All posts tagged: HDMI

I’ve been plugging into the wrong HDMI port on my TV for years and didn’t know it was killing my picture

I’ve been plugging into the wrong HDMI port on my TV for years and didn’t know it was killing my picture

Published by skeptic

Setting up devices on your TV sounds easy enough. Plug them in using an HDMI cable, switch to the right input, and call it a day. But get it wrong, and you could miss out on the performance you paid extra for. The tricky part is that nothing usually breaks when you use the wrong HDMI port. Everything looks just fine, and that’s why most of us never stop to question if we’re getting the best possible picture or sound. But it matters a lot, and now that I’ve figured it out, it’s one of those things I can’t stop talking about. Related The USB trick that bypasses your smart TV’s 100Mbps Ethernet limit A tiny hardware limitation is slowing your TV down, but it is easy to get around. The HDMI ports on your TV may all look the same, but they’re not The hidden pecking order behind HDMI ports Not all HDMI ports on your TV are created equal. Yes, the connectors may look identical, but their capabilities can vary wildly. That’s because …

Your Linux PC can handle HDMI 2.1 — the law is what’s holding it back

Your Linux PC can handle HDMI 2.1 — the law is what’s holding it back

Published by skeptic

Nothing is broken. And somehow, that makes it worse. Your system boots like a champ, apps open instantly, and your GPU hums along like a caffeinated penguin with a purpose. Then you plug into a modern TV or high-end monitor, and it stops short. Not dramatically, or in a way you can screenshot and complain about. Just enough to make you feel like your setup is being held back. That invisible ceiling isn’t a bug. It’s not even Linux being Linux. It’s a locked door with a legal sign on it. Related I finally learned why my TV needs HDMI while my PC needs DisplayPort DisplayPort is the go-to standard for gamers, while HDMI is preferred by home theater buffs — have you ever stopped to ask why? This is the reason. The problem isn’t technical — it’s legal HDMI 2.1 exists, but open-source can’t touch it properly Amir Bohlooli / MUO Let’s get one thing straight. Linux developers are not sitting around confused about HDMI 2.1. This isn’t some unsolved mystery buried deep in …

I bought the wrong “HDMI to USB-C” cable three times before learning this one thing

I bought the wrong “HDMI to USB-C” cable three times before learning this one thing

Published by skeptic

When you walk into your local big-box store to pick up a new HDMI or DisplayPort cable, you can typically grab one off the shelf without thinking twice, right? HDMI to HDMI works exactly as you’d expect, and the same goes for its more PC-centric counterpart. Heck, even a DisplayPort-to-HDMI converter will work exactly as you expect when you plug it in, providing a beautiful picture on any display. After getting a portable monitor, I figured it would be the same kind of deal. Walk into my local Walmart, grab an HDMI-to-Type-C cable, and gain the ability to play my favorite games anywhere I’d like. Well, after multiple incorrect cables, I finally learned what I actually needed, and I’m here to make sure you don’t make the same costly mistake as yours truly. Not all cables function the same Unidirectional, bidirectional, DP Alt Mode; there are so many things to learn Credit: Shaun Cichacki/MUO After purchasing a few different HDMI-to-Type-C cables, I discovered something incredibly frustrating: none of them worked with my portable monitor. While you …

I stopped using HDMI on my PC, and I don’t miss it

I stopped using HDMI on my PC, and I don’t miss it

Published by skeptic

HDMI is one of the most commonly used types of cords out there, working for anything from gaming consoles to connecting your PC to your screen of choice with minimal hassle. It takes care of everything for you, transmitting both audio and video from point A to point B, and looks quite snazzy while doing it. No, you don’t need to spend extra money on gold-plated HDMI to get the best video quality, as almost any old HDMI cable will do. But if you’re looking to get the most out of your fancy computer monitor, it may be time to ditch HDMI in favor of DisplayPort. Why? Well, there are a myriad of different reasons that DisplayPort is favored for PC gaming over HDMI, and it took me far too long to discover all of those reasons, but it didn’t “hertz” when I learned I wasn’t taking full advantage of my display. Higher refresh rates and resolutions HDMI is catching up, but I’m loving 240Hz at 1440p via DP Credit: Shaun Cichacki/MUO Before I finally upgraded …

5 surprising things HDMI can do that have nothing to do with a screen

5 surprising things HDMI can do that have nothing to do with a screen

Published by skeptic

HDMI is, for most people, just how the picture gets there. Plug it in, something appears on the screen, done. That’s fair — the image is usually the whole point. But the spec has carried a lot of additional capability for years that quietly goes unused in most setups. Your cables themselves have more going on than the box suggests, and the ports they plug into even more so. HDMI can send audio back the other direction ARC and eARC explained without the jargon The standard mental model for HDMI is simple: signal goes in, picture comes out. One direction. Certain HDMI ports, though, can also pass audio back the other way — from the TV out to a soundbar or receiver — over the exact same cable already handling the picture. That’s Audio Return Channel, or ARC, and it’s been sitting on the back of most TVs for years. If both your TV and soundbar support ARC and they’re connected through the port labeled “ARC,” the optical cable you’ve been running between them is …

