HDMI 2.1 on 3000 series laptops

[Kirky2k15]

So I'm in the market for a new laptop equipped with one of the new RTX 3000 series cards.

 

My issue is that to my understanding, desktop variants of the 3000 series GPUs all have HDMI 2.1 capability? 

 

I was under the impression this would be the same for Laptops so was looking forward to being able to hook my LG OLED up to my new laptop purchase at 4k120hz

 

However, I've just seen that Dell Alienware is currently the ONLY laptop to support HDMI 2.1, all the others even with RTX 3000 series cards support the older HDMI 2.0b standard....

 

Anyone know why this is?

 

Cheers

[Naijin]

3 minutes ago, Kirky2k15 said:

So I'm in the market for a new laptop equipped with one of the new RTX 3000 series cards.

 

My issue is that to my understanding, desktop variants of the 3000 series GPUs all have HDMI 2.1 capability? 

 

I was under the impression this would be the same for Laptops so was looking forward to being able to hook my LG OLED up to my new laptop purchase at 4k120hz

 

However, I've just seen that Dell Alienware is currently the ONLY laptop to support HDMI 2.1, all the others even with RTX 3000 series cards support the older HDMI 2.0b standard....

 

Anyone know why this is?

 

Cheers

The graphics cards are not always directly linked to the display output, but usually go through the integrated graphics or cpu. Manufacturers are free to choose whatever they like. That's why it's so important to check spec sheets (like you just did) to avoid buying a mistake.

[Stahlmann]

The desktop spec requires them to have a HDMI 2.1 port. On laptop GPUs there are no output requirements afaik, so the OEM can decide what they want to implement. As HDMI 2.1 has had quite a few issues with RTX 3000 GPUs i can imagine many OEMs want to stay away from that.

[Kirky2k15]

1 minute ago, Naijin said:

The graphics cards are not always directly linked to the display output, but usually go through the integrated graphics or cpu. Manufacturers are free to choose whatever they like. That's why it's so important to check spec sheets (like you just did) to avoid buying a mistake.

You're talking about NVIDIA optimus where they use the integrated intel GPU for basic desktops tasks to save battery life?

 

Yeah I know all about that - I also know if you hook a laptop up via HDMI or display port and close the laptop lid, it disables optimus completely, forcing the laptop to run off the NVIDIA GPU, you can see this in action by going to task manager>performance and the intel GPU listing will disappear.

 

I'm asking more specifically about HDMI 2.1 and why it seems to be present on the desktop GPUs and not the laptop versions, at least not many yet anyway...

[Kirky2k15]

3 minutes ago, Stahlmann said:

The desktop spec requires them to have a HDMI 2.1 port. On laptop GPUs there are no output requirements afaik, so the OEM can decide what they want to implement. As HDMI 2.1 has had quite a few issues with RTX 3000 GPUs i can imagine many OEMs want to stay away from that.

Ah so laptop OEMs are just choosing not to implement the new standard to cut costs. The Dell Alienware that has HDMI 2.1 is silly money.

 

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/gaming-and-games/alienware-m17-r4-gaming-laptop/spd/alienware-m17-r4-laptop#configurations_section

[Stahlmann]

2 minutes ago, Kirky2k15 said:

Ah so laptop OEMs are just choosing not to implement the new standard to cut costs. The Dell Alienware that has HDMI 2.1 is silly money.

 

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/gaming-and-games/alienware-m17-r4-gaming-laptop/spd/alienware-m17-r4-laptop#configurations_section

Yeah but that's not the only reason to stay away from that Dell laptop. Get one with a 5000 series ryzen CPU aswell. They're mostly cheaper and faster than intel options. This one for example: An EPIC Ryzen Laptop - ROG Zephyrus G15 Review - YouTube

[Kirky2k15]

Just now, Stahlmann said:

Yeah but that's not the only reason to stay away from that Dell laptop. Get one with a 5000 series ryzen CPU aswell. They're mostly cheaper and faster than intel options.

Dude, this ain't my first rodeo lol... I was really excited about this laptop:

 

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/156-asus-rog-strix-g15-g513qr-fhd-300hz-ryzen-7-5800h-16gb-ddr4-1tb-nvme-ssd-8gb-rtx-3070-win10-home

 

Then I read the specs and its HDMI 2.0b

 

So disappointing 

 

Buying a new laptop this time is going to be such a chore.

 

Not only do I have to be careful about GPU TDP (the one in the link above is 130w I believe) now I have to research if it will use HDMI 2.1 as well?

 

FML

[Stahlmann]

2 minutes ago, Kirky2k15 said:

Dude, this ain't my first rodeo lol... I was really excited about this laptop:

 

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/156-asus-rog-strix-g15-g513qr-fhd-300hz-ryzen-7-5800h-16gb-ddr4-1tb-nvme-ssd-8gb-rtx-3070-win10-home

 

Then I read the specs and its HDMI 2.0b

 

So disappointing 

 

Buying a new laptop this time is going to be such a chore.

 

Not only do I have to be careful about GPU TDP (the one in the link above is 130w I believe) now I have to research if it will use HDMI 2.1 as well?

 

FML

Just a side note: A mobile 3070 will not even be sufficent for most games at 4K 60Hz. So going for HDMI 2.1 might not be such a neccesity. I'm not trying to talk down on you or the hardware, but you should have realistic expectations.

 

But anyways, good luck on your search for a new laptop!

