MBP and external monitor - HDMI v DisplayPort

[Vazza]

Planning to hook up my 13” MBP to a 1080p external monitor which has both connections...is there one that’s preferable? Do I go for a USB C to HDMI cable or DisplayPort?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Vazza]

I’ve done a bit more reading and there doesn’t seem much between the two except HDMI has higher theoretical bandwidth which will be useful for the future when we get higher resolutions than 4/5K compared to the DisplayPort...am I missing anything else when deciding?

 

[Painter2002]

I’ve done a bit more reading and there doesn’t seem much between the two except HDMI has higher theoretical bandwidth which will be useful for the future when we get higher resolutions than 4/5K compared to the DisplayPort...am I missing anything else when deciding?

To my knowledge there isn't a difference. I use both ports (Display Port for my Windows machine, and HDMI for the Mac) and there is no discernible difference in display quality between the two on a 1080 display.

 

[doitdada]

To my knowledge there isn't a difference. I use both ports (Display Port for my Windows machine, and HDMI for the Mac) and there is no discernible difference in display quality between the two on a 1080 display.

But when you go for 4K, then HDMI can get tricky, even though you have the right cables. Get DisplayPort if you are using a 4K monitor. Most of the problems may have disappeared, but DisplayPort has supported 4K for a long time.

 

[Vazza]

But when you go for 4K, then HDMI can get tricky, even though you have the right cables. Get DisplayPort if you are using a 4K monitor. Most of the problems may have disappeared, but DisplayPort has supported 4K for a long time.

Could you elaborate on what problems I could encounter with a USB C to HDMI cable please?

 

[buran-energia]

I’ve done a bit more reading and there doesn’t seem much between the two except HDMI has higher theoretical bandwidth which will be useful for the future when we get higher resolutions than 4/5K compared to the DisplayPort...am I missing anything else when deciding?

There are also various HDMI standards (HDMI 1.4, 2.0), but I think they mostly matters if you want to run 4k at 60 hz.

DisplayPort supports Daisy chain (if you need that), but IIRC HDMI doesn't.

 

[Alameda]

Could you elaborate on what problems I could encounter with a USB C to HDMI cable please?

It doesn't matter, because you have a 1080p monitor. Use whatever cable is cheaper; most likely, that will be HDMI.

 

[Glockworkorange]

Planning to hook up my 13” MBP to a 1080p external monitor which has both connections...is there one that’s preferable? Do I go for a USB C to HDMI cable or DisplayPort?

Thanks in advance.

I’ve always seemed to have better luck with DisplayPort, at least as far as a Dell external. Used a TB to DisplayPort adapter from Amazon.
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I’ve always seemed to have better luck with DisplayPort, at least as far as a Dell external. Used a TB to DisplayPort adapter from Amazon.

Sorry—-I see you are taking USB-C, not TB 3

 

[iMacDragon]

There is a chance that macOS might treat hdmi monitor as TV and output non RGB, or that monitor might treat hdmi input differently and process it for being Video input rather than Monitor input, so given a choice, I'd go for DP.

 

[Patcell]

As others have stated, for a 1080p monitor it should make no difference which interface you use. If you go to 4K at some point, most of the adapters only support HDMI 1.4, which is limited to 4K@30hz (30 frames per second). DisplayPort 1.2 will allow full 4K@60hz.

IMHO, DisplayPort is generally the better connection. Especially for higher resolutions than 1080p.

 

[Fishrrman]

For 1080p, the HDMI port should work fine.

Be aware that when you connect a display this way, -sometimes- the Mac will "think that it's connected to a tv, and NOT to a computer display".

You will know this is the case if all you see in the Displays preference pane are references to "1080p", etc. (and NOT pixel count designations such as, "1920x1080").

That's not a problem with 1080p, really.
Just plug it in, get your colors set as you like (try different color settings in the displays pref pane), and be happy.

 

[doitdada]

Could you elaborate on what problems I could encounter with a USB C to HDMI cable please?

I've just ran into a lot of encounters with HDMI and 4K. Even with PCs with 1080 GTX, new Samsung TVs with HDMI 2.0, new Macs and some monitors as well. 4K is not plug and play at the moment. I encounter dropouts, blinking screens and the need to plug in and out the cable to get it to work. Apple has also been know to drop support for some cables that used to work before and now they don't.

I have always opted for DisplayPort as they geared toward the professional market and you can't find them on most TV sets. I would love to have a single solution, you know like one size fits all, but I would rather invest my time and money in something that is known to work.

I guess you could be lucky and find the magic cable, but my luck has been with DisplayPort after 4K became more or less the norm.

 

[leman]

I’d recommend DisplayPort simply because it’s natively supported by USB-C, so you won’t need an adapter (just a C-to-DP cable). Or does the MBP natively support HDMI in the meantime?

 

[Vazza]

I’d recommend DisplayPort simply because it’s natively supported by USB-C, so you won’t need an adapter (just a C-to-DP cable). Or does the MBP natively support HDMI in the meantime?

Sorry I may have misunderstood but there’s USB C to HDMI cables available without an adapter? Price difference is neglible between that and a USB C to DP cable too.

 

[leman]

Sorry I may have misunderstood but there’s USB C to HDMI cables available without an adapter? Price difference is neglible between that and a USB C to DP cable too.

AFAIK, USB-C supports HDMI alternate mode. But I have no idea whether any devices or cables actually implement this.