Does DisplayPort Support 144Hz?
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DisplayPort is arguably the most powerful and capable combined audio and video solution for mainstream connections between computers and displays. Whether you’re hooking up a high-powered PC to a gaming display, or an external monitor to a laptop, DisplayPort is one of the best ways to do it.
Does DisplayPort Support 144Hz?
The simple answer is yes, and at multiple resolutions. Even DisplayPort 1.0 and 1.1 were capable of supporting 144Hz at 1080p resolution when using the first-generation high bit rate (HBR) mode. Later DisplayPort connections are even more versatile.
DisplayPort 1.2 can output 1080p and 1440p resolutions at 144Hz, while DisplayPort 1.3 and 1.4 increased bandwidth to manage up to 240Hz at those same resolutions and up to 120Hz at 4K. It can’t quite handle 144Hz at that resolution, at least without making sacrifices in chroma subsampling (typically 4:2:2) or using display stream compression (DSC).
The DisplayPort 2.0 standard, ratified in June 2019, increases bandwidth by up to three times, making it possible to support far higher resolutions (like 10K and 16K) but also faster refresh rates on multiple monitors. It’s capable of running two 4K displays at up to 144Hz when using 8bpc. For now, DisplayPort 1.4 cables remain some of the most capable cables on the market, but DisplayPort 2.0, and even DisplayPort 2.1 are starting to appear on some devices, so DisplayPort 2.0 supporting monitors won’t be far behind.
In the future, once DisplayPort 2.1 becomes more commonplace, you may find fewer people asking «Does DisplayPort support 144Hz?», and more people asking, «Does DisplayPort support 240Hz?», as gaming monitors become more and more advanced.
What are the Benefits of 144Hz on DisplayPort?
Whether you’re using DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, or DisplayPort over another cable standard like Thunderbolt 4, you’re getting a more capable connection than you would from something like HDMI.
Where the most up-to-date HDMI 2.1 standard does leapfrog a few of the older DisplayPort technologies, DisplayPort 1.4 and especially 2.0, are practically unmatched otherwise.
DisplayPort 1.3 and upwards support up to 144Hz on resolutions as high as 4K, and supporting monitors until recently, have mostly leveraged DisplayPort to achieve that. HDMI 2.1 has made it possible for gaming TVs and some monitors to use that instead, but for high resolution, high refresh rate monitors, DisplayPort connections are still far more common. Indeed, Nvidia’s latest RTX 4000-series graphics cards still make use of DisplayPort 1.4, despite being designed with the latest 4K, high refresh rate displays in mind.
Gaming at 144Hz or even higher can make you a more competitive player by lowering your input lag, but it makes any game look better, making animations smoother, and reducing flickers and stuttering.
Cable Matters DisplayPort 1.4 cable
Is DisplayPort Mandatory for 144Hz?
No, there are other cables that can handle 144Hz just fine, but some are more limited in their options and supporting resolutions.
If you have an older 1080p, 144Hz monitor, you can connect it to your system using a Dual-Link DVI cable.
At 1440p, your options are a little more limited. HDMI 1.4 can handle it, but only with compression enabled, so we’d recommend HDMI 2.0 or HDMI 2.1 if you’re looking for a DisplayPort alternative. However, DisplayPort 1.2 or newer will handle that just fine.
If you’re looking to do 4K 120Hz gaming on the Xbox Series X/S, or PS5, you’ll need to use an HDMI 2.1 cable, as those consoles only support that cable standard. For gaming PCs targeting 4K at 120Hz, DisplayPort 1.4 can handle it well, although you’ll need to use HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.0/2.1 if you want to run games at anything higher. For the highest resolutions and refresh rates, DisplayPort 2.0 cables are a must, as they unlock the option for up to 16K resolution, or even 8K at 120Hz, which is something that no HDMI connection can manage.
If you find yourself stuck with a graphics card or laptop with DisplayPort output, but no compatible port on the display end, don’t fret.
