HDMI 2.1 vs DisplayPort 1.4/2.1: Version Comparison

HDMI 2.1 offers 48 Gbps raw bandwidth versus DisplayPort 1.4’s 32.4 Gbps, making HDMI 2.1 the higher-bandwidth standard for 4K high-refresh gaming.

Last updated: June 2026

Quick Answer: Is HDMI 2.1 Better Than DisplayPort 1.4?

Yes, HDMI 2.1 outperforms DisplayPort 1.4 on raw bandwidth. HDMI 2.1 delivers approximately 42.6 Gbps of usable throughput versus DisplayPort 1.4’s 25.92 Gbps. That gap matters most at 4K 120Hz and above, where DP 1.4 needs DSC compression to keep up while HDMI 2.1 handles it uncompressed. For resolutions at or below 1440p 165Hz, both standards are more than capable and the difference is practically invisible.

48 Gbps vs 25.92 Gbps usable. That’s the gap sitting between HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4, and it’s the number that determines whether your expensive 4K 144Hz monitor actually runs at the settings you paid for. The problem most builders run into isn’t choosing the wrong standard on paper. It’s plugging in the wrong cable or using the wrong port on a GPU that has both versions, then spending two hours wondering why the display is stuck at 60Hz.

This guide covers the full picture: bandwidth math in plain English, what your GPU generation actually outputs, where DisplayPort 1.4 still beats HDMI 2.0, how DisplayPort 2.1 changes the equation, and the cable certification details that kill performance without any warning. Whether you’re comparing HDMI 2.1 vs DisplayPort 1.4, curious about HDMI 2.0 vs DisplayPort 1.4 for an older build, or trying to decide between DisplayPort 2.1 vs HDMI 2.1 for a next-gen setup, you’ll find the answer here. According to Tom’s Hardware’s analysis of DisplayPort vs HDMI for gaming, the hierarchy runs like this: DisplayPort 1.4 beats HDMI 2.0, HDMI 2.1 beats DisplayPort 1.4, and DisplayPort 2.1 beats HDMI 2.1. That’s the roadmap.

Quick Specs: HDMI 2.1 vs DisplayPort 1.4 at a Glance

The headline numbers are 48 Gbps (HDMI 2.1) versus 32.4 Gbps raw for DisplayPort 1.4. But raw bandwidth isn’t usable bandwidth. DisplayPort 1.4 uses 8b/10b encoding, which burns roughly 20% of total capacity on overhead. That brings actual usable throughput down to about 25.92 Gbps. HDMI 2.1 uses 16b/18b encoding with lower overhead (around 11%), leaving approximately 42.6 Gbps available for actual video data. Both standards support Display Stream Compression 1.2, which partially offsets DP 1.4’s bandwidth disadvantage at extreme resolutions. For the general comparison between DisplayPort and HDMI across all versions, the differences run deeper than bandwidth alone.

Feature	HDMI 2.1	DisplayPort 1.4
Max Raw Bandwidth	48 Gbps	32.4 Gbps
Usable Bandwidth	~42.6 Gbps	~25.92 Gbps
Encoding	16b/18b	8b/10b
Max Resolution (uncompressed)	10K @ 120Hz	8K @ 60Hz / 4K @ 120Hz (DSC)
DSC Support	Yes (1.2)	Yes (1.2)
HDR Support	HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision	HDR10, HDR400/600
VRR / G-Sync / FreeSync	Yes (HDMI VRR)	Yes (native)
Audio Channels	Up to 32-channel	Up to 32-channel
eARC Support	Yes	No
Multi-Stream Transport (MST)	No	Yes
Max Passive Cable Length	~2m (certified UHS)	~3m (HBR3 passive)
Typical Use Case	TVs, consoles, home theater	PC monitors, multi-monitor setups

Bandwidth Math: What the Numbers Actually Mean for Your Setup

Bandwidth specs are meaningless without context. Here’s what they mean for the resolutions and refresh rates you actually care about. The formula is straightforward: resolution (total pixels) multiplied by refresh rate, multiplied by color depth and color format. That gives you required bandwidth in Gbps, which you then compare against what the port can actually deliver.

