What's the Difference Between HDMI and DVI? Which one should I buy?

[apple-fan03]

Good evening! I'm looking for a digital AV cable to connect my MacBook pro to my HDTV. I found 3 kinds of USB C cable, USB C to HDMI 4k@60Hz, USB C to Display Port 4k@60Hz and USB C to DVI cable 4k@30Hz. It's hard to make a decision. What's the difference between the HDMI, Display Port and DVI cable? Which one should I buy?
USB C to HDMI 4k@60Hz:

USB C to Display Port 4k@60Hz:

USB C to DVI 4k@30Hz cable:

Online Urgent!!!

 

[ApolloBoy]

Considering you're connecting it to a TV, go for the HDMI cable. DisplayPort is only included on certain computer monitors (never seen a TV with DisplayPort) and DVI only carries video.

 

[0007776]

HDMI will be the most universal for connecting to a TV, but any of them should work to use the TV as a second monitor as long as your TV has that kind of connection available.

 

[bartvk]

There's a lot of HDMI ports that can't do 4K @ 60Hz yet. Go DisplayPort whenever you can, less room for confusion in my opinion.

 

[Fishrrman]

To get 4k, you need to use the HDMI 2.0 input on the tv (there are usually more than one HDMI input, and they often aren't all HDMI 2.0).

I believe your best chance for success is to use a minidisplayport (at the Mac end) and HDMI 2.0 (at the tv end).

It looks like the first choice above is the one that should work (my best guess).

I believe this is "more than just a [passive] cable" -- it's also an active converter/adapter. Because of that, it will cost more than a simple "connecting cable" does.

On amazon, an outfit called "Club3d" sells these. Check the user reviews.

 

[ApolloBoy]

minidisplayport (at the Mac end)

The 2016 MBPs don't have Mini DisplayPort though.

 

[ZapNZs]

I assume your MBP is a 2016
Is your TV 4k? (and I assume it has DP)

For general usage, of simply viewing video and hearing audio on a (non-smart) television, both HDMI and DP should work well. I have a Choetech C-->HDMI and am happy with it. Mine may be an older generation IIRC as the one I have only does 30 hz when delivering 4k (which doesn't matter for me as I am using it with 1080p.) The one you are considering must be HDMI 2.0. Here is some info on the differences between HDMI and DP.

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/feature/digital-home/displayport-vs-hdmi-3535257/


With USB 3.1 devices, you can only take advantage of the higher bandwidth if you are using two 3.1-capable devices and a 3.1-capable cable. If any one of those three are USB 2.0, then the system will run at USB 2.0 speeds. I am not sure if this applies to televisions or not - do televisions need to be HDMI 2.0 capable to do 4k @ 60hz? (that is, are some UHD TVs limited to HDMI 1.4 and, as a consequence, can only ever reach 30 hz via HDMI, even if using a HDMI 2.0 cable?)

 

[priitv8]

These 2 articles will make a good read:
http://blog.fosketts.net/2016/10/30/2016-macbook-pro-usb-cthunderbolt-survival-guide/
http://blog.fosketts.net/2016/10/29/total-nightmare-usb-c-thunderbolt-3/

 

[apple-fan03]

Thank you for all the suggestions! I got a CHOETECH 4K@60Hz USB C to HDMI adapter. Worked very well on my MBP and even my S8+! Carried with it on my business trip in the UK. I must say it was really a good trip with it.