You can just use a DisplayPort 1.4 to 8K HDMI Adapter to connect. The same goes for HDMI, or even older DVI-D and VGA outputs, although those will have other limitations on resolution and refresh rate related to their maximum data rate.
What DisplayPort cable do you need for 144Hz?
One of the biggest advantages of DisplayPort cables delivering 144Hz, or any refresh rate for that matter, is that they are entirely interchangeable. A DisplayPort cable produced for the first generation will work just as well as one produced for the latest generation of DisplayPort technology today.
Unlike other display technologies, DisplayPort doesn’t deliver a better or worse picture depending on the quality or price of your cable. As long as you buy your DisplayPort cable from a reputed retailer or manufacturer, like Cable Matters, you can guarantee a high-quality video and audio stream to your DisplayPort device. A 7.5m active DisplayPort 1.4 cable is recommended for ultimate flexibility without sacrificing performance.
Check out some of Cable Matters’ high-quality DisplayPort 1.4 products:
| Shop DisplayPort 1.4 Products |
Best gaming monitors for 144Hz refresh rate
The 144Hz refresh rate is a sweet spot for gaming, which is why you can find numerous forum posts asking, does DisplayPort support 144Hz? Not only is it a massive improvement over 60Hz gaming, but it is also far more affordable when it comes to dollar cost and system resources than more capable, even-higher refresh rates. Unless you’re an ultra-competitive player looking for the greatest advantage, 144Hz monitors offer some of the most accessible, high-refresh-rate gaming experiences available today.
If you’re looking for a great 144Hz gaming display, the ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQ is top of the list, with fantastic motion handling, support for G-Sync and FreeSync, black-frame insertion for improved motion resolution, and excellent peak brightness. It’s 1440p resolution too, so it’ll make all your games look a bit more detailed than 1080p.
At 4K there are some increasingly competitive options, including the exciting Gigabyte M32U, which is both huge at 32-inches, and incredibly detailed. That combination of 144Hz and 4K resolution makes for a beautiful gaming experience, but make sure you have a powerful graphics card that’s up to the job.
At the more affordable end of the spectrum, consider the LG 27GN800-B, too. It’s also 1440p and 144Hz, and it even supports variable refresh rates. Just bear in mind that its contrast isn’t its strongest feature, so it won’t look as good as the more costly display options.
At 1440P, you might want to consider the Asus PG279QZ if you’re a G-Sync user, or the FreeSync-supporting Samsung C27HG70 if you have an AMD graphics card. If you want something a little smaller or just more affordable, the Viewsonic XG2402 is well worth considering as well. At not far north of $200, it’s an excellent solution for anyone wanting a 144Hz DisplayPort gaming monitor. These types of monitors typically come with 3 ft. cables but if you want a more flexible setup, 144Hz support can be achieved with a quality DisplayPort cable up to 10 ft.
How to Get Max Refresh Rates with Gaming Monitors
So you have a graphics card, a reliable CPU and all the RAM that Chrome can eat, but you’re not getting those super-high refresh rates and resolutions that are the envy of your gaming circle. What’s going on, and how can you get the most out of your gaming monitor?
What Affects Max Refresh/Resolution?
There are three main things that can affect the maximum refresh rate and resolution you can obtain when playing a game:
- The computer/GPU
- The game itself
- The monitor ports/cable
The higher the refresh rate, the more images are being pushed to the monitor every second. So your computer’s GPU—or the game console—must be built to handle that kind of processing. Older PCs might not be able to “keep up” with the processing that’s being demanded of it. Similarly, a PS4 is built to handle a max of 60Hz (or 60 frames per second FPS). The Xbox One was similarly specced, but then updated to 120Hz in 2018. The PS5 also has a max. refresh rate of 120Hz (or 120 FPS).
The VIOTEK GNV29CB. Ultrafast. Ultrawide. UltraWOW!
That’s great and all, but . . .
