Is it better to connect a monitor via USB, or HDMI?

[Peat Moss]

This will affect my motherboard choice for my next build.

One mobo has USB4, and a new monitor I'm looking at has a TB4 port. It made wonder if there is much difference between the ports/cables in terms of picture quality or any other consideration.

 

[kasakka]

USB4 just uses Displayport under the hood. So it should not be much different from connecting via Displayport but there might be some limitations due to shared bandwidth.

Without knowing what display(s) you will connect it's hard to say anything more. HDMI 2.1 has more bandwidth than DP 1.4 but might not be available on everything.

 

[Peat Moss]

Thanks. I'm in the midst of planning out my build.
I'll just be using integrated graphics for a while (Ryzen 7600x) until I get a GPU. So, I'm not sure whether to connect to a monitor through HDMI or USB-C (or USB4). I don't think there's a Displayport on the motherboards I'm looking at. Just HDMI and USB-C

The monitors I'm looking at are the Dell U3223QE
https://www.dell.com/en-ca/shop/del...3qe/apd/210-bdph/monitors-monitor-accessories

and the HP Z32K G3 https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/202...is a type,deeper than existing IPS products."

I notice even the high end monitors still don't have HDMI 2.1 or Displayport 2.0.

 

[kasakka]

Thanks. I'm in the midst of planning out my build.
I'll just be using integrated graphics for a while (Ryzen 7600x) until I get a GPU. So, I'm not sure whether to connect to a monitor through HDMI or USB-C (or USB4). I don't think there's a Displayport on the motherboards I'm looking at. Just HDMI and USB-C

The monitors I'm looking at are the Dell U3223QE
https://www.dell.com/en-ca/shop/del...3qe/apd/210-bdph/monitors-monitor-accessories

and the HP Z32K G3 https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/08/hps-new-thunderbolt-4-monitor-uses-contrast-rich-ips-black-tech/#:~:text=IPS Black is a type,deeper than existing IPS products."

I notice even the high end monitors still don't have HDMI 2.1 or Displayport 2.0.

The Dell clearly has DP input so just use that. Since these are just 4K 60 Hz displays pretty much any input will do, but with these I'd use DP or USB-C as HDMI 2.0 is generally worse.

 

[vegeta535]

i notice even the high end monitors still don't have HDMI 2.1 or Displayport 2.0.

Because 4k 60hz doesn't need them.

 

[Peat Moss]

The Dell clearly has DP input so just use that. Since these are just 4K 60 Hz displays pretty much any input will do, but with these I'd use DP or USB-C as HDMI 2.0 is generally worse.

If I don't have a discrete GPU (using integrated graphics), where would the DP output be from?

 

[ZodaEX]

If I don't have a discrete GPU (using integrated graphics), where would the DP output be from?

Coming from the rear of the motherboard.

 

[enc0re]

HDMI has a good chance of not supporting CEC, meaning your monitor won't turn on/off with your computer. DisplayPort is the better connection because it will support all the control functions.

Thunderbolt and USB are theoretically the best connection, because inside they run (alt-mode) DP and you get extra bandwidth to support peripherals attached to the monitor all through one cable.

 

[Peat Moss]

Coming from the rear of the motherboard.

One of the mobos I'm looking at for my build is the AsRock B650 taichi. I don't see a spec for a DP output on the rear I/O

- 2 x Antenna Ports
- 1 x HDMI Port
- 1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port
- 1 x USB4 Type-C Port (40 Gb/s)*
- 3 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A Ports (10 Gb/s) (ReDriver) (USB32_12 are Lightning Gaming Ports. USB32_11 supports Ultra USB Power.)
- 8 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Ports (ASMedia ASM1074 hub)
- 1 x RJ-45 LAN Port
- 1 x Clear CMOS Button
- 1 x BIOS Flashback Button
- 1 x Line Out Jack (Gold Audio Jack)
- 1 x Microphone Input Jack (Gold Audio Jack)

https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/B650E Taichi/index.asp#Specification

 

[ZodaEX]

One of the mobos I'm looking at for my build is the AsRock B650 taichi. I don't see a spec for a DP output on the rear I/O

- 2 x Antenna Ports
- 1 x HDMI Port
- 1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port
- 1 x USB4 Type-C Port (40 Gb/s)*
- 3 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A Ports (10 Gb/s) (ReDriver) (USB32_12 are Lightning Gaming Ports. USB32_11 supports Ultra USB Power.)
- 8 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Ports (ASMedia ASM1074 hub)
- 1 x RJ-45 LAN Port
- 1 x Clear CMOS Button
- 1 x BIOS Flashback Button
- 1 x Line Out Jack (Gold Audio Jack)
- 1 x Microphone Input Jack (Gold Audio Jack)

https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/B650E Taichi/index.asp#Specification

Oh yeah you're right. That is pretty strange that it's lacking Displayport. I was just working on a friend's old Haswell based Dell today, and even that thing had build in Displayport to the motherboard. Personally i'd choose a different board.

 

[Peat Moss]

Oh yeah you're right. That is pretty strange that it's lacking Displayport. I was just working on a friend's old Haswell based Dell today, and even that thing had build in Displayport to the motherboard. Personally i'd choose a different board.

Thanks. The other mobo I was looking at is the Asus ProArt B650 Creator.

1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (1 x USB Type-C®, shared with DisplayPort graphic output )
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (3 x Type-A + 1 x USB Type-C®)
2 x USB 2.0 ports (2 x Type-A)
1 x DisplayPort (Input only)
1 x HDMI® port
1 x Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet
1 x Realtek 1Gb Ethernet
5 x Audio jacks
1 x Optical S/PDIF out port
1 x BIOS FlashBack™ button

https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/proart/proart-b650-creator/techspec/

This one seems to have a separate DP out (over USB?) and in. What would a DP input be for?

 

[xDiVolatilX]

My board has a displayport out but no USB 4 lol.

Any add in cards with USB 4?