You may have heard that DisplayPort cables support 165 Hz. That is true, but not all DisplayPort versions offer 165 Hz.
It helps when you know which specific DP cable offers native support for the refresh rates you want. This article focuses on the cables you can use for 165 Hz.
Keep reading to find which DisplayPort cable you should buy for a 165-Hz refresh rate. We’ll also tell you about other cable types that support this refresh rate.
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Do DisplayPort cables support 165Hz?
Yes, DisplayPort versions 1.2 through 2.0 natively support 165Hz. So DP cables that correspond to these DisplayPort versions will give you 165Hz while the newer versions— that’s DP 1.3, 1.4, and 2.0—go as high as 165Hz 4K and 240Hz 5K.
DisplayPort 1.2 and DisplayPort 1.2a cables output 1440p at 165Hz and 1080p at 240Hz.
DisplayPort 1.3 and 1.4 support 1440p at 165 Hz, 1080p at 360 Hz, and 2560 x 1080 at 300 Hz.
With UHBR 10, DisplayPort 2.0 supports 4K at 165 Hz. It also displays 3440 x 1440 at 300 Hz and 1440p at 360 Hz.
Under UHBR 13.5, DisplayPort 2.0 offers 200/240/300 Hz 4K, 360 Hz for 3440 x 1440, and 540 Hz for 1440p.
Under UHBR 20, DisplayPort 2.0 supports 4K at 300/480 Hz and 3440 x 1440 at 600 Hz. And it supports 1440p and 1080p at 600+ Hz.
All UHBR transmission modes offer native support for 1080p at 600+ Hz.
When picking your PSU, monitor, display, and cables, ensure they all support your desired resolution at the refresh rate you want to achieve.
Because even though DisplayPort is backward compatible, it reverts to the capabilities available in all connected devices and cables, if the devices support different DP versions. Usually, this being the lowest version that all the connected devices support.
When that happens, your display may end up outputting at a lower resolution and lower refresh rate than you wanted.
What DisplayPort cable do I need for 165Hz?
You can get 165 Hz using a DisplayPort 1.2 or 1.2a cable, DisplayPort 1.3 cable, DisplayPort 1.4 cable, or DisplayPort 2.0 cable.
DisplayPort 1.2 and 1.2a cables will output 1440p (2560 x 1440) at 165 Hz, and support 1080p at 240 Hz. DisplayPort 1.3 and 1.4 take it a notch higher to output 1440p at 240 Hz and support 360 Hz at 1080p.
You can use a DisplayPort 2.0 cable to get 4K at 165 Hz. Displayport UHBR 10 transmission mode supports 3840 x 2160 165 Hz at 16:9 aspect ratio and 4096 x 2160 165 Hz at 19:10 aspect ratio.
Whichever cables you choose to use, DisplayPort or HDMI, always opt for certified models since these carry a low risk of incompatibility and malfunctioning.
What other cables can I use for 165Hz?
You can use HDMI cables.
HDMI 2.0 and 2.1 have higher refresh frequency limits and will achieve 165 Hz smoothly. Additionally, they’re good options if you wish to achieve a higher refresh rate than 165 Hz in the future.
With an HDMI 2.0 cable , you can get 1080p (2K) at 240 Hz. The same cable gives you 1920 x 1200 at 200 Hz and 2560 x 1080 (2.5K) at 180 Hz.
HDMI 2.1 cables give you 1080p at 480 Hz and above, and 2.5K at 360 Hz and 480+ Hz. Using the same cable, you can achieve 3.5K at 300 Hz and 4K at 180/240 Hz.
If you’re not getting 165 Hz even though your monitor supports 165 Hz , you may need to adjust your display or monitor settings.
Some monitors are set to 144 Hz by default. Changing this to 165 Hz usually solves the problem. Make sure you adjust the PC resolution, as adjusting the TV resolution alone may not solve the issue.
FAQs
Can DisplayPort do 165Hz 1080P?
Yes, DisplayPort can output 1080p at 165 Hz. Except for DisplayPort 1.0 and 1.1a, all other DisplayPort versions can do 165 Hz at 1080p.
DisplayPort 1.2 and 1.2a support 1080p at 240 Hz, DisplayPort 1.3 and 1.4 support 1080p at 360 Hz, and DisplayPort 2.0 supports 1080p at 600+ Hz.
Therefore, DP 1.2 to DP 2.0 will do 165 Hz 1080p without a hitch.
The only way you may not get 165 Hz using any of these cables is if your monitor does not support 165 Hz or, if gaming, the game you’re playing cannot run at 165 Hz.
Can DisplayPort 1.4 do 2K 165Hz?
Yes, DisplayPort 1.4 has a maximum data rate of 25.92 Gbps and can output 1920 x 1080 at 360 Hz. Thus, it will comfortably do 2k at 165 Hz.
That remains true regardless of the 2K definition you use.
As you may be aware, ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) and NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories (NHK STRL) categorize 1980 x 1080 under 2K.
On the other hand, Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC (DCI) and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) identify these three resolutions as 2K: 2048 x 1080, 1998 × 1080, and 2048 × 858.
You’ll be happy if your DisplayPort devices support 1.4, if not for right now, for when you make upgrades in the future because DP 1.4 can also output 2.5K at 200/240/300 Hz, 2560 x 1440 at 240 Hz, and 3.5K at 180 Hz.
Having DP 1.4 will, without a doubt, improve your gaming experience if you get yourself a monitor with high refresh rates and a game that supports these higher refresh rates.
Conclusion
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Newer DisplayPort versions offer 165 Hz at higher resolutions than older DP versions. On the other hand, older DisplayPort versions give 165 Hz at a lower resolution.
DisplayPort 2.0, which has the highest capabilities, supports 4K at 165 Hz. By contrast, DisplayPort 1.2, which has the lowest capabilities, offers 240 Hz at 1080p and will accommodate 165 Hz seamlessly.
To give an example of specific DP versions and resolution and how they relate to 165 Hz, DisplayPort 1.2/1.3/1.4/2.0 all output 165 Hz 1080p and DisplayPort 1.4 offers 165 Hz at 2K.
Other than DisplayPort, you can use HDMI to output 165 Hz at 2K/2.5/3.5/4K.
Vance is a dad, former software engineer, and tech lover. Knowing how a computer works becomes handy when he builds Pointer Clicker. His quest is to make tech more accessible for non-techie users. When not working with his team, you can find him caring for his son and gaming.