. . . there aren’t that many 120Hz-supported games. If the game isn’t developed (or upgraded) to support higher refresh rates, you won’t be able to experience higher refresh rates—no matter what you do. Same with the resolution. Check with the game developer on the max. refresh rates and resolutions supported by the game. For the most part, having a monitor that supports 240Hz refresh and 4K resolution is simply “future-proofing” your gaming set up. And that’s not a bad thing!
Your GPU/console may be able to support the higher refresh rates and resolutions. Your game may be developed specifically for lightning-fast FPS and 4K resolution. But your monitor only has HDMI 1.4 ports. Well, then you’ve stumbled across another hurdle to overcome. Connection ports—and their respective cables—have limits of their own.
Important info to know to maximize your monitor’s performance.
About Resolution
Resolution is simply the number of pixels on the screen. The more pixels, the more detail. There are numerous different resolutions, but most are some variant of the following four:
- 720p
- 1080p
- 1440p
- 4K
And there is 8K. But those monitors cost tens of thousands of dollars. It’s certainly not mainstream yet.
720p is generally the lowest resolution you can get for a standard monitor, and 4K is the highest one in general circulation. You also have monitor variants that are known as ultrawide. This means that there are more pixels on either side of the screen—great if you want a wider field of view.
Having said that, the more pixels on the screen, the harder your graphics card has to work. And it’s the graphics card that usually determines how well the game runs (kind of).
About Refresh Rates
Refresh rate is simple: It’s the number of times an image appears on the screen per second. It’s measured in hertz, and you’ll see everything from 30Hz screens to 240Hz screens.
Refresh rates are important in gaming because the sooner the image appears on the screen, the sooner you can react to it. In addition, the more frames that are being thrown onto the screen per second, the smoother it looks. Screens running at 30Hz generally look a little choppy, whereas gaming screens running at 144Hz look seriously smooth. Professional gaming monitors can typically run as fast as 240Hz.
Again, the more frames per second that are being thrown up onto the screen, the harder the graphics card has to work. There’s also a CPU element involved—some games are more CPU-bound than others. This means that there is no one CPU/GPU combination that works for every game perfectly.
Graphics Cards and All That
So this brings us neatly onto graphics cards. These are the bits of machinery in your computer that process each frame and send it to the screen. There are two key players in this market: NVIDIA and AMD. These are the two companies that manufacture graphics card chips. In many cases, they sell the individual chips to board manufacturers (ASUS, Palit, Zotac and so on), who then make their own boards with that core technology.
Typically, to get the best refresh rates (frame rates) from the latest AAA titles combined with high resolutions, you need a good graphics card. Beyond that, however, are several ports at the back of the graphics card. These connect your monitor to your graphics card. These ports can be any of the following:
- HDMI
- DisplayPort
- VGA
- DVI
- Thunderbolt
VGA ports are usually blue and have 15 holes distributed across three rows. DVI ports are usually white and have 18 holes arranged across two rows, as well as a flat ground bar on one side. These aren’t particularly important, as most gaming monitors—and game consoles—currently use HDMI and DisplayPort.
Different Types of HDMI Port
HDMI, the most common cable.
HDMI has traditionally been a bit behind DisplayPort—in performance—but is the dominant standard in the industry. Virtually every TV has an HDMI port or three somewhere, and more cost-effective computer monitors generally run off HDMI as well.
However, there are three main types of HDMI available:
- HDMI 1.4
- HDMI 2.0
- HDMI 2.1
If you have an NVIDIA graphics card that’s a 900 series or higher, you likely have an HDMI 2.0 port in the back of it. If it’s one of the 500, 600 or 700 series, it likely has an HDMI 1.4 port in the back of it. HDMI 2.1 is not widely used yet.
HDMI 2.0 became prevalent for AMD graphics cards around 2015. So if you have a Radeon RX 300 or higher in your system, then you probably have HDMI 2.0.
