You’ve bought a 144Hz monitor, the box has both a DisplayPort and an HDMI cable in it, and you want to know which one to plug in. Short answer: on a desktop PC, use DisplayPort. On a console, you have no choice — it’s HDMI.
The longer answer explains why, and covers the cases where the short answer is wrong.
It’s a bandwidth problem, not a brand war
A display signal is just a lot of data per second. Multiply pixels by refresh rate by colour depth and you get a number the cable has to carry. Both standards keep raising their ceiling; whichever version you’re on decides what you can run.
| Standard | Usable data rate | Comfortably handles |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI 1.4 | ~8.2 Gbps | 1080p 120Hz, 4K 30Hz. Not enough for 1440p 144Hz |
| HDMI 2.0 (18 Gbps link) | ~14.4 Gbps | 4K 60Hz, 1080p 144Hz+. 1440p 144Hz only with reduced blanking |
| HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps link) | ~42 Gbps | 4K 120Hz native, 4K 144Hz, 8K with compression |
| DisplayPort 1.2 | ~17.3 Gbps | 1440p 144Hz, 4K 60Hz, 1080p 240Hz |
| DisplayPort 1.4 | ~25.9 Gbps | 1440p 144Hz–240Hz easily, 4K 120Hz+ using DSC compression |
| DisplayPort 2.1 | up to ~77 Gbps | 4K 240Hz, 8K high refresh. Still uncommon on monitors |
What 144Hz actually costs in bandwidth
- 1080p at 144Hz: roughly 10 Gbps. Any HDMI 2.0 or DP 1.2 connection does this without drama.
- 1440p at 144Hz: roughly 14 Gbps. Right at HDMI 2.0’s practical edge — it often works using reduced blanking, but it’s not guaranteed on every monitor. DP 1.2 and above handle it with room to spare.
- 4K at 144Hz: roughly 32 Gbps. You need HDMI 2.1, or DP 1.4 with DSC compression.
That middle row is the whole reason DisplayPort has the reputation it has. 1440p 144Hz is the most popular gaming configuration in Australia right now, and it’s precisely where HDMI 2.0 gets marginal and DisplayPort doesn’t.
The practical rules
Desktop PC to gaming monitor: DisplayPort
Your graphics card almost certainly has DP 1.4 outputs and your monitor almost certainly has a DP input. It gets you full refresh rate at 1440p with no fiddling, it carries audio, and its locking connector doesn’t fall out when you move the desk. Use the cable that came with the monitor first — it’s usually the right one.
Console: HDMI, and specifically HDMI 2.1
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have no DisplayPort output at all. For 120Hz gaming on those, you need an HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps) cable and a display with an HDMI 2.1 input. This is one of the few places where the cable itself genuinely matters — an old 18Gbps cable will hold you to 4K60.
Laptop with only USB-C: it depends on your monitor
USB-C video works through DisplayPort Alt Mode, which typically carries a DP 1.4 signal — good news, because that means a USB-C to DisplayPort cable gives you a native DisplayPort connection to the monitor with enough bandwidth for 1440p at high refresh. If your monitor only has HDMI inputs free, a USB-C to HDMI cable works, with the HDMI 2.0 ceiling of 4K@60Hz applying.
Worth knowing: gaming laptops often wire the USB-C port to the integrated GPU rather than the discrete one, which costs you frames. If you have an HDMI or Mini DisplayPort output on the laptop, try it first.
Adaptive sync: G-Sync and FreeSync
Variable refresh rate stops tearing by letting the monitor match the GPU’s output. Historically this was another point in DisplayPort’s favour — monitors with the original G-Sync hardware module only supported it over DisplayPort, and it’s still the safest path today.
FreeSync works over both DisplayPort and HDMI. HDMI 2.1 added VRR to the standard, which is what consoles use. If adaptive sync is important to you, check your monitor’s manual for which inputs support it — many list it as DisplayPort-only or note a narrower refresh range over HDMI.
