There are a host of new features that were introduced with the release of the HDMI 2.1 specs that aren’t found in previous versions, so the first thing you’ll want to check is if they’re mentioned in the monitor specs.
Specifically, the items to check out on the list are:
- Dynamic HDR.
- Variable refresh rate (VRR).
- Quick media change (QMS).
- Rapid transport of the frame (QTF).
- Automatic low latency mode (ALLM).
- Show stream compression (DSC).
Keep in mind that in the new spec these features have become optional so you will find monitors that have only a few or none. A true HDMI 2.1 monitor, on the other hand, He has them all without exception.
Beware of VRR
The so-called variable refresh rate lets you give control of vertical sync and refresh rate to the sending device. This is the technology used by NVIDIA G-SYNC, AMD FreeSync and the VESA Adaptive SYNC standard. Unfortunately, you may find that a monitor has a supposed HDMI 2.1, but this function is possible through the DisplayPort port.
Another thing you will need to look at is the so called Adaptive Sync/FreeSync over HDMI which is possible in HDMI 2.0 and may be advertised by the manufacturer as the actual HDMI 2.1 VRR function. Be careful with this because although the function is the same, they are not compatible with each other.
The VRR is linked to the QMS o Fast Media Switching, which removes the black frames that sometimes occur when the screen is not displaying any information. As for the high refresh rates, we don’t see them, however, they delay the time between frames with real information. A system without VRR support will also not have QFT support, as the two technologies are related and work together.
ALLM and QFT are also important
The so-called automatic low latency mode is another new feature of HDMI 2.1 and is based on the fact that the monitor automatically switches to game mode at the request of the device that outputs the image via the HDMI cable.
What this mode does is turn off all the image correction features that TVs usually have to make them look better, delaying the time we see the image on screen. Which is detrimental in competitive games where high refresh rates mean information gets to our eyes sooner.
QFT, on the other hand, is a technique by which an image is transported at a rate higher than the frame rate. which is ideal for virtual reality systems where the photon time is important and it is necessary to minimize the maximum time which passes between the moment when one carries out an action and the moment when the result arrives on the screen. For example, if a game is rendered at 60 FPS or 16.67 milliseconds per frame, the QFT will render the frame in less time.
Resolution, bandwidth and refresh rate
The thing is clearer: the higher the resolution and the refresh rate, the more pixels are displayed on the screen in one second and, therefore, more bandwidth is needed, because, for example, with HDMI 2.1 , we can reach a resolution up to 10K , with the use of DSC compression of course.
However, not all resolutions require this huge bandwidth and if we have a panel with a resolution and refresh rate much lower than the maximum of the standard, it is a waste of bandwidth to have an interface capable of receiving the 48 Gbps.
We have an example of this in the SONY PlayStation 5 console, which has a 32 Gbps interface sufficient for this. The problem with this is that some resolutions require the use of Display Stream Compression and as we said in the previous section, removing them from the equation means the interface is no longer true HDMI 2.1. Although the PS5 can be connected to an HDMI 2.1 monitor, you won’t be able to use all of its features.
Although what interests us is from the point of view of the monitor, although it is true that if we have, for example, a 4K monitor at 120 Hz, we will not need all the bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 because it does not support higher resolutions and refresh rates. , yes, we are interested in having all the specifications and that it does not use a fitted controller.
True HDMI 2.1 on PS5 and XSX
If you have a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, you’ll be interested to know that both consoles have their output interfaces designed for HDMI 2.1, but you won’t need to use the full spec version, as they don’t take advantage of it. of all functions.
PlayStation 5
In case your console is a PlayStation 5, here’s what the screen or monitor you’re connecting the console to will need to get the best picture quality from it:
- A bandwidth of 32 Gbps, which is currently the maximum supported by the console’s HDMI interface.
- In terms of resolution and refresh rate, the monitor should support 4K at 120Hz with at least 10-bit HDR with 4:2:2 chroma.
- VRR and ALLM support.
Xbox series X
If your console is an Xbox Series X instead, you will need the following HDMI 2.1 specs on your display:
- Bandwidth of at least 40 Gbps on the HDMI 2.1 interface
- Ability to game in 4K resolution with 120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit HDR and 4:4:4 chroma.
- VRR over HDMI specified, as the console uses AMD FreeSync.
- ALLM support.
If you’re a fan of video games, you’ll get both consoles sooner or later, so we recommend buying a monitor with the Xbox Series X in mind, but that also supports true VRR HDMI 2.1, you so you’ll have a screen to play better than every console demands and you can enjoy both at the same time. On the other hand, if you’re looking for one that meets what the PS5 demands, you might not be able to get the best image quality from the Microsoft console.
By the way, the Xbox Series S does not have the capability to send images at resolutions beyond Quad HD except for games with very simple graphics, so if you purchased this console and plan to use, don’t worry about your screen, it supports HDMI 2.1 real, since you won’t enjoy it
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