HDMI 1.4
This standard allows up to 10. 2Gbps of bandwidth (how much data it can transfer). The max refresh rate is:
- 120Hz at 1080p
- 75Hz at 1440p
- 30Hz at 4K
This means that if you are using an HDMI 1.4 port or cable, you will not be able to get great results from an ultra-high-end monitor at high resolutions. (HDMI 1.4 has been around for a long time. If you have an older PC with HDMI 1.4, you may be limited to 60Hz at 1080p.)
HDMI 2.0
This standard allows up to 18Gbps of bandwidth, which essentially doubles the frame rate for each resolution. This means you can get the following refresh rate:
- 240Hz at 1080p
- 144Hz at 1440p
- 60Hz at 4K
Again, the cables here are vital. Using an HDMI 1.4 cable with an HDMI 2.0 port will work (they’re backwards compatible) but it will hinder your ability to get the maximum refresh rate from your monitor. The limitations of HDMI 1.4 will “win” over 2.0.
DisplayPort
Get the most from your monitor with DisplayPort cables.
DisplayPort is a different standard, and it’s not as common as HDMI. If you try sticking an HDMI connector into a DisplayPort, it’s not going to go well for you—which is unfortunate because they look quite similar when you are fiddling around the back of your computer under your desk.
The two dominant standards for DisplayPort are:
- DisplayPort 1.2
- DisplayPort 1.4
There is a DisplayPort 2.0, but it won’t be a universal standard for while. Most graphics cards post-2012 support DisplayPort 1.2 at a minimum, and most modern (read 2018 onward) graphics cards support DisplayPort 1.4.
DisplayPort 1.2
This standard allows for up to 21.6Gbps of bandwidth. This means the max supported refresh rate for each display type is:
- 240Hz at 1080p
- 144Hz at 1440p
- 60Hz at 4K
DisplayPort 1.4
DisplayPort 1.4 goes even further, allowing up to 32.40Gbps of total bandwidth. Again, this offers a doubling of the maximum supported at each resolution (apart from 1080p, where there are physical limitations to the refresh rate)
- 240Hz at 1080p
- 240Hz at 1440p
- 120Hz at 4K
DisplayPort 2. 0 looks like it’ll offer 10K compatibility. That’s insanely detailed.
And like HDMI, DP is backwards compatible. So a DP1.2 cable will work with a DP 1.4 port. That said, the DP 1.2 limitations prevail. So don’t expect those same DP 1.4 speeds.
A Note About Adapters
“My laptop/PC has an HDMI port, but my monitor only supports 144Hz over DisplayPort.”
In this situation, you would need to use an active HDMI-to-DP adapter. Adapters have their own limitations, too, and will affect the max. performance. Currently, an HDMI-to-DP adapter only allows up to 120Hz at 1080p resolution only. (Fortunately, this performance is good enough for most game consoles, including Xbox One and the PS5.)
So . . . How
Do We Get Max. Refresh/Resolution?
To enjoy the highest possible refresh rate with the highest possible resolution, you’ll need to make sure that your computer—or game system—supports these higher numbers. For PC gamers, that might mean replacing the GPU of your computer. That’s relatively easy to DIY.
Next, you’ll need to make sure that your computer (or gaming system) and your monitor have the higher-end ports. Then it’s just a matter of using the correct cable. (Don’t expect a DVI cable to knock out 4K resolution at 100Hz, no matter how powerful your PC and monitor are!) It pays to check out what cables you are using and what ports you have available before making a purchase—especially if you are going for high refresh rates.
And finally, remember: if your game doesn’t support the higher resolutions and the higher refresh rates, you won’t experience the higher resolutions and the higher refresh rates. But that’s okay, because once every studio comes around to developing—or upgrading—their titles with these insanely fast FPS and crazy detailed resolutions, you’ll be ready to jump right in!
Connecting a 144 Hz monitor — which cable to use
When deciding which cable to use to connect a 144 Hz monitor, there are several options to consider:
- dual link DVI cable,
- DisplayPort,
- HDMI cable.
