Which monitor port to use?

[Flycaster]

I just installed a Gigabyte RTX 4060 card into my PC (HP TE01-1020.) Had some problems with sound coming out of the monitor (Asus PA278QV,) whereas it should have been outputted via the stereo speakers. However, the issue was solved and all appears to be running well. At present the monitor is connected to the card via the card's HDMI slot.

Although, the monitor's video is fine for my photo editing, I was wondering if connecting the monitor to one of the card's display ports would bring any "improvement?" And if there would be an improvement, please suggest the kind of cable that should be used?

Here's a pic/description of the monitor's ports:

Thanks

 

[Billiam29]

I don’t think the choice between HDMI and DisplayPort would matter for your particular circumstances. If you start having issues, switch to the other one.

Your monitor appears to be 1440p at 60 Hz and not HDR. I’m pretty sure both the HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.2 specifications listed for your monitor are capable of “maxing-out” your display’s capabilities.

The only potential issue with HDMI is that sometimes computers can think HDMI connections are TVs instead of computer displays. I think those days are well in the rear view mirror though. Escpecially when you have an Asus ProArt series display on the other end of the HDMI connection.

 

[New Wrycuda]

I just installed a Gigabyte RTX 4060 card into my PC (HP TE01-1020.) Had some problems with sound coming out of the monitor (Asus PA278QV,) whereas it should have been outputted via the stereo speakers. However, the issue was solved and all appears to be running well. At present the monitor is connected to the card via the card's HDMI slot.

Although, the monitor's video is fine for my photo editing, I was wondering if connecting the monitor to one of the card's display ports would bring any "improvement?" And if there would be an improvement, please suggest the kind of cable that should be used?

DP to DP would be the obvious choice. Note that DP connectors have a latching mechanism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort

(See image of DP connector with unlatch button).

Using DP will give you access to faster refresh rates, up to 75 Hz in the case of that monitor.

 

[BobKnDP]

I just installed a Gigabyte RTX 4060 card into my PC (HP TE01-1020.) Had some problems with sound coming out of the monitor (Asus PA278QV,) whereas it should have been outputted via the stereo speakers. However, the issue was solved and all appears to be running well. At present the monitor is connected to the card via the card's HDMI slot.

Although, the monitor's video is fine for my photo editing, I was wondering if connecting the monitor to one of the card's display ports would bring any "improvement?" And if there would be an improvement, please suggest the kind of cable that should be used?

DP to DP would be the obvious choice. Note that DP connectors have a latching mechanism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort

(See image of DP connector with unlatch button).

Using DP will give you access to faster refresh rates, up to 75 Hz in the case of that monitor.

ProArt Display PA278QV - Tech Specs｜Monitors｜ASUS USA

If you believe Wikipedia, the HDMI 1.4 port on the monitor supports 2560X1440 @ 75Hz.

I've always stuck with DisplayPort, though. I figure that I don't want the PC to think it's connected to a TV.

 

[New Wrycuda]

I just installed a Gigabyte RTX 4060 card into my PC (HP TE01-1020.) Had some problems with sound coming out of the monitor (Asus PA278QV,) whereas it should have been outputted via the stereo speakers. However, the issue was solved and all appears to be running well. At present the monitor is connected to the card via the card's HDMI slot.

Although, the monitor's video is fine for my photo editing, I was wondering if connecting the monitor to one of the card's display ports would bring any "improvement?" And if there would be an improvement, please suggest the kind of cable that should be used?

DP to DP would be the obvious choice. Note that DP connectors have a latching mechanism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort

(See image of DP connector with unlatch button).

Using DP will give you access to faster refresh rates, up to 75 Hz in the case of that monitor.

ProArt Display PA278QV - Tech Specs｜Monitors｜ASUS USA

If you believe Wikipedia, the HDMI 1.4 port on the monitor supports 2560X1440 @ 75Hz.

Two of my monitors have DP and they are connected to DP on the video card. I’ve always considered DP the superior port, and I like the latch feature. One setup has the refresh option of 144Hz, and I don’t think HDMI would allow that.

I've always stuck with DisplayPort, though. I figure that I don't want the PC to think it's connected to a TV.

I’ve found HDMI-HDMI workable if that’s what’s available, and that’s the only option for one particular monitor. My laptop and another computer both connect via HDMI without issue.

If I do connect a computer to the TV via HDMI, it’s necessary to specify the TV for the sound output (rather than the stereo speakers of the computer). Otherwise, the TV works just like a big monitor.

 

[David Lal]

DP to DP would be the obvious choice. Note that DP connectors have a latching mechanism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort

(See image of DP connector with unlatch button).

Using DP will give you access to faster refresh rates, up to 75 Hz in the case of that monitor.

Yes, Displayport to Displayport should give better results. Note not all DP cables have the latching mechanism. I prefer without because fiddling around, trying to release the latch in the dark behing the PC amidst a mass of other cables can be very vexing.

I have found the quality of DP cables (e.g. from Ebay) can be very variable.

 

[Keekerseeker]

Just hooked up 2 27 4k ultra sharps,,using DP,works great.

 

[SC489]

Check your monitor spec. For my Viewsonic monitor the DP connection outputs at a higher resolution than HDMI.

 

[David Lal]

Check your monitor spec. For my Viewsonic monitor the DP connection outputs at a higher resolution than HDMI.

I have a very nice Philips 27" 4K monitor which has both Displayport and HDMI inputs and a PC that can output either via DP or HDMI. The picture is noticeably better via DP.

I'm in the UK but we don't watch much UK (or American) material, preferring European films and so on. The PC and 4K screen gives us a better viewing (and listening) experience.