What about DisplayPort to HDMI?
Useful, with one thing to understand: a passive DP-to-HDMI cable is uni-directional. The DisplayPort end must be the source (your PC), and the HDMI end must be the display. It will not work backwards — you can’t use it to get a PlayStation onto a DisplayPort-only monitor.
Our DP to HDMI cable is exactly that: 2m, plug and play, no drivers, running 1080p and 4K. It’s the right tool for connecting a desktop to a TV or a second HDMI-only monitor. For high-refresh gaming, prefer a straight DP-to-DP or HDMI-to-HDMI run — every conversion is another place to lose headroom.
Do expensive cables make a difference?
Mostly no, and this is where a lot of money gets wasted in Australian retail. A digital signal either arrives intact or it visibly fails — you get sparkles, dropouts or a black screen, not a “softer” picture. There is no picture-quality upgrade waiting in an $89 cable.
What you’re paying for at higher prices is certification and build: a cable rated for 48Gbps to run 4K120, or a well-made 5m run where a cheap one would be marginal. Under about 3m, a properly rated cable at a sane price is all you need. Our 4K@60Hz HDMI cable is 18Gbps in 2m and 5m for $8–$15, which covers 4K60 and 1080p high-refresh use.
One honest caveat on DP-to-DP cables
Bandwidth is the spec that decides what a DisplayPort cable can do, and plenty of listings — including, until we fix it, our own — don’t state a DP version. Our DP to DP cable is a 2m male-to-male lead with a locking connector, and supports multi-stream (MST) daisy-chaining and audio. If you’re chasing a specific tier such as 1440p at 165Hz, message us to confirm the rating before ordering rather than assuming — and apply the same scepticism to any listing that won’t tell you.
When not to change anything
If you’re on 1080p 144Hz and it’s running at 144Hz, you’re done. Check in Windows under System → Display → Advanced display that the refresh rate is set to 144Hz — a surprising number of monitors ship defaulted to 60Hz and people buy cables trying to fix a setting.
Quick answers
| Your setup | Use this |
|---|---|
| Desktop PC, 1440p 144Hz monitor | DisplayPort (DP 1.2 or better) |
| Desktop PC, 1080p 144Hz monitor | Either. DisplayPort if the port is free |
| PS5 or Xbox Series X at 120Hz | HDMI 2.1, 48Gbps cable |
| Laptop, USB-C only, DP monitor input | USB-C to DisplayPort cable |
| Laptop, USB-C only, HDMI monitor input | USB-C to HDMI cable, 4K60 ceiling |
| PC to TV in another room | DP to HDMI, source end must be DP |
FAQs
Can HDMI do 144Hz?
Yes, depending on resolution. HDMI 2.0 handles 1080p at 144Hz easily and 1440p at 144Hz on many monitors using reduced blanking. For 4K at 144Hz you need HDMI 2.1.
Is DisplayPort better than HDMI for gaming?
On a PC, generally yes — more bandwidth at the versions most cards ship with, a locking connector, and the most reliable adaptive sync support. For consoles and TVs, HDMI is the only option and HDMI 2.1 is excellent.
Will a better cable increase my frame rate?
No. Frame rate comes from your GPU. A cable only limits the resolution and refresh rate combination the display can accept — it can hold you back, but it can’t speed you up.
Why is my 144Hz monitor stuck at 60Hz?
Usually a Windows display setting rather than the cable. Set the refresh rate manually in display settings. If 144Hz isn’t offered, then check whether your cable and port version have the bandwidth for that resolution.
Do I need an HDMI 2.1 cable for a 144Hz 1080p monitor?
No. 1080p at 144Hz needs roughly 10Gbps, which a standard 18Gbps HDMI 2.0 cable carries comfortably.
If you need the cable
Buy for the resolution and refresh rate you actually run, not the one on the box’s marketing. Ours dispatch from Australia in 2–5 business days with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’ve mis-diagnosed which cable you needed, it’s an easy swap.