Previously, a VGA (Video Graphics Array) monitor cable was used to transmit the video signal. It is an old analog connection that provides image transmission with a maximum resolution and frequency of 1920×1200 and 75Hz respectively.
Most of the latest graphics cards and monitors do not have this connector. But on some monitors, such a port can be found. It can be useful if you need to connect an old video card or connect multiple monitors at the same time.
For a 144Hz 1440p monitor, you need at least an HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 cable. For 4K monitors at 144Hz, you will need to use an HDMI 2.1 cable or, alternatively, a DisplayPort 1.4 cable that is capable of transmitting an image at 120Hz without compression. nine0003
DVI
DVI (Digital Visual Interface) is a fairly common type of connection, but keep in mind that there are different versions of DVI connectors.
Only dual link DVI connectors are capable of 1920×1080 at 144Hz or 2560×1440 at 75Hz. Older versions of the DVI port have the same bandwidth as the VGA port.
HDMI
Most monitors, TVs and graphics cards today have at least an HDMI 1.4 connector, which is sufficient to deliver 1080p at 144Hz, 1440p at 75Hz and 30Hz for 4K monitors. nine0003
A more advanced connection option is HDMI 2.0. This option is also quite common and is used at 1080p at 240Hz, and 1440p at 144Hz and 60Hz for 4K monitors. The latest version of the HDMI 2.1 connector provides signal transmission at a frequency of 144Hz for 4K monitors and 30Hz for 8K monitors.
DisplayPort
In addition to HDMI, most gaming monitors are equipped with DisplayPort 1.2, which provides 1080p at 240Hz up to 165Hz and 1440p resolution up to 75Hz 4K monitors. nine0003
DisplayPort 1.3 and 1.4 provide increased bandwidth: 240Hz and 1440p, 120Hz for 4K monitors, 60Hz for 5K and 30Hz for 8K. The main difference between DisplayPort 1.3 and 1.4 is that the latest version supports DSC (Display Stream Compression) technology, which allows the transmission of compressed video signal within the following parameters: 144Hz for 4K, 120Hz for 5K and 60Hz for 8K.
The
DisplayPort mini, or Thunderbolt, has nearly that bandwidth. In some devices, it has been replaced with a more functional USB-C connector. nine0003
Thus, there are several options for which cable is needed for a 144 hertz monitor. You just have to take a cable that fits the connectors.
Connect HDMI cable to monitor
During our age of information technology, it is difficult to imagine a world in which there are no computers. These computers are in every office and are practically…
What is the best way to connect an hdmi monitor or displayport
The best gaming monitors are equipped with many features, but one aspect that is often overlooked is the inclusion of DisplayPort instead of HDMI. What are the differences between the two ports and is using one of them to connect to your system definitely better? nine0003
You might think that just plugging any cable that came with your monitor into your computer would be enough, but there are differences that can often mean loss of refresh rate, color quality, or both if you’re not careful. Here’s what you need to know about DisplayPort and HDMI connections.
If you’re looking to buy a new PC monitor or a new graphics card, you should consider both sides of the connection — your graphics card’s video output and your display’s video input — before making any purchases. nine0003
Monitor connection standards
The latest display connection standards are DisplayPort and HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface). DisplayPort first appeared in 2006 and HDMI appeared in 2002. Both are digital standards, which means that all the pixel data on your screen is represented as 0s and 1s when transmitted over the cable, and the display must convert that digital information into an image on the screen.
Earlier monitors used DVI (digital visual interface) connectors, and even earlier we had VGA (video graphics array) — along with component RGB, S-Video, composite video, EGA and CGA. However, you don’t want to use VGA or whatever in 2020. They are old, which means that any new GPU most likely won’t even support the socket, and even if it did, you’d be using an interference-prone counterpart. nine0003
DVI is the bare minimum you want to use today, and even that has limitations. It has a lot in common with early HDMI, only without sound support. It works great for games at 1080p or 1440p if you have a dual link connection. Dual-link DVI-D basically doubles the bandwidth of single-link DVI-D with additional pins and wires, and most modern GPUs with a DVI port support dual-link.
