Type of HDMI Connectors
- Normal (from HDMI Version 1.0)
- Mini (from HDMI Version 1.3)
- Micro (smallest) – looks like micro-usb (from HDMI Version 1.4)
Type of HDMI Cables
- Standard HDMI Cable – for 720p and 1080i resolution video.
- Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet – adds support for 100-mbps ethernet.
- High Speed HDMI Cable – for 4096 by 2160, but at a maximum refresh rate of just 24Hz, which is fine for movies, but terrible for games). Can handle 3D video.
- High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet – add support for 100-mbps ethernet.
Types of Display Port
- Display Port
- Mini Display Port (Found in Apple Devices)
Compare HDMI1.4b and Display Port 1.2
| HDMI 1.4b | Display Port 1.2 | |
| bandwidth to carry video resolution of up to 1920x 1200 at 60Hz (48-bit/px) | bandwidth to carry video resolutions of up to 3840 x 2160 at 60Hz | |
| can carry ethernet data. Can also be run over CAT 5 or CAT 6 cable (for distances of up to 164 feet),over coaxial cable (for up to 300 feet), or over fiber (for more than 328 feet) | cannot carry ethernet data. Passive Displayport can support up to 3840 x 2160 over 6.5 feet or 2560 x 1600 over 50 feet.Active Displayport can support 2560 x 1600 over 65 feet.Fibre Displayport – new!! | |
| Have Audio Return Channel (ARC) | Does not have Audio Return Channel (ARC) | |
| was designed primarily for consumer-electronics applications | designed DisplayPort to be the ultimate display interface for computers | |
| poorer handling and support for multiple monitors | can support up to four monitors at 1920-by-1200-pixel resolution each,or two monitors at 2560-by-1600-pixel resolution, with each display receiving independent audio and video streams. Can support multiple DisplayPort interfaces. Can daisy-chain compatible monitors to connect as many as six displays to one source. | |
| Lack of Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) commands | ||
| 10.2Gbit/s (8.16Gbits/s with overhead remvoed) | 21.6Gbit/s |
MHL
Mobile High-definition Link (MHL) is an industry standard for a mobile audio/video interface for directly connecting mobile phones and other portable consumer electronics (CE) devices to high-definition televisions (HDTVs) and displays
Conclusion
HDMI can carry both video and audio signals. Manufacturer need to pay annual fees for using HDMI. In recent years, it is slowly been replaced by open-source Display Port. DisplayPort 1.2 is the future interface for PC monitors, along with HDMI 1.4a for TV connectivity.