 

[Flycaster]

I don't believe that my monitor is 4K, thus it appears from posts above, that I may not see any real difference in photo image using DP cables? So, for my monitor, HDMI cables are probably the best I can get?

 

[David Lal]

I don't believe that my monitor is 4K, thus it appears from posts above, that I may not see any real difference in photo image using DP cables? So, for my monitor, HDMI cables are probably the best I can get?

No, as far as I know your monitor is not 4k but I think the best cables would still be DP ones, not that you would necessarily see any difference if you change from HDMI.

 

[BobKnDP]

I don't believe that my monitor is 4K, thus it appears from posts above, that I may not see any real difference in photo image using DP cables? So, for my monitor, HDMI cables are probably the best I can get?

Your PA278QV is QHD (2560 X 1440).

I'd still prefer DP cables. The performance may not be superior to HDMI. But, you'd get to choose among 3 slots of the graphics card. There's only one HDMI port. ;-)

 

[BillyBobSenna]

There will be zero difference for your application.

 

[New Wrycuda]

I don't believe that my monitor is 4K, thus it appears from posts above, that I may not see any real difference in photo image using DP cables? So, for my monitor, HDMI cables are probably the best I can get?

Your PA278QV is QHD (2560 X 1440).

I'd still prefer DP cables. The performance may not be superior to HDMI. But, you'd get to choose among 3 slots of the graphics card. There's only one HDMI port.

One of my monitors only has HDMI input and it’s connected to the DP port of the computer using a DP-HDMI adapter cable. Maybe that adapter cable would work the other way round to effectively give you 4 x DP outputs? That adapted output might be limited to 2k.

 

[BobKnDP]

I don't believe that my monitor is 4K, thus it appears from posts above, that I may not see any real difference in photo image using DP cables? So, for my monitor, HDMI cables are probably the best I can get?

Your PA278QV is QHD (2560 X 1440).

I'd still prefer DP cables. The performance may not be superior to HDMI. But, you'd get to choose among 3 slots of the graphics card. There's only one HDMI port.

One of my monitors only has HDMI input and it’s connected to the DP port of the computer using a DP-HDMI adapter cable. Maybe that adapter cable would work the other way round to effectively give you 4 x DP outputs? That adapted output might be limited to 2k.

A quick check at Amazon finds HDMI to DP adapters, but they are active devices.

 

[David Lal]

One of my monitors only has HDMI input and it’s connected to the DP port of the computer using a DP-HDMI adapter cable. Maybe that adapter cable would work the other way round to effectively give you 4 x DP outputs? That adapted output might be limited to 2k.

No!

As far as I know all cables like that are unidirectional therefore cannot be reversed. However, both DP > HDMI and HDMI > DP cables are available.

I have been playing a lot with this recently as I have been trying, with some limited success, to drive high quality output from my PC to our (non-smart) television over a 10m long cable.

Unfortunately, I must warn that some of the cables I've sourced from Ebay have turned out to be cr@p. In one case leading to me demanding a refund since it was advertised as supporting a particular audio specification but clearly did not.

 

[New Wrycuda]

One of my monitors only has HDMI input and it’s connected to the DP port of the computer using a DP-HDMI adapter cable. Maybe that adapter cable would work the other way round to effectively give you 4 x DP outputs? That adapted output might be limited to 2k.

No!

As far as I know all cables like that are unidirectional therefore cannot be reversed. However, both DP > HDMI and HDMI > DP cables are available.

Maybe I was too hopeful.

DP to HDMI

I have been playing a lot with this recently as I have been trying, with some limited success, to drive high quality output from my PC to our (non-smart) television over a 10m long cable.

I use a 5m HDMI cable for streaming computer output to a fairly dumb 1920 x 1080 Samsung TV. I picked up the cable for about $20 at retail outlet. Need to tell computer to use the Samsung sound system rather than the usual stereo output.

Unfortunately, I must warn that some of the cables I've sourced from Ebay have turned out to be cr@p. In one case leading to me demanding a refund since it was advertised as supporting a particular audio specification but clearly did not.

Some cables come with no printed specs. such as HDMI 1.4 etc.

 

[David Lal]

I use a 5m HDMI cable for streaming computer output to a fairly dumb 1920 x 1080 Samsung TV. I picked up the cable for about $20 at retail outlet. Need to tell computer to use the Samsung sound system rather than the usual stereo output.

Well, I'm English and live in England (now) but don't like British (or American) TV very much. Having worked most of my working life in central and northern Europe we watch mainly European/Scandinavian programmes but via my PC which is in my (upstairs) study. I tried to route PC output via a long HDMI or DP cable to a larger TV downstairs. It all became terribly complicated handling sound and video. Intermittently variable results: everything from brilliant sound and audio; audio no video; video no audio to nothing at all! Bad cables did not help!

 

[Flycaster]

I don't believe that my monitor is 4K, thus it appears from posts above, that I may not see any real difference in photo image using DP cables? So, for my monitor, HDMI cables are probably the best I can get?

Your PA278QV is QHD (2560 X 1440).

I'd still prefer DP cables. The performance may not be superior to HDMI. But, you'd get to choose among 3 slots of the graphics card. There's only one HDMI port. ;-)

Actually, I have 2 HDMI and 2 DP ports. Presently using 1 HDMI port. From what I read here, I still think that changing to DP cable really won't make a discernible difference...so, I'm not inclined to change.

 

[Flycaster]

There will be zero difference for your application.

Again, from the replies here, that's what I've been thinking. Not going to change.