Here’s how specific targets shake out:

• 4K @ 60Hz, RGB 8-bit: Requires ~14.9 Gbps. Both DP 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 handle this without breaking a sweat.
• 1440p @ 165Hz, RGB 8-bit: Requires ~17.8 Gbps. Both standards cover this uncompressed with headroom to spare.
• 1080p @ 240Hz, RGB 8-bit: Requires ~14.9 Gbps (identical pixel throughput to 4K @ 60Hz, since 1080p has a quarter the pixels but four times the refresh rate). Still comfortably within range for both standards.
• 4K @ 120Hz, RGB 8-bit: Requires ~29.8 Gbps. This is where the gap opens up. HDMI 2.1 handles it uncompressed at 42.6 Gbps usable. DP 1.4 at 25.92 Gbps usable cannot, so it falls back to DSC or 4:2:2 chroma subsampling to get there.
• 4K @ 144Hz, RGB 8-bit: Requires ~35.8 Gbps. HDMI 2.1 still clears it. DP 1.4 definitely cannot without DSC.
• 4K @ 240Hz, RGB 10-bit: Requires close to 70 Gbps. Neither HDMI 2.1 nor DP 1.4 can touch this without extreme compression. You need DP 2.1 for this target.

The practical takeaway: at 4K 120Hz, DisplayPort 1.4 is not broken. It works. But it works via DSC, which is a visually lossless compression algorithm that most people can’t distinguish from uncompressed output in daily use. If you want zero compromise at 4K 120Hz and above, HDMI 2.1 is the cleaner path. The VESA DSC specification confirms that DSC 1.2 is designed to be perceptually lossless at typical viewing distances, but it is still compression.

Not a dealbreaker. But worth knowing.

HDMI 2.0 vs DisplayPort 1.4: The Previous-Gen Comparison

If your GPU is from the RTX 20-series or RX 5000-series era, this comparison is the one that directly applies to your build. HDMI 2.0 caps out at 18 Gbps raw, which yields about 14.4 Gbps of usable bandwidth. That’s enough for 4K 60Hz in 8-bit RGB, and that’s about where it stops being useful for high-refresh gaming.

DisplayPort 1.4 wins this comparison decisively. Its 25.92 Gbps usable bandwidth clears 1440p 144Hz uncompressed, and it reaches 4K 120Hz via DSC. HDMI 2.0 can’t do either. If you’re running an older GPU with both port types, use DisplayPort 1.4 for any monitor running above 4K 60Hz or 1440p 60Hz in HDR. HDMI 2.0 simply doesn’t have the pipe for it.

Feature	HDMI 2.0	DisplayPort 1.4
Max Raw Bandwidth	18 Gbps	32.4 Gbps
4K @ 60Hz	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
4K @ 120Hz	✗ No	✓ Yes (DSC / 4:2:2)
1440p @ 144Hz	✗ No	✓ Yes (uncompressed)
1080p @ 240Hz	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
HDR10	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
eARC	No (ARC only)	No
MST Multi-Monitor	No	Yes

The verdict on HDMI 2.0 vs DisplayPort 1.4 isn’t close. DP 1.4 is clearly the stronger port for PC gaming on older hardware. The only scenario where HDMI 2.0 makes more sense is connecting to a TV that doesn’t have a DisplayPort input at all.

HDMI 2.1 vs DisplayPort 2.1: The Current-Gen Comparison

This is where things get interesting. DisplayPort 2.1 is a significant jump, arriving with three bandwidth tiers under the UHBR (Ultra-High Bit Rate) specification:

• UHBR 10: 40 Gbps raw
• UHBR 13.5: 54 Gbps raw
• UHBR 20: 80 Gbps raw

DP 2.1 also switches to 128b/132b encoding, which runs at roughly 97% efficiency compared to HDMI 2.1’s 88%. At full UHBR 20, usable bandwidth hits approximately 77.4 Gbps. That’s nearly double HDMI 2.1’s 42.6 Gbps. Huge gap.

