Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question
Solved

HDMI 1.4 or 1.4a cable?

Tags:
  • HDMI
  • Cable
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
Share
April 1, 2013 2:35:08 PM

I am planning to build a gaming pc/htpc this summer after Intel releases the Haswell CPU. I am planning to hook up the pc to a 120Hz LED TV via HDMI. My understanding is that HDMI 1.4 and 1.4a can handle 120Hz and above. Which cable should I go for and what brands are reliable?

More about : hdmi cable

April 1, 2013 2:44:36 PM

First off, since HDMI is digital, it's signal won't degrade as an analog cable will. You don't need an expensive cable because of that.

I suggest you check out monoprice.com, they have great prices and good quality cables. No need for name brand.
m
0
l
Related resources
April 1, 2013 2:52:35 PM

Signal does degrade over wire regardless of whether or not it is digital. The difference with HDMI is that it sends the 1's and 0's down a path and then it has basically an error check at the other end that confirms it is correct therefore any interference is "dropped" thus not causing static. This is the reason you either get a picture or not. Though you could get shimmering which is basically bad pixel display that appears to be white spots in the picture.

For short runs (less then 50 feet) ANY HDMI cable will work and a $140 cable is absolutely NO better than a $4 cable you get from Amazon or where ever. However, over 50 feet and you have to have little electronic repeaters in the cable thus you need to be sure you get a cable that does such. Again, more expensive does not equal better. You just need to make sure the cable does what it needs to do.
m
0
l
April 1, 2013 2:57:13 PM

Well just make sure to research but i was under the impression that it was the 1.4b standard that allows for 120hz. As for current gaming monitors i am not aware of any that support this standard yet. As for tv's i suppose it would depend on the brand but i believe they are setup a bit differently than monitors in that respect since 120hz and 240hz and even plasma's at 600hz have been out for a long time yet the hdmi 1.4b standard is newer i believe. The cable doesn't really matter they all meet the specification i would just buy the cheapest one you can get.
m
0
l

Best solution

April 1, 2013 3:00:06 PM

jpolk1138 said:
I am planning to build a gaming pc/htpc this summer after Intel releases the Haswell CPU. I am planning to hook up the pc to a 120Hz LED TV via HDMI. My understanding is that HDMI 1.4 and 1.4a can handle 120Hz and above. Which cable should I go for and what brands are reliable?


Get what ever connection type your monitor uses, because no matter what HDMI cable you get, you are limited to which ever is weakest between the two.

HDMI 1.4 and 1.4a do not support 120hz. HDMI 1.4b does, but requires a monitor that supports it. HDMI 1.4a supports frame packing to allow HD3D at 60hz (each eye gets an image), but not 120hz in 2D, as it is limited to 60hz worth of transmissions.
Share
!