Do you need an HDMI 2.1 cable for RTX 30-series GPUs?
Best answer: You don’t absolutely need an HDMI 2.1 cable for NVIDIA’s latest RTX 30-series GPUs. However, adding a cable using the latest HDMI standard to your setup will allow you to unlock the full potential of your hardware, especially at high resolutions and frame rates. The good news? HDMI 2.1 cables are a relatively inexpensive addition to your setup.
- HDMI 2.1 (Ultra High Seed) cable: Zeskit 8K (From $17 at Amazon)
- 4K TV with HDMI 2.1 support: LG CX (From $1,497 at Amazon)
- Most powerful GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3090 (See at Amazon)
HDMI 2.1 prepares for the future by handling 8K resolution at a 60Hz refresh rate and 4K resolution at a 120Hz refresh rate. It also hits a bandwidth ceiling of 48 Gbps, which is more than double the 18 Gbps available with HDMI 2.0, enough for uncompressed 8K video with HDR. HDMI 2.1 can deliver up to a 10K resolution, which is reserved for specialty uses like commercial displays.
Dynamic HDR is also unlocked with HDMI 2.1. Rather than more traditional “static” HDR, having it adjust dynamically per scene or frame should make the picture pop more than before. And while Dynamic HDR doesn’t require an HDMI 2.1 cable at lower resolutions, going up to 4K@120Hz or 8K@60Hz does require an HDMI 2.1 cable.
For way more information about HDMI 2.1 and all of its benefits, have a look at our HDMI 2.1: Everything you need to know guide that focuses more on the standard than the cable itself.
How does HDMI 2.1 affect gaming?
Where VRR will no doubt hit harder is in the console space. The Xbox One X already supports VRR with HDMI 2.0, though it’s capped at a lower framerate. HDMI 2.1 will unlock VRR at higher refresh rates with high-end TVs and next-gen consoles, like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
HDMI 2.1 also adds auto low latency mode (ALLM) that will automatically switch your display to its best mode for gaming. Quick media switching (QMS) lets you move between content with different frame rates with no black screen, and quick frame transport (QFT) moves frames from the GPU to the display faster than before to eliminate latency. That last one should be especially important for VR users.
Do you need an HDMI 2.1 cable for RTX 3070, RTX 3080, and RTX 3090?
If you’ve gone all out with the RTX 3080 or RTX 3090 — two GPUs that make our list of the best graphics card options — and want to game at 4K@120Hz, you’re going to definitely need an HDMI 2.1 cable. There are so far no gaming monitors supporting the standard, though options from ASUS and Eve are in development. If you want 4K@120Hz right now, something like the LG CX 4K TV, starting at about $1,497 for the 48-inch model, will do the trick.
As for the actual HDMI 2.1 cable to connect your fancy new hardware to a display, you want to watch out for a specific badge that mentions “Ultra Certified Cable” and “HDMI Ultra High Speed.” Something like the Zeskit HDMI 2.1 cable, starting at about $17 for a three-foot cable, will do the job.
HDMI 2.1 (Ultra High Speed) Cable
Zeskit 8K
The right cable for the job
Zeskit’s HDMI 2.1 cable is available in several lengths and at a competitive price. If you’re connecting to a display with HDMI 2.1, you’ll want one of these to unlock your GPU’s full potential.