High speed HDMI cables - is there a significant difference?

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danepak

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#290011 14-Oct-2021 19:15

Want to get an extra high speed cable for my PS5 (basically want the ability to be able to hook it in to both livingroom and rumpus room TV, without having to unplug HDMI cable from the TV’s.

I’ve seen that a large NZ retailer sells high speed HDMI cables for $7.
Other ones are up to $50.
Why such a huge difference price wise?
Will the $7 cable do the job for 4K gaming?

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#2795508 14-Oct-2021 19:24

i got one of these:

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/CABAEN3839/AEON-CH110UP-10m-Installer-Series-High-Speed-HDMI

This is for a 10m run between my 4k receiver and 4k projector and it sends a 4k hdr10 signal without issue for $37. So I would happily buy this brand again.

PS: Expensive cables are a rip-off.

danepak

1112 posts

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#2795514 14-Oct-2021 19:38

Thanks.
Just noticed that $7 only is HDMI 2.0.
I’ve read that 2.1 is best for PS5 for 4K gaming.

driller2000

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#2795599 14-Oct-2021 21:41

Hmm - not from what I have read:

Can Ps5 And Xbox Series X Run Games At 4K At 120 FPS?

While both the PS5 and Xbox Series X are marketed as having the ability to output 4K at 120 Hz, the claim is mostly referring to the HDMI 2.1 bandwidth capabilities. In other words, while the HDMI version can technically support it, the console still has to render the frames. HDMI 2.1 technically has enough bandwidth to support 8K at 60 Hz but for that, you not only need an 8K TV but also a very powerful graphics card (consoles don’t even come close to the FPS target). Bear in mind, 120 Hz means the display can refresh 120 times a second. To make the most of it, your games need to run at 120 frames a second. If you’re running a 120 Hz display, but your games are running at 60 frames a second, you won’t see any of the benefits of the 120 Hz display. Unfortunately, even the latest consoles don’t have enough hardware power to render graphics in 4K at 120 frames a second. Even if they did, game developers have to optimize their games for it. Most developers are just now patching their games to include a performance mode.

danepak

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#2795602 14-Oct-2021 21:43

Just had a look and my TV isn’t HDMI 2.1 compatible.
Learning something new every day!

Dunnersfella

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#2795642 14-Oct-2021 23:57

So this will fly in the face of popular opinion somewhat...

But HDMI cables are starting to matter again IF a few things are required.

Of note -

1: Long runs.

Basically, the person who comes up with HDMI 2.1 designed the cables to run the length of their desk...

Taking it further is interesting.

Look for HDMI 2.1 certification (the QR Code on the front) and make sure it works and takes you through to the actual HDMI website for THAT cable and not some other brand... or indeed the manufacturers site.

There's a load of look-a-like sites out there, so watch out.

It's very, very expensive to get a 2.1 Certified cable tested and approved as the cables not only need to pass testing at 48Gbps, but also 40, 36, 24 etc etc. Many cables can pass the eye-test @ 48 or 40Gbps, but may fail at 30.

So it's not as easy as it used to be.

A lot of certified cables are fibre / copper hybrid designs, many of which have a USB port at the display end so you can ensure the 5 volts is carried the length of the cable.

2: Short run cables that come in the box with the PS5 / XBox Series X are fine for that length... get over 5 meters and things get very tricky.

Currently it's not really that tricky as the consoles aren't exactly putting out a lot of bandwidth, but that may change with the PS5 Pro etc...

JPNZ

1520 posts

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#2795670 15-Oct-2021 07:47

Id get 2.1 cables just to be future proof especially if building new or modifying walls.

2.1 cables will still be cheap as the one above shows. Longer runs I'd spend a bit more too

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

sbiddle

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#2795674 15-Oct-2021 07:52

Dunnersfella:

So this will fly in the face of popular opinion somewhat...

But HDMI cables are starting to matter again IF a few things are required.

Yip..

HDMI cables now are a bit like USB cables - for many years it really made zero difference. A cable was a cable and it'd either work or it didn't work.

Now we have newer HDMI standards and requirements that are only going to be available if you have the correct cable. It's a bit of a learning curve for both HDMI and USB-C if you don't understand some of the technical requirments, and the fact not all cable are created equal.

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Gurezaemon

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#2795695 15-Oct-2021 08:38

Ridiculous markups at retailers don't help either.

A year or so back, I bought a no-name cable that had a price tag of around $55 for $12 (their cost price, apparently) at Noel Leeming just by showing my Chamber of Commerce card. The store employee admitted that these cables were huge profit earners for the store.

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TLD

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#2799875 23-Oct-2021 15:22

Can I get a clarification guys? I have just ordered a Yamaha RX-V6A and need HDMI cables from a Sky Plus box to the receiver and back to an LG C1. Do the HDMI cables have to be special in any way? It's all too confusing :-(

I don't have n x-box or anything like it. I do have a Blueray player but I don't think it is 4K, so will maybe swap that later, or maybe not because I am not so sure I'll be collecting Blueray movies.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

chevrolux

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#2799997 23-Oct-2021 16:14

Interesting video from LTT on cables and their abilities...
https://youtu.be/u6lx1ntNoxE

TLD

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#2800082 23-Oct-2021 16:59

Watching the Linus video reminded me that length is important. (Cue jokes) I have 5 metres between TV and receiver.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

Dunnersfella

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#2800191 23-Oct-2021 21:55

Your Sky box won't require much in the way of data consideration at this point in time.

The current level of thru-put required for non-gamers is a maximum of 18Gbps currently, so you'll be fine with any 4K certified HDMI cable.

Try looking for a cable that's certified by HDMI.ORG

They typically have a WORKING QR code on the front... don't be fooled, a lot of companies either have non-functional QR codes OR codes that take the potential purchaser to a look-a-like website.

Honestly, HDMI cable manufacturers don't help themselves...

TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2800194 23-Oct-2021 22:39

I've ordered a couple of these from PB Tech. I can't claim to know what the specs mean, but they looked a reasonable compromise without going crazy.

Buy the AEON CH105UP 5.0m Installer Series High Speed HDMI 2.0 Cable, 18Gbps... ( Aeon-CH105UP ) online - PBTech.co.nz

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

Dunnersfella

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#2800201 23-Oct-2021 23:58

Well once a firmware update comes through in the next few months, your amp will be capble of passing through 24Gbps of data, the cable you've purchased is rated to 18Gbps.

Typically anything longer than 5m I would recommend powering via a USB wall charger 2 the display end... or a hybric fibre / copper cable IF you see yourself wanting to use a source highwer quality than a UHD Blu-ray.

Wakrak

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#2800231 24-Oct-2021 09:25

Thoughts on these new arrivals at PB Tech?

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/products/CABCXT13010_CABCXT13020_CABCXT13030_CABCXT13050_CABCXT13100?o=lowest_price&v=g

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