The catch: most current GPUs don’t implement full UHBR 20. Among GPUs that support DP 2.1 at all, RX 7000-series cards typically top out at UHBR 13.5 (54 Gbps raw) — still faster than HDMI 2.1, but not the 80 Gbps ceiling. NVIDIA’s RTX 40-series, notably, stuck with DisplayPort 1.4a instead of adopting DP 2.1, despite shipping HDMI 2.1. The underlying UHBR bandwidth tiers debuted with DisplayPort 2.0, specifically designed to exceed 4K 240Hz uncompressed and target 8K workflows; DisplayPort 2.1 carries the same bandwidth tiers forward while focusing on more robust cable certification and closer USB4 alignment.

What DP 2.1 does that HDMI 2.1 can’t: 4K 240Hz uncompressed, 8K 60Hz uncompressed, and daisy-chain multi-monitor via MST. What HDMI 2.1 still owns: eARC for high-end audio systems, compatibility with every modern TV and console on the planet, and wider passive cable availability for longer runs.

For comparing displayport 1.4 vs hdmi 2.1 vs the newer DP 2.1 standard, here’s the full three-way view:

Feature	DP 1.4	HDMI 2.1	DP 2.1 (UHBR 20)
Max Raw Bandwidth	32.4 Gbps	48 Gbps	80 Gbps
Usable Bandwidth	~25.92 Gbps	~42.6 Gbps	~77.4 Gbps
4K @ 120Hz uncompressed	✗ (needs DSC)	✓	✓
4K @ 144Hz uncompressed	✗ (needs DSC)	✓	✓
4K @ 240Hz uncompressed	✗	✗	✓
8K @ 60Hz uncompressed	✗	✗	✓
MST (multi-stream)	✓	✗	✓
eARC	✗	✓	✗
GPU Support (2024-2025)	Widespread	RTX 30+, RX 6000+	RX 7000+ only, capped at UHBR 13.5 (RTX 40-series stayed on DP 1.4a)

GPU Port Availability by Generation: What Your Hardware Actually Has

This section is where most comparison guides fall short. Knowing that HDMI 2.1 beats DP 1.4 is irrelevant if your GPU doesn’t have HDMI 2.1. And knowing DP 2.1 is the fastest option doesn’t help if your card only has DP 1.4. Here’s exactly what each GPU generation ships with:

GPU Generation	HDMI Version	DisplayPort Version
NVIDIA RTX 20-series	2.0b	1.4a
NVIDIA RTX 30-series	2.1	1.4a
NVIDIA RTX 40-series	2.1	1.4a
AMD RX 5000-series	2.0b	1.4
AMD RX 6000-series	2.1	1.4
AMD RX 7000-series	2.1	2.1 (UHBR 13.5)
Intel Arc A-series	2.0 / 2.1 (varies by model)	2.0 (UHBR 10)

The critical insight here is the RTX 30-series and RX 6000-series situation. Both of those GPU generations ship with HDMI 2.1 but only DisplayPort 1.4. That means for 4K 120Hz or 4K 144Hz gaming on an RTX 3080, your HDMI port is actually the stronger option. Not obvious, and not what most people assume. If you’re deciding between specific RTX 30-series cards and their port configurations, our comparison of the RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 3070 covers the feature differences across that generation in more detail.

RTX 40-series doesn’t change the dynamic the way you might expect: NVIDIA kept DisplayPort 1.4a on the entire Ada Lovelace generation rather than adopting DP 2.1, so HDMI 2.1 remains the higher-bandwidth PC-monitor port on RTX 4080/4090 as well. RX 7000-series is the one that actually moved to DisplayPort 2.1, topping out at UHBR 13.5 (54 Gbps) rather than the full UHBR 20 ceiling.

Use-Case Matching: Which Standard Is Right for You?

The best way to cut through the noise is to match your target resolution and use case to the right standard. Here’s the breakdown by scenario, covering the full spectrum of displayport vs hdmi 2.1 decisions you’ll actually face at the desk.

