Solved Display Port or HDMI

[HammerHead]

Just purchased a new Mobo (Asus P8Z77-V Deluxe). Haven't bought the CPU. I am waithing on the new 22nm models. After taking a close look at the display outputs on the mobo I have a choice of HDMI or Display Port. None of my existing monitors have ports for that. Soooo I guess I get a new display.

What should I be looking at as far as cables and the choice between HDMI or Display Port. I am not familiar with either one. Also I am assuming the cabling is different for the two ports.

 

[profdlp]

You can find adapters to allow you to use either with DVI. If your current monitor needs replacing anyway, an HDMI-native model will be cheaper than the DP version.

It can get more complicated if you have plans for multiple monitors down the road.

 

[HammerHead]

Adapters?

Great idea. I have never seen one. I'll look around.

 

[profdlp]

Newegg.com - $0 - $10, hdmi to dvi

Newegg.com - display port to dvi

Note: Pay attention to the Male/Female connection alternatives. M/M is most likely what you'll want.

If you go the Display Port route, I'd recommend getting an Active type adapter. It will leave you with more flexibility in the future.

The motherboard may also include an HDMI-to-DVI adapter - check before you spend any money.

 

[HammerHead]

Male to Male

M/M is correct. I found this which has got my interest. I wont't have a dongle hangin' out on one end.

HDMI-DVI Cables

What do you think?

It's right at the top of the page.

 

[profdlp]

I'm using two of them, and I agree - the fewer connectors along the way the better.

 

[smarteyeball]

If you go the Display Port route, I'd recommend getting an Active type adapter. It will leave you with more flexibility in the future.

Actually, a passive one should be okay with a native display port capable monitor.

(When I had my 5970+eyefinity, I simply used the supplied passive DP cable for my monitors native DP input without any dramas.)

What do you think?

It's right at the top of the page.

That'd work.

 

[HammerHead]

Mobo Box

There was none included in with the Mobo I checked after you mentioned it. I think those adapter are normally included with a graphics adapter. I must have a gazillion DVI to VGA adapters. I throw some of them away everyonce in awhile.

I checked the EVGA site and some of their cards are packaging the DVI to HDMI adapters now. The newer boards with on board graphics ports will possibly start including them with the board or they could just leave it to the grapics vendors but that remains to be seen.

 

[HammerHead]

Active Vs Passive

Smartyball:

Clue me in Active versus Passive.

 

[kegobeer]

A passive adapter is just a cable that connects DP to vga/dvi/etc, the video card detects the display and then sends the correct signal. An active adapter contains hardware that converts the signal from DP to vga/dvi/etc.

My two cents on DP - avoid it. At work, we have very expensive, very high quality monitors with DP inputs (with all of the other usual inputs) and very expensive and dependable video cards with dual DP outputs. DP is very flaky, sometimes losing the signal on one monitor or the other, requiring a reboot to fix things, and sometimes not supporting hot swapping cables (something dvi/hdmi/vga does not suffer) - when doing so causes loss of signal, requiring a reboot to fix. I'd go for the much more dependable HDMI interface.

 

[HammerHead]

Good Explanation

Kego'

The definition from the two words are kind of self explaning but haveing never used DP I was kind of in the dark.

 

[profdlp]

DP is to display what USB is to serial ports. The biggest advantage I see for the end user is that you can daisy-chain devices. Native Display Port monitors have come down in price lately, but a quick look around a few retailers will show that they are still quite expensive compared to HDMI and DVI monitors.

This is a bit oversimplified, but fairly accurate:

VGA - Virtually obsolete when it comes to new hardware.
DVI - Headed toward obsolescence, but still common.
HDMI - The current "in" thing.
DP - If it catches on, nice to have. If it doesn't, it's like HD DVD was before Blu Ray captured the market.

The biggest advantage to a DP adapter for someone without a DP monitor is that through the use of an Active adapter you can bypass the two-device limit inherent in DVI. AMD's Eyefinity has allowed me to run three monitors off of one HD6870 video card. Their six-monitor setup is possible by running two cards with Eyefinity.

What smarteyeball mentioned about a Passive adapter is true, assuming the monitor is DP. Like I mentioned, check the prices and a $30 adapter looks like a bargain.

I have one monitor running off the HDMI on my card, one running straight off a DVI port, and the third running off a DP connection on the card through an Active adapter to a DVI monitor:

(Card connection => Monitor connection)
HDMI => HDMI
DVI => DVI
DP => Active adapter => DVI
​

Your setup is great for two monitors right out of the box. Throw in almost any modern video card and you'll have two more if you want them. Add an Eyefinity card instead and you can add three more. Of course, at that point any money you save on not buying a DP monitor will probably go toward a new desk to hold all the DVI/HDMI ones.