Which is better to use to connect the monitor
For new displays, it is better to use DisplayPort or HDMI. But is there a clear winner between the two? Not all DisplayPort and HDMI ports are the same. DisplayPort and HDMI are backwards compatible, meaning you can plug in a mid-2000s HDTV and it will still work with a new RTX 20-series or RX 5000-series graphics card. However, the connection between your display and graphics card will eventually use the best possible connection supported by both the sending and receiving sides of the connection. This could mean that the best 4K gaming monitor at 144Hz and HDR will run at 4K and 24Hz on an older graphics card! nine0084
| Max Transmission Rate | Max Data Rate | Resolution/Refresh Rate Support (24 bpp) | GPU Introduction | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI Versions | |||||||
| 1.0-1.2a | 4.95 Gbps | 3.96 Gbps | 1080p @ 60 Hz | AMD HD 2000 (R600) | |||
| NVIDIA GeForce 9 (Tesla) | |||||||
| 1.3-1.4b | 10.2 GBPS | 8.16 GBPS | 1088 HZ | AMD HD HD HD HD HD 5000 9007 AMD HD HP0090 | 1440p @ 75 HZ | NVIDIA GK100 (Kepler) | |
| 4K b | 18.0 Gbps | 14.4 Gbps | 1080p @ 240 Hz | AMD RX 400 (Polaris) | |||
| 4K @ 60 Hz | Nvidia GM200 (Maxwell 2) | ||||||
| 8K 4:2:0 @ 30Hz | |||||||
| 2022-01-02 00:00:00 | 48. |
42.6 GBPS | 4K @ 144 HZ (240 HZ W/DSC) | Partial 2.1 VRR On NVIDIA TURIC | 8K @ 30 Hz (120 Hz w/DSC) |
DisplayPort vs. HDMI: The Bottom Line for Gamers
We’ve covered the technical details of DisplayPort and HDMI, but which one is actually better for gaming? Some of these will depend on the hardware you already have or are about to purchase. Both standards are capable of a good gaming experience, but if you want a great gaming experience, right now DisplayPort 1.4 is generally better than HDMI 2.0, HDMI 2.1 is technically superior to DP 1.4, and DisplayPort 2.0 should be superior to HDMI 2.1. The problem is that you need to buy a TV, not a monitor, to get HDMI 2.1 right now, and we’re not sure when DP 2.0 hardware (maybe RTX 40 series) will start shipping. nine0003
For Nvidia gamers, the best option right now is to connect a DisplayPort 1.4 to a G-Sync display. However, if you’re buying a new GeForce RTX 30 series card, HDMI 2. 1 might be better (and probably needed if you want to connect your computer to a TV). Again, the only G-Sync compatible displays with HDMI 2.1 currently are TVs. If you don’t plan on playing on the big screen in your living room, you’re better off using DisplayPort right now. Ampere supports HDMI 2.1 but sticks to DP 1.4, and G-Sync PC monitors will likely still prioritize DisplayPort. nine0003
AMD gamers may have a few more options as inexpensive FreeSync monitors with HDMI are available. However, DisplayPort is still the preferred standard for PC monitors. It’s easier to find a display that can play 144Hz over DisplayPort with FreeSync, whereas many HDMI FreeSync displays only work at lower resolutions or refresh rates. HDMI 2.1, meanwhile, is only supported by the latest RX 6000 series GPUs, but DisplayPort 2.0 support doesn’t appear to be coming to at least another generation of GPUs. nine0003
What if you already have a monitor that does not support higher refresh rates or does not support G-Sync or FreeSync and has HDMI and DisplayPort inputs? Assuming your graphics card also supports both connections (and probably does if it’s a card released within the last five years), in many cases the choice of connection won’t make much of a difference.