Can an HDMI cable run 144Hz? Today high refresh rate screens are popular in the market and are more accessible to purchase.
However, this doesn’t mean that 144Hz screens are no longer useful. For entry-level gamers with graphics cards that don’t have high frame rates, 144Hz could do the trick.
Further, screens with a default 144Hz are available in various resolutions. Even if you have a monitor with a high refresh rate, you could dial back the settings to 144Hz.
However, the article below will discuss the cables you require for 144Hz.
Table of Contents
- 144Hz Refresh Rate Basics
- Which Cable Do I Need For 144Hz
- How Does HDMI Support a 144Hz Refresh Rate?
- Application of HDMI 144Hz
- Facts about The HDMI 144Hz
- What Can I Do If My HDMI Doesn’t Allow 144Hz?
- Conclusion
144Hz Refresh Rate Basics
If you’re into video editing or gaming, you have most likely come across the term 144Hz. The Hz unit refers to the refresh rate of your display panel and is its ability to draw pictures by the second.
Therefore, if a display comes with a 144Hz refresh rate, it can draw up to 144 images per second for the source of the videos connected to it.
The 144Hz is typically meant for gaming since the more frames per second, the better fluidity for gameplay. It lets users take in more information per second than slower refresh rate screens.
Most pro gamers can usually tell apart a high refresh rate and a lower one by looking at the monitor for a few seconds during gameplay.
A high refresh rate also means that viewers experience more responsive monitors, which is ideal for a captivating gaming experience.
Today’s brand of graphic cards and several consoles have enough power to render the newest AAA game titles. Therefore, users must acquire a high refresh rate TV or monitor to take full advantage of these expensive consoles or cards.
Which Cable Do I Need For 144Hz
To display 1080p content on your monitor at 144Hz, you’ll need HDMI 1.4(or higher), DisplayPort, or Dual-Link DVI. However, some screens with HDMI version 1.4 can only output content at 120 Hz or 60 Hz.
To output 1440p at 144Hz, you’ll need a DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 2.0; to display 4K at 144Hz, you’ll need a DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC 1.2 or HDMI 2.1.
How Does HDMI Support a 144Hz Refresh Rate?
You have numerous versions available for an HDMI connection with different bandwidth capacities. Each version can provide 144Hz output at varying resolutions. Let’s look at some of them.
High-Speed HDMI Cable（HDMI 1.4）
Regarding gaming monitors, it is the best option for gaming screens, especially if yours offers a 144Hz refresh rate.
They can deliver such signal levels to the display at the resolution you want, including 1080p Full High Definition, allowing a smooth gaming experience while not compromising the quality of your video.
Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable（HDMI 2.0）
These cables offer up to 48 Gbps when connected to the source and a supported monitor or TV. These features also make them ideal for audio and video connections.
Nonetheless, remember that such cables cost more than their standard counterparts.
Micro and Mini HDMI cable
You can find these connections for various compact devices like laptops and cameras. However, despite the small sizes of their ports, the mini and micro HDMI cables can transfer as much as 144Hz video signals with Full High Definition 1080p resolution.
Ca[tion: Mini HDMI cable
Application of HDMI 144Hz
The requirements or demand of an HDMI port tend to vary based on the resolution one wishes to keep their display at and the needed refresh rate for output.
The table below should give you a better understanding of the best HDMI port for your application.
| Resolution And Refresh Rate | Compatible HDMI Version | Use |
| 1080p at 60Hz | HDMI 1.0 or better | Normal display for 60 FPS gaming and movies |
| 1080p at 144Hz | HDMI 1.4 or better | Content creation and competitive gaming |
| 1440p at 144Hz | HDMI 2.0 or better | High-resolution pro gaming and smooth viewing for high-resolution content |
| 2160p at 144Hz | HDMI 2.1 or better | High refresh rate 4K gaming and console gaming with up-to-date consoles |
| 4320p at 50Hz | HDMI 2.1 or better | The perfect output resolution for 8K videos and games |
Remember that almost all kinds of HDMI cables are backward compatible. Therefore, you can pair an HDMI cable with a 144Hz signal to an HDMI 1.3, 1.4, or 2.0 port without issues.
In addition, you will get a higher refresh rate with a lesser resolution with every consecutive generation of current HDMI ports.
Facts about The HDMI 144Hz
Below are three facts about HDMI 144Hz.