[Kirky2k15]

1 minute ago, Stahlmann said:

Just a side note: A mobile 3070 will not even be sufficent for most games at 4K 60Hz. So going for HDMI 2.1 might not be such a neccesity. I'm not trying to talk down on you or the hardware, but you should have realistic expectations.

 

But anyways, good luck on your search for a new laptop!

I'm not so sure about that - if you have a look here:

 

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

 

You will see the 3070 is pretty much neck and neck with the 3080

 

It all depends on the TDP the manufacture allows, some are only allowing like 85w TDP for a 3070 which will hold it back massively, the one I linked to is the higher TDP which will perform much better. I think it will handle plenty of games at 4k60hz+ but obviously I will wait for full reviews before pulling the trigger

[Stahlmann]

9 minutes ago, Kirky2k15 said:

I'm not so sure about that - if you have a look here:

 

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

 

You will see the 3070 is pretty much neck and neck with the 3080

 

It all depends on the TDP the manufacture allows, some are only allowing like 85w TDP for a 3070 which will hold it back massively, the one I linked to is the higher TDP which will perform much better. I think it will handle plenty of games at 4k60hz+ but obviously I will wait for full reviews before pulling the trigger

Yes, it comes down to the TDP numbers but the best mobile 3080's come closer to a desktop 3070 than a 3080, which makes them borderline 4K 60FPS capable when playing AAA games at ultra.

 

My desktop 3080 runs most games between 60-90FPS while at 4K, so i'd say with a mobile 3070 you're probably not gonna be anywhere close to a 320W desktop 3080 with a lot more cores running much faster. I'd say you're probably maxed out when using 4K 60Hz. This is just my "educated" guess.

 

If you really want HDMI 2.1, who am i to claim you don't need it? In the end it's your choice. I'm just saying it might not be as important as you think it is.

[Kirky2k15]

22 hours ago, Stahlmann said:

Yes, it comes down to the TDP numbers but the best mobile 3080's come closer to a desktop 3070 than a 3080, which makes them borderline 4K 60FPS capable when playing AAA games at ultra.

 

My desktop 3080 runs most games between 60-90FPS while at 4K, so i'd say with a mobile 3070 you're probably not gonna be anywhere close to a 320W desktop 3080 with a lot more cores running much faster. I'd say you're probably maxed out when using 4K 60Hz. This is just my "educated" guess.

 

If you really want HDMI 2.1, who am i to claim you don't need it? In the end it's your choice. I'm just saying it might not be as important as you think it is.

I'd prefer to build a new desktop with a 3000 series GPU as that would be far more cost effective - think of the rig I can build with £1500+ but we all know that isn't happening any time soon due to global GPU shortages.

 

How on earth did you get your 3080? I assume you pre-ordered it?

 

I'm not paying the scalpers their inflated prices on eBay 

[Stahlmann]

39 minutes ago, Kirky2k15 said:

I'd prefer to build a new desktop with a 3000 series GPU as that would be far more cost effective - think of the rig I can build with £1500+ but we all know that isn't happening any time soon due to global GPU shortages.

 

How on earth did you get your 3080? I assume you pre-ordered it?

 

I'm not paying the scalpers their inflated prices on eBay 

I got mine for 900€ from a scalper back in september tbh. I simply didn't want to wait another year until everyting normalizes. At least i got fully warranty and compared to what people pay right now i think i still got a good price.

[Kirky2k15]

2 hours ago, Stahlmann said:

I got mine for 900€ from a scalper back in september tbh. I simply didn't want to wait another year until everyting normalizes. At least i got fully warranty and compared to what people pay right now i think i still got a good price.

Cheers.

 

Look what I've just found:

 

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/156-gigabyte-aorus-15p-xc-fhd-240hz-ips-level-i7-10870h-32gb-ddr4-512gb-nvme-ssd-8gb-rtx-3070-win10

 

The specs page lists it as being HDMI 2.1 - the down side is its £1900      and its an Intel part. Slightly cheaper than the Dell and at least the Dell isn't the only one.

 

I'll keep looking.

[Stahlmann]

6 minutes ago, Kirky2k15 said:

Cheers.

 

Look what I've just found:

 

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/156-gigabyte-aorus-15p-xc-fhd-240hz-ips-level-i7-10870h-32gb-ddr4-512gb-nvme-ssd-8gb-rtx-3070-win10

 

The specs page lists it as being HDMI 2.1 - the down side is its £1900      and its an Intel part. Slightly cheaper than the Dell and at least the Dell isn't the only one.

 

I'll keep looking.

Spec sheet says 2.1, product overview says 2.0 

[Kirky2k15]

3 minutes ago, Stahlmann said:

Spec sheet says 2.1, product overview says 2.0 

This is silly Scan aren't the only ones mixing them up:

 

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/gigabyte-aorus-15p-nvidia-rtx-3070-32gb-15.6-240hz-i7-10870h-gaming-laptop-lt-0ct-gi.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA962BBhCzARIsAIpWEL2iWVRZT96a1zMoFNleStYrDwTVcETQnVH316kAr-FdUlHS3iVIzDgaAoLNEALw_wcB#tech_specs

[Kirky2k15]

Well the manufactures site says its HDMI 2.1 so I'm going to believe that:

 

https://www.gigabyte.com/uk/Laptop/AORUS-15P--RTX-30-Series/sp#sp

[Stahlmann]

2 minutes ago, Kirky2k15 said:

Well the manufactures site says its HDMI 2.1 so I'm going to believe that:

 

https://www.gigabyte.com/uk/Laptop/AORUS-15P--RTX-30-Series/sp#sp

Next problem would be not only that it's intel, but also last gen.