DisplayPort to HDMI cables

DisplayPort to HDMI cable — it works one way

DisplayPort to HDMI cables are unidirectional. The DisplayPort plug goes into the computer or graphics card and the HDMI plug into the screen. The reverse connection — a laptop with an HDMI output to a monitor with a DisplayPort input — needs an active converter powered over USB, because the HDMI signal has to be converted. So before you buy, check which device sends the picture. Passive cables also require the computer's output to support DP++ (Dual-Mode) — most graphics cards and laptops do.

Which resolution to choose

• Full HD — for an office monitor, a meeting-room projector and a Full HD TV.
• 4K 30 Hz — for watching films and viewing photos in 4K. For office work the cursor may feel less smooth.
• 4K 60 Hz — smooth 4K on a TV or monitor, including desktop work and gaming.
• 8K 60 Hz and 4K 120 Hz — for graphics cards with DisplayPort 1.4 and TVs with HDMI 2.1. Full specifications depend on whether the card and the TV support DSC compression.

A 20 cm DisplayPort to HDMI adapter is handy when you already have an HDMI cable and just want to plug it into a DP output. Full-length cables from 1 to 5 m need no extra parts and put less strain on the port.

Mini DisplayPort to HDMI

Older MacBooks, Surface devices and some laptops have a mini DisplayPort output. A 4K mini DisplayPort to HDMI cable lets you connect them directly to a TV or projector. On older MacBooks the same port also works as Thunderbolt 1 or 2 — the cable works in both cases.

If your monitor has a DisplayPort input, use a DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable instead of an adapter. When both devices have HDMI, HDMI to HDMI cables will do. Connect a USB-C laptop with a USB-C to HDMI cable, and find the rest of the range in the video cables category.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better — HDMI or DisplayPort?

For a computer monitor, usually DisplayPort, because monitors offer their full refresh rate and Adaptive Sync over it. For a TV, console and soundbar, HDMI is more convenient. A DisplayPort to HDMI cable bridges the two when the computer only has DP and the screen only has HDMI.

Does a DisplayPort to HDMI cable carry audio?

Yes, the cables in this category carry both video and audio, so the TV will play the computer's sound through its own speakers.