Hz vs. Res
Most users often wonder if a 4K 60Hz display can do 144Hz if one overclocks it or if you dial down to a 1440p (2K) resolution. The answer to this question is no.
The screen is designed for a maximum of 4K, the highest spec, or top refresh rate. If you want to play an online game with shooters that require a fast refresh rate, you must get a 1440p 144Hz display.
If you want 4K for watch media or work, a 60Hz model costing between $350 and $450 will suffice. Some 4K TVs and displays cost approximately $1000, but if you don’t have an RX 3090, your Graphics Processing Unit will have zero chance of getting 4K 144Hz in ultra settings.
Even though a current Graphics Processing Unit can adequately manage 1080p gaming on the first screen while playing video on the second 1080p screen, the 4K is still a different animal since it requires four times the output level over 1080p.
Source vs. Input
Ensure all points within the chain support 4K or 1440p 144Hz, including the game console or PC output, TV or monitor input, and the cable.
To understand this better, look at the HDMI cable like a hose with a tiny outlet that can effortlessly provide 1080p resolution. However, you can enjoy 4K or 144Hz output with a bigger hose. If at any point in the chain involves using a smaller-sized hose, it will affect the fluidity.
That said, if the graphics output via an HDMI 1.4 port, the connector isn’t broad enough to handle all that data flow. In such a situation, it will require an HDMI 2.0 or bigger.
HDMI Version 1.4 vs. Version 2.0 cable
Even though you can compare the HDMI 1.4 cable to a garden hose, the HDMI 2.1 or 2,0 is similar to your conventional water pipe that can carry far more.
Despite these cables being physically equal in size, the internal wires are designed to accommodate the transmission of massive amounts of data of HDMI 2.0 that 1440p, 144hz, and 4K 60Hz need.
Some cables may have the 1.4 or 2.0 markings, but a huge number of them don’t. With the 4K 60Hz source and 4K 60Hz monitor or TV, you can verify what kind of cable you have.
Take an HDMI 1.4 cable and only connect at 4K and 30Hz to test the unmarked cables. It is very rare to find short HDMI 1.4 cables working at 4K 60Hz since they may not be stable over the long term.
If your cables are not working, get a new HDMI 2.0 or later cable to conduct a test. Remember that some monitors will not accept 4K at 30Hz.
What Can I Do If My HDMI Doesn’t Allow 144Hz?
HDMI connections can provide up to 144Hz refresh rate support features for displays that generate many pictures each second.
However, getting your HDMI cable is insufficient for receiving 144Hz output for ideal resolution. Here’s what to do if your HDMI doesn’t allow 144Hz.
1. Check the monitor’s specifications.
Most monitors will automatically connect to the 144Hz specification on Windows computers by default. If not, ensure you have a monitor that allows 144Hz and plug it into the DVI-D port.
Other display connections will not always render at 144Hz. Therefore, always check on that before going into other troubleshooting options.
2. Inspect the cable for any damage.
Some often overlook even such simple details, leading to many issues.
Typically, all you require is a simple visual inspection to ensure that the cable has no cuts or frays which could stop it from working as it should.
If you see any damage, you can purchase another cable and try again. In most cases, users have reported that this worked for them once they replaced the faulty cables.
3. Manually adjust refresh rate settings
- Start by pressing Win + I to gain access to the settings
- Click on the System tab and proceed to the display option
- Click on the advanced display settings
- Below the choose a refresh rate option, pick your desired rate of 144Hz
4. Update monitor drivers
- Start by searching for the Device Manager tab and open the app.
- Continue to Expand Monitors, then right-click the one you are currently using and pick Update driver.
- Go to search automatically for drivers. In most cases, the system will not correctly update the generic drivers for your computer hardware and its peripherals. Remember the significant differences between a manufacturer’s and generic drivers.
- Looking for the correct driver variation for your hardware components is sometimes tedious. As a result, there is an automated system that will have the correct drivers most of the time, like DriverFix. Just download and install it.
5. Update Windows
- Start by pressing Win + I to gain access to your settings.
- Choose the Windows update tab.
- Click on the check for updates option and restart now.
Conclusion
Can an HDMI cable support a 144Hz refresh rate? A basic HDMI 1.4 or higher connection typically comes with your TV or laptop, offering up to 144Hz connection with Full HD 1080p resolution.
Other versions released before the HDMI 1.4 cannot give users a 144Hz refresh rate that offers high resolutions. In case of any further queries, feel free to contact Cloom Tech.