PC Gaming at 1080p or 1440p

Both DP 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 handle 1440p 165Hz and 1080p 240Hz without compression. At these resolutions there’s no meaningful difference in signal quality. If your monitor supports G-Sync and has a dedicated DisplayPort input for variable refresh, DP 1.4 is a fine choice. HDMI 2.1 is equally capable here. Pick whatever port your monitor and GPU share without any adapter needed.

PC Gaming at 4K 60Hz

Both standards cover this easily. Even HDMI 2.0 handles 4K 60Hz. There’s no reason to make a decision based on connectivity at this tier. Focus on your GPU’s performance, not the port.

PC Gaming at 4K 120Hz to 144Hz

This is the decision point. HDMI 2.1 handles 4K 120Hz and 4K 144Hz uncompressed. DisplayPort 1.4 reaches these targets via DSC or 4:2:2 chroma subsampling. DSC is designed to be perceptually lossless and most users won’t see a difference. That said, if you want the cleanest uncompressed path, HDMI 2.1 is it. On RTX 30-series and RX 6000-series specifically, use HDMI 2.1 since it’s the stronger port on those cards.

Multi-Monitor Setups (MST)

DisplayPort wins here. No contest. DP 1.4 and DP 2.1 both support Multi-Stream Transport, which lets you daisy-chain monitors or use a single port through an MST hub to drive multiple displays. HDMI 2.1 has no MST support at all. Every HDMI monitor needs its own dedicated GPU port. For a three-monitor workstation running off two physical ports, DisplayPort is the only option.

TV and Home Theater Gaming

HDMI 2.1. Full stop. TVs don’t have DisplayPort inputs. If you’re connecting a PC to a living room 4K OLED for gaming at 4K 120Hz, HDMI 2.1 on both the GPU and TV is the only path. eARC support on HDMI 2.1 matters here too if you’re running audio through a soundbar or AV receiver.

Professional Workstation and Rendering

For 8K color-accurate workflows, DP 2.1 is the right tool. DisplayPort 1.4 still handles 4K 60Hz color work well in professional environments. HDMI 2.1 works for display output but lacks MST support for complex multi-screen production setups.

Cable Certification: The Hidden Performance Killer

Here’s the part nobody covers properly, and it’s the actual cause of most “my monitor won’t do 4K 120Hz” support tickets.

The cable matters as much as the port version. Buy the wrong cable and you can have HDMI 2.1 on both ends of your connection and still be capped at 18 Gbps.

For HDMI 2.1, the cable must be labeled “Ultra High Speed HDMI” (certified for 48 Gbps). Cables sold as “HDMI 2.1 compatible” or “supports 4K 120Hz” without that specific label may be 18 Gbps passive cables that can’t actually carry the bandwidth. The HDMI Forum’s cable certification program provides a QR code verification system. If your cable doesn’t have it, you’re gambling.

Common failure mode: you buy a cheap “4K HDMI 2.1 cable” for $8, plug it into an RTX 3080 and a 4K 120Hz monitor, and the display only offers 60Hz as a maximum. Swap to a certified Ultra High Speed cable. Problem solved. Embarrassingly often.

For DisplayPort, the certifications work like this:

• DP 1.4 (HBR3): Requires a cable rated for HBR3, also sold as “VESA-certified DisplayPort 1.4 cable”
• DP 2.1 (UHBR 10): Requires a DP40 cable (40 Gbps certified)
• DP 2.1 (UHBR 13.5 and UHBR 20): Requires a DP80 cable (80 Gbps certified); a newer DP54 cable certification (54 Gbps) also covers UHBR 13.5 specifically, introduced in the DP 2.1a spec update

Passive cable max reliable lengths: Ultra High Speed HDMI tops out at about 2 meters before signal integrity becomes inconsistent. DP 1.4 HBR3 passive cables run reliably at 2 to 3 meters. Beyond those lengths, active cables with signal boosting are the right tool. They cost more. Worth it.

When troubleshooting missing resolution options or lower-than-expected refresh rate caps, swap the cable first. It fixes the problem a significant percentage of the time before you start questioning your GPU settings, BIOS, or display firmware.

