which brand of card you use (as long as your monitor supports the technology, of course). In addition, you can drive multiple monitors from one DisplayPort connection, rather than having to use multiple ports, which is handy. Laptops can even send DisplayPort signals through a USB-C port.
In the end, which port you choose depends on your monitor's capabilities, and the features you need. DisplayPort is a bit more versatile, but if your monitor only gives you the choice between HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2—like this Pixio display does—HDMI may be the better choice, since HDMI 2.0 supports HDR and DisplayPort 1.2 does not. Of course, you'll need to refer to your monitor's specs to decide which port to use in your specific setup.
Cables aren’t sexy technology, but if there’s one cable that gets tech enthusiasts’ attention, it’s HDMI. While many TV owners may know the tech simply as that weird flat plug that makes the TV plug-and-playable, HDMI is always on the move. The all-in-one digital connection has created a cornucopia of ways to make hardware ready for the expanding A/V world around us, allowing for innovations like 4K UHD technology and 8K resolution, which is the next big thing in TVs, even if it won’t be anything resembling the norm for some time. While HDMI is preparing for another leap forward, for the time being, we’re using a half-step forward in the form of HDMI 2.0b.
The best news: As with previous jumps, and unlike the upcoming HDMI 2.1, HDMI 2.0b does not require different cables than what you’re already using.
HDMI 2.0b builds on HDMI 2.0a, which tacked a few features on to the previous HDMI 2.0, including a display technology called High Dynamic Range, which we’ll refer to as HDR from here on out. Designed to vastly improve the contrast between light and dark images for a more realistic picture, HDR has quickly become a must-have in a new TV purchase. In this article, we’ll explain all the wonderful things you can do with your home theater thanks to HDMI 2.0b.
A quick note before we begin: HDMI 2.0b is an extremely minor update on HDMI 2.0a. The two are essentially the same, except that HDMI 2.0b adds support for Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG), a newer HDR technology mainly intended for broadcast applications. With that said, let’s review the many benefits of the HDMI 2.0 standard, up to and including HDMI 2.0b.
The basics
As we’ve written about previously, the primary reason for the switch to HDMI 2.0 is that 4K Ultra HD televisions require much more bandwidth to realize their full potential. Since 4K Ultra HD is four times the resolution of 1080p, the former HD standard, it requires more throughput to handle extra data going back and forth. Lots more.
HDMI 1.4 supported 4K resolutions, yes, but only at 24 or 30 frames per second (fps). That works fine for movies but isn’t useful for gaming and many TV broadcasts, which require 50 or 60 fps. Also, HDMI 1.4 limited 4K Ultra HD content to 8-bit color, though it is capable of 10- or 12-bit color. HDMI 2.0 fixed all of that because it could handle up to 18 gigabits per second — plenty enough to allow for 12-bit color and video up to 60 frames per second.
Ultra HD was one thing, but current TVs aim to blow our minds with even higher image realism, by creating more intense whites and blacker blacks — it’s like Tide for your TV, making everything more vivid, which is what HDR is all about. TVs from Sony, Panasonic, LG, Samsung, and Vizio all tout one version or another of HDR technology. HDMI 2.0b adds yet another flavor to the HDR menu, with support for HLG, the version of HDR that is favored for live TV broadcasts.
Don’t throw away your HDMI cables
As mentioned above, HDMI 2.0b changes nothing about the size, shape, or wiring of HDMI cables. Should you wind up getting devices that are HDMI 2.0a compliant, your existing cables will work just fine. And since HDMI 2.0b is backward compatible with older HDMI versions, you’ll be able to connect your old Blu-ray player and/or AV receiver to a brand-new HDMI 2.0b-equipped 4K Ultra HD TV with absolutely no problem. Beauty and the beast song mp3 free download justin bieber.
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