Dumb question about HDMI

[QuantumBit]

Hey!

 

I have a stupid question about HDMI, but I just want to be sure. Are all HDMI ports compatible with all versions of HDMI? Like when you plug a 3.0 USB into a 2.0 port, it goes at 2.0 speeds, does the same happen with HDMI?

 

 

EDIT: I think I worded this wrong, but what I meant to say is if I get a HDMI 2.0 Cable will it go at 2.0 (4K @ 60Hz) no matter of the port as long as its HDMI?

[Guest]

It's the cable that define version

[Mira Yurizaki]

HDMI is backwards compatible. The cable also doesn't matter so much. A high quality HDMI 1.0 cable should be fine with HDMI 2.0 devices.

[Mr.Meerkat]

1 minute ago, deXxterlab97 said:

It's the cable that define version

I thought it was only the port, you can have a $1 HDMI cable and it would still work with HDMI 2.0

 

[79wjd]

3 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

It's the cable that define version

Ummmmm, no. It's the controller on each end that defines the version. 

 

Now, there are different bandwidth cables, but for the most part any cable will work (fully) with any version. 

[Oshino Shinobu]

3 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

It's the cable that define version

No it isn't. There are two types of HDMI cables, category 1 and category 2. Pretty much any cable you can buy now days is going to be category 2, which supports all current HDMI standards. 

 

It's the controller firmware that determines HDMI revision, as (like DisplayPort) HDMI revisions are basically efficiency improvements with no or very little changes in hardware. 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Mr.Meerkat said:

I thought it was only the port, you can have a $1 HDMI cable and it would still work with HDMI 2.0

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16886602010&cm_re=hdmi_2.0-_-86-602-010-_-Product

Does 4K

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882021128

Does 1440p only

 

 

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, djdwosk97 said:

Ummmmm, no. It's the controller on each end that defines the version. 

 

Now, there are different bandwidth cables, but for the most part any cable will work (fully) with any version. 

 

2 minutes ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

No it isn't. There are two types of HDMI cables, category 1 and category 2. Pretty much any cable you can buy now days is going to be category 2, which supports all current HDMI standards. 

oh ok

[Mr.Meerkat]

1 minute ago, deXxterlab97 said:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16886602010&cm_re=hdmi_2.0-_-86-602-010-_-Product

Does 4K

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882021128

Does 1440p only

 

 

Cheaper cable does 4K while the one that costs double doesn't O_o 

 

Also:

Quote

Supports 480i / p, 720i / p, 1080i / p, 1440p or higher

Found in specs of the second cable  

[Oshino Shinobu]

6 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

 

oh ok

 

6 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16886602010&cm_re=hdmi_2.0-_-86-602-010-_-Product

Does 4K

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882021128

Does 1440p only

 

 

HDMI.org has some FAQs that address the difference in HDMI cable standards. Category 1 cables are rare and only support up to 1080i. Category 2 cables are very common and support all HDMI versions as of now. 

 

Most of the HDMI 2.0 cables are just listed as that for marketing reasons, just like DisplayPort cables are marketed as DP1.2 or 1.4, despite the fact they are all the same except specifically reduced bandwidth cables. 

 

http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_2_0/hdmi_2_0_faq.aspx#144

 

http://www.hdmi.org/learningcenter/faq.aspx

[Oshino Shinobu]

1 minute ago, Thread212 said:

I though cable doesnt have version. Right?

Technically, there are HDMI cable versions, but only two. Category 1 cables which only go up to 1080i and category 2 cables, which support all current HDMI versions. It's actually quite hard to find a category 1 HDMI cable now days, especially if you buy it new. 

[QuantumBit]

1 minute ago, wrathoftheturkey said:

The cable doesn't matter, if both ends don't support HDMI 2.0 it won't run at 2.0

Ok ok so I would need a 2.0 Cable + a TV that has a HDMI 2.0 port to watch 4K @ 60Hz?

[79wjd]

1 minute ago, QuantumBit said:

Ok ok so I would need a 2.0 Cable + a TV that has a HDMI 2.0 port to watch 4K @ 60Hz?

You would need a source device with an HDMI 2.0 port and a TV with an HDMI 2.0 port.