FAQ

Is HDMI 2.1 better than DisplayPort 1.4 for 4K 120Hz?

Yes, HDMI 2.1 is the cleaner choice for 4K 120Hz. At that target you need roughly 29.8 Gbps, which sits comfortably within HDMI 2.1’s ~42.6 Gbps usable bandwidth. DisplayPort 1.4’s ~25.92 Gbps usable capacity falls short of 4K 120Hz uncompressed, so it relies on DSC compression or 4:2:2 chroma subsampling to reach that mode. DSC is perceptually lossless and works fine in practice, but HDMI 2.1 gets you there without any compression at all. On GPUs like the RTX 3080 or RX 6900 XT that have HDMI 2.1 but only DP 1.4, this decision is already made for you.

Is HDMI 2.1 better than DisplayPort 1.4 for 4K 144Hz?

Yes, clearly. 4K 144Hz uncompressed in RGB 8-bit requires approximately 35.8 Gbps. HDMI 2.1 at ~42.6 Gbps usable handles it. DisplayPort 1.4 at ~25.92 Gbps usable cannot reach 4K 144Hz without DSC. If your monitor supports DSC, DP 1.4 can still output 4K 144Hz, and in most cases you won’t see a visual difference. But HDMI 2.1 delivers the uncompressed path with no caveats.

Should I use HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4 on an RTX 3080 or 3090?

Use HDMI 2.1 for 4K high-refresh gaming on RTX 30-series cards. The RTX 3080 and 3090 ship with HDMI 2.1 ports but only DisplayPort 1.4a. That makes HDMI 2.1 the stronger of the two options on those specific GPUs for 4K 120Hz and 4K 144Hz targets. If your monitor doesn’t have HDMI 2.1, use DP 1.4 with DSC enabled. For 1440p 165Hz or any target below 4K 120Hz, DP 1.4 is perfectly fine and you won’t see any difference.

Does DisplayPort 1.4 support HDR?

Yes, DisplayPort 1.4 supports HDR10 and the VESA DisplayHDR 400 and 600 standards. What it doesn’t support is Dolby Vision, which is primarily an HDMI feature on consumer displays and requires specific licensing. HDMI 2.1 covers HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision. If your monitor or TV is Dolby Vision certified and you want that HDR format specifically, HDMI 2.1 is the required connection. For HDR10, which covers the vast majority of PC gaming HDR content, DisplayPort 1.4 works without any limitations.

Is DisplayPort 2.1 worth it over HDMI 2.1 in 2024 and 2025?

For PC monitor setups targeting 4K 144Hz or higher, DisplayPort 2.1 is the better long-term choice on GPUs that support it, especially if you’re planning to move to a 4K 240Hz display within the next year or two. RX 7000-series GPUs have the hardware to support it, with DP 2.1 at UHBR 13.5 already clearing every display target that HDMI 2.1 can reach. NVIDIA’s RTX 40-series shipped with DisplayPort 1.4a rather than DP 2.1, so HDMI 2.1 remains the stronger high-refresh path on those cards. For connecting to a TV, home theater setup, or console-adjacent gaming environment, HDMI 2.1 is still the only realistic option since TVs don’t offer DisplayPort inputs.

Final Thoughts

The right answer depends entirely on what your GPU and monitor actually support. On RTX 30-series and RX 6000-series hardware, HDMI 2.1 is surprisingly the stronger port for 4K gaming because those cards only have DP 1.4 on the DisplayPort side. That’s also true of RTX 40-series, which sticks with DisplayPort 1.4a despite its HDMI 2.1 port. RX 7000-series is the exception, with DP 2.1 (UHBR 13.5) pulling ahead of HDMI 2.1 for extreme refresh rates. For multi-monitor setups, DisplayPort is the only option regardless of version. And for TV connections, HDMI 2.1 is your only path. Before you buy a cable or plan your port layout, check your GPU’s exact port versions against this guide, then verify your cable is certified for the bandwidth you need. The port decision is easy once you know what you’re actually working with.