It is an asymmetric connector that features an L-shaped header. What Is DisplayPort?ĭisplayPort has seen widespread usage in the past decade, especially in consumer commodities such as high-end desktop monitors and graphics cards. Let’s learn more about these media interfaces. It is used to connect devices such as Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, and gaming consoles to televisions, as well as CPUs to computer desktops. Today, HDMI sees widespread use in both commercial setups and homes. On the other hand, high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) is an interface primarily used to transfer high-definition video and audio over a single cable. Source: Beebom Opens a new window (via Wikipedia) The smaller Mini DisplayPort can transmit signals identical to the standard DisplayPort variant.ĭisplayPort vs. DisplayPort connections are primarily available in two varieties: standard and mini. DisplayPort cables are primarily used to connect a display device, such as a desktop monitor, laptop, or projector, to a video source like a CPU. HDMI: 5 Major ComparisonsĭisplayPort is a digital interface for video and audio originally created by the Video Electronics Standard Association (VESA). The fact that the display signals are interchangeable makes the distinction more or less moot. In AV systems, there's generally one display, and many sources, while in computers, there are generally multiple displays and one host. HDMI is great for multi-source topologies, much like you'll find on home AV systems, while DisplayPort offers a different feature set that is attractive for computer use, such as daisy chaining. Unlike FireWire, however, DisplayPort is becoming the successor to HDMI in the computer world. I come home, take my notebook and plug in the HDMI cable and switch to Video 7 on my TV and turn on my wireless keyboard and mouse and have everthing I need to stream Hulu, surf the web without the need for any additional hardware or software.Ĭhasing the puck with 1 adapter after another.ĭisplayPort is the 'intelligent' HDMI, much like FireWire is the 'intelligent' USB. What I don't understand is why Apple doesn't include HDMI in their computers as the PC market has been doing for the last couple years.

Mini displayport a hdmi apple