DisplayPort vs HDMI for Gaming Monitors: The Ultimate Cable Comparison

You've just unboxed that shiny new gaming monitor. The glorious 144Hz panel is ready, but then you see it: two cables. One says HDMI, the other DisplayPort. Which one do you plug in? For many South African gamers, this small choice has a surprisingly big impact on performance. Let's settle the DisplayPort vs HDMI for gaming monitors debate once and for all, and make sure you're getting every single frame you paid for. 🚀

Understanding the Core Difference: It's All About Bandwidth

Think of your display cable as a highway for data. The more lanes it has, the more data (pixels, colour information, and refresh cycles) can travel from your graphics card to your screen at once. This data-carrying capacity is called bandwidth.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) was designed as a universal standard for home entertainment. It's the king of TVs, consoles, and projectors, bundling video and audio into one simple connector.

DisplayPort (DP), on the other hand, was built from the ground up for computers. It generally offers higher bandwidth in its common versions, making it the preferred choice for PC enthusiasts chasing peak performance. The choice between HDMI and DisplayPort for gaming often depends on unlocking your hardware's full potential.

Unitek USB-C Cable 90 Degrees - 2 Meter / 100W Fast Charging / Right Angle Design / CAB-USB-100W-2M

R249.00In Stock

HP DHC-CT200 Type-C to HDMI VGA DisplayPort Adapter Supports Up to 1080P 60Hz for VGA Up to 4K 30Hz for HDMI Up to 4K 60Hz DisplayPort / DHC-CT200

R799.00In Stock

Promate Transparent 1.2 Meter Charging Cable with LED Light - Black / Rapid 100W Laptop & Phone Charging / Transparent LED Connectors / 480Mbps Data Transfer & Charging / Reinforced Nylon-Braided Durable Design / LUCIDLINE-CC120.BLACK

R129.00In Stock

Promate Certified Ultra-High-Speed 8K HDMI® Cable / 8k @ 60Hz HDMI / 5M Cable / 48Gbps Transfer Rate / PRIMELINK8K-500

R349.00In Stock

LinkQnet USB 3.0 to HDMI Female Adapter / CNV-USB-HDMI-LQ-SN

R499.00In Stock

Gizzu 4K HDMI 2.0 Cable 5m Poly / Supports 4K at 60Hz Resolution / Up to 18Gbps Bandwidth / 3D and HDR for Vivid Colors / GCPHH5

R199.00In Stock

DisplayPort vs HDMI for High-Refresh-Rate Gaming

This is where the real battle begins for PC gamers. If you're running a monitor above 60Hz, the cable you choose is critical.

A few years ago, DisplayPort 1.4 was the undisputed champion for high-refresh-rate gaming, easily handling 144Hz or even 240Hz at 1440p resolution. Most high-performance graphics cards and monitors support it. It's also the only way to get the full range of features from NVIDIA's G-Sync technology on many displays. If you want silky-smooth, tear-free gaming, DisplayPort is often your most reliable bet.

However, HDMI 2.1 has now entered the chat, offering massive bandwidth that rivals and sometimes exceeds DisplayPort 1.4. It's fantastic for next-gen console gaming on a 4K 120Hz TV and is becoming more common on new PC monitors. The key is ensuring both your graphics card and your monitor support the same standard. Powering one of Evetech's high-refresh-rate gaming monitors with the wrong cable is like putting retreads on a sports car... you're just leaving performance on the table.

Features Beyond Frames: Daisy-Chaining and Audio

While the DisplayPort vs HDMI for gaming discussion usually focuses on framerates, there are other features to consider.

HDMI's Secret Weapon: ARC/eARC

HDMI offers Audio Return Channel (ARC and the newer eARC), which lets you send audio from your TV back to a soundbar or AV receiver with the same HDMI cable. It’s incredibly convenient for home theatre setups but less relevant for a dedicated desktop gaming rig.

DisplayPort's Pro Move: Daisy-Chaining

DisplayPort supports Multi-Stream Transport (MST), which allows you to connect multiple monitors to a single DisplayPort output on your graphics card. You connect the first monitor to the PC and the second monitor to the first one. It’s a clean, minimalist way to run a multi-monitor setup, provided your monitors support it. This feature highlights DisplayPort's PC-centric design, and you can find the right high-quality cables to build a tidy and powerful workstation. ✨

AOC Q27G4F 27" (68.5 CM) Frameless Ultra-Fast IPS Gaming Monitor, QHD 2560 X 1440, 180Hz, 0.5ms, HDMI 2.0, Display Port 1.4, MBR Sync, SNIPER SCOPE, SUPER COLOUR, G-Sync, Height Adjustable Stand, Tilt / Q27G4F

R4299.00In Stock

Alienware 27 Gaming Monitor - AW2725DM - 27-inch QHD 180Hz 1ms Display, IPS, NVIDIA G-SYNC, AMD Freesync, VESA AdaptiveSync / AW2725DM

R6699.00In Stock

Dahua LM32-E330CA 32" 180Hz LED Monitor / Adaptive-Sync Technology / 1ms Response Time / QHD 2560x1440 / 180Hz Refresh Rate / DHI-LM32-E330CA

R4699.00In Stock

AOC 27G42E 27" 180Hz Ultra-Fast Gaming Monitor, 1920 × 1080 (FHD), 0.5ms, Fast IPS, Adaptive Sync, 3-Sided Frameless Design, Black / 27G42E

R3199.00In Stock

SAMSUNG ViewFinity S8 S80UD UHD 32" Monitor / 4K (3,840 x 2,160) Resolution / VA Panel / 5ms Response Time / Eye Saver Mode / Flicker Free / LS32D800UAUXEN

R11999.00In Stock

Cooler Master GA241 24” Gaming Monitor – FHD (1920x1080) 100Hz, 1ms MPRT, VA Panel, Adaptive Sync, HDMI, VGA, Black - CMI-GA241-EU

R2,499In Stock

The Verdict: Which Cable Should a Gamer in SA Use?

Let’s cut through the noise. Here’s a simple guide to choosing between DisplayPort and HDMI for your gaming monitor.

• For most PC gamers with a 144Hz+ monitor: Use DisplayPort. It offers the most reliable compatibility with high refresh rates and adaptive sync technologies like G-Sync and FreeSync.
• If you're connecting a gaming PC to a 4K TV: Use HDMI 2.1 (if both your TV and GPU support it) to get that glorious 4K 120Hz experience.
• For a standard 1080p 60Hz office or budget gaming monitor: Either cable will work perfectly fine. Don't stress it!
• On a tight budget? Getting the right performance doesn't have to break the bank. You can grab excellent, certified affordable cables under R400 that deliver every bit of performance you need.

Ultimately, the best cable is the one that unlocks the features you paid for. The debate over DisplayPort vs HDMI for gaming monitors is less about one being "better" and more about which is right for your specific hardware. ⚡