[QuantumBit]

5 minutes ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

Technically, there are HDMI cable versions, but only two. Category 1 cables which only go up to 1080i and category 2 cables, which support all current HDMI versions. It's actually quite hard to find a category 1 HDMI cable now days, especially if you buy it new. 

Sorry if this is not what you mean but if I have a Category 2 (Like HDMI 2.0 right..?) cable I can run 4K @ 60 Hz as long as the device has a HDMI port?

[Shiv78]

Any Cat2 (almost all) HDMI cable will run 4K@60 with compatible displays and GPUs/console/DVDplayer/whatever

[QuantumBit]

1 minute ago, wrathoftheturkey said:

No. You would need a TV with an HDMI 2.0 port, a MOTHERBOARD (or GPU) with 2.0 ports, and whatever cable you please.

Ok thank you that really helped. 

[QuantumBit]

Just now, Shiv78 said:

Any Cat2 (almost all) HDMI cable will run 4K@60 with compatible displays and GPUs/console/DVDplayer/whatever

So I coul dget a 1.4 cable and it will run 4K@60 as long as the display + output has 2.0?

[Oshino Shinobu]

1 minute ago, QuantumBit said:

Sorry if this is not what you mean but if I have a Category 2 (Like HDMI 2.0 right..?) cable I can run 4K @ 60 Hz as long as the device has a HDMI port?

The cable is irrelevant, it's going to support HDMI 2.0. What does matter is whether the output device and input device both support 4K 60Hz over HDMI 2.0.

 

If both support it, it will work. If only one supports it, it will not work 

[Shiv78]

1 minute ago, QuantumBit said:

So I coul dget a 1.4 cable and it will run 4K@60 as long as the display + output has 2.0?

yeah

[QuantumBit]

Just now, Oshino Shinobu said:

The cable is irrelevant, it's going to support HDMI 2.0. What does matter is whether the output device and input device both support 4K 60Hz over HDMI 2.0.

 

If both support it, it will work. If only one supports it, it will not work 

Ok thank you!

[Oshino Shinobu]

4 minutes ago, QuantumBit said:

So I coul dget a 1.4 cable and it will run 4K@60 as long as the display + output has 2.0?

There is no such thing as a 1.4 cable. There are category 1 and category 2 cables and that's it. Unless the cable is old (it won't even support 1080p, so you'd know) it will support all HDMI versions

[QuantumBit]

Thanks for all the help everyone!  @wrathoftheturkey, @djdwosk97, and everyone else (I don't know how to find usernames...) Wish I could put multiple answers

 

[Doramius]

2 minutes ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

The cable is irrelevant, it's going to support HDMI 2.0. What does matter is whether the output device and input device both support 4K 60Hz over HDMI 2.0.

 

If both support it, it will work. If only one supports it, it will not work 

Agreed.  Most of the time, the cable doesn't really matter.  You'll only notice issues if you're running a longer distance with extra features that require more bandwidth.  So if both output device and input device support HDMI 2.0 and run about 50' feet [16 meters], and Ethernet is run through the cable with voltage, audio and high end 4K video signal all running at once.....You might experience some issues, because cheaper, small gauge cables might not be able to handle the amperage of the throughput.  Chances of encountering this are very low.

[manikyath]

21 minutes ago, Mr.Meerkat said:

I thought it was only the port, you can have a $1 HDMI cable and it would still work with HDMI 2.0

 

unless if its a shit cable, and then it derps up and loses signal above certain resolutions

 

i'm not gonna rant about the cables again, but in TLDR, there's standards for them, no one follows them, just get the cheapest cable that claims to do what you need it to do from a place where you can return it if it doesnt. there's a listing on the official HDMI website about them somewhere, but i cant be arsed finding it

[manikyath]

24 minutes ago, Oshino Shinobu said:

No it isn't. There are two types of HDMI cables, category 1 and category 2. Pretty much any cable you can buy now days is going to be category 2, which supports all current HDMI standards. 

 

It's the controller firmware that determines HDMI revision, as (like DisplayPort) HDMI revisions are basically efficiency improvements with no or very little changes in hardware. 

there's more than two by now, essentially every new spec since 1.4 has come with new cable specs, but that doesnt mean any cable manufacturer cares about it