So you’ve just bought a new TV. It’s a 30” HD-ready monster. It deserves high quality video, and you want to stream video from your computer onto the TV. So which is the best option to connect the two?
Well you generally have 3 options: HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVA. The hard part is figuring out which is best.
We’re going to look into the pros and cons of each to help you make that decision.
HDMI – This is the most common on our list. Most modern computers and TV’s have this tucked away in the box because they’re cheap, and carry audio.
It does have a few drawbacks however (just like anything that’s cheap). Its biggest downfall is probably the fact that your TV probably has HDMI 1.4 connections which maxes at 30 frames per second. So if you have a 4K monitor for your PC you’re limited to those 30FPS.
But in the majority of cases HDMI will be the best option thanks to the fact that it comes in the box. But if you’re looking for super high resolution and frame rates you’ll want to try one of the others.
DisplayPort – DisplayPort is generally found within the same price bracket as a HDMI, but has a few more drawbacks. If you’re looking to hook your computer up your new TV with DisplayPort then think again. There’s just one TV with it.
If you’re simply hooking your computer monitor up then go for it. It carries audio just like HDMI and as we said, it’s generally the same price.
DVI – If you’re plugging the PC into a TV this isn’t the connection for you. It doesn’t (usually) carry audio, which is pretty useful when trying to watch video. If you’re plugging into a monitor then it shouldn’t be a problem. Most monitors don’t have speakers built in, so you’ll have something separate for audio.
Conclusion – If you read the above then you’re going to be able to guess my final suggestion: HDMI. It works for both your monitor and your TV and is usually good enough to cope. If you are going for some really serious high frame rate and resolution on your monitor then DisplayPort is the way forward.
If you’d like any help installing, connecting or setting up audio and visual systems in your home or workplace get in touch!