Your new soundbar needs this specific HDMI cable, or you’re losing quality

Your new soundbar needs this specific HDMI cable, or you’re losing quality

Published by skeptic

Imagine you have recently purchased the latest and best soundbar. You have put in a lot of research and time behind it, waited three days for its delivery, and spent almost an hour unboxing and setting it up. You plug it in with a cable to your TV, fire up a Marvel movie, and only hear audio, which is just fine. But you don’t invest so much money and time in a soundbar that just has fine audio. Most of the time, the culprit isn’t the soundbar or your TV. It is likely the cable that you used to connect the two. Any cable won’t unlock the best sound quality from your speakers. You need a specific HDMI cable to listen to the immersive experience of Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. Here’s what you would need. Related You’re using the wrong cable for your soundbar (and it’s killing the audio quality) You can unlock your soundbar’s true potential by ditching this outdated cable technology. Why isn’t any HDMI cable good enough? The “digital is digital” is …

You’re using your TV’s HDMI port wrong: 8 tips to get the best image and audio quality

You’re using your TV’s HDMI port wrong: 8 tips to get the best image and audio quality

Published by skeptic

Highwings via Amazon / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Quick HDMI tweaks can noticeably improve picture and sound quality. Your TV’s settings and cables play a bigger role than you probably realize. A few checks can prevent HDMI problems and boost performance. Connecting your devices to a TV with HDMI is easy enough. Plug your cable in, and you’re good to go, right? Not so fast, my friend. Also: How to disable HDMI-CEC on your TV – and why it makes such a big difference doing so In reality, getting the best performance out of your TV takes a bit of effort. Over the years, I’ve picked up some handy HDMI tricks that make a real difference in picture and sound quality. Here’s what I do and why it matters. 1. Choose the right HDMI port Hisense / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET When you’re first setting up your TV and all your connected devices, whether that’s a PS5, a Blu-ray player, …

Does it matter which HDMI port you use on your TV? Short answer: Yes

Does it matter which HDMI port you use on your TV? Short answer: Yes

Published by skeptic

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET key takeaways Not all HDMI ports support the same features. Use HDMI 2.1 for PS5/Series X gaming and ARC/eARC for soundbars. Plugging into the wrong port works, but it may result in reduced performance. Most newer TVs come with three or four HDMI ports, and on the surface, they all look identical.  They all have the same shape and work with the same HDMI cable, but not every port supports the same features. Choosing the wrong one can leave your PS5 stuck at 60Hz, your soundbar silent, or your PC unable to output at a high refresh rate.  Also: How to disable HDMI-CEC on your TV – and why it makes such a big difference doing so The good news is it’s easy to learn what each HDMI port does and how to match your devices to the right one. HDMI port types explained All HDMI ports can carry video and audio, but they support different bandwidth levels, which …

This tiny cylinder on HDMI cables actually serves a purpose

This tiny cylinder on HDMI cables actually serves a purpose

Published by skeptic

You’ve probably noticed it before—that small cylindrical bulge wrapping around the connector end of your HDMI cable. Most people would ignore it and use the cable for its intended purpose, but that little cylinder is genuinely trying to solve a real engineering problem. It isn’t always necessary for modern cables, and you should stop using old HDMI cables if you haven’t upgraded yet. However, understanding what it does will help you appreciate why manufacturers still include it and when it actually matters. That weird HDMI cable bump has a name Meet the ferrite core you’ve been ignoring Levent Konuk / ShutterstockCredit: Levent Konuk / Shutterstock That tiny cylinder you see on your HDMI cable is called a ferrite core, but it goes by many names, including ferrite bead, ferrite choke, EMI filter, and more. It’s constructed from a ceramic material made from iron, nickel, and zinc oxides compressed into shape. It’s designed to act as a magnetic inductor wrapped around your cable. The magic isn’t in fancy materials or exotic engineering. It’s in the physics of …

I stopped using HDMI on my PC, and I don’t miss it

I tested cheap HDMI cables, and the results surprised me

Published by skeptic

For years, I dismissed anyone who spent more than $10 on an HDMI cable as illogical. Digital signals work, or they don’t — that was my thought, anyway. Spending $30 on copper and plastic when a $5 cable exists? No thanks. That was my position until I set up two Samsung M8 Smart Monitors alongside a TCL 75-inch S5 4K Smart TV. Something was off immediately. One monitor’s text looked sharp, and the other had this soft, hazy quality — like I was viewing it through a dirty window. I blamed the displays, the graphics card, and even my eyesight. The cables never crossed my mind. They should have. The wrong Ethernet cables can quietly throttle your network speeds, and HDMI cables play by similar rules — every cable has a bandwidth ceiling, whether you realize it or not. Not all HDMI cables deliver the same picture HDMI versions aren’t just marketing speak Credit: Ben Stegner/MakeUseOf I always assumed “HDMI” meant HDMI. One cable worked the same as any other, or so I thought. Nope. HDMI …