If you’re watching a movie and you notice that there are issues with lip-syncing with the characters on the screen, your HDMI cable might be a common culprit.
In other cases, HDMI lag can be seen when you press a button on your controller or computer and there is a noticeable delay. HDMI lag is what happens when your audio and your video get out of sync.
A faulty or malfunctioning HDMI cable can cause stuttering, sparkling, color changes, degradation, and media input lag. Long, poorly shielded, or low-bandwidth HDMI cables can also impact the graphic’s flow. Regular high-speed HDMI cables should provide more than enough bandwidth.
No one wants to deal with the frustration of lag caused by a faulty HDMI cable. There are a number of ways around the issue, and you’ll want to keep reading to figure out how to come out ahead of the lag.
Does the HDMI Cable Affect Refresh Rate?
An HDMI cable is a digital connection between the monitor and the source. The refresh rate takes place on the monitor and isn’t sent through the HDMI cable from/to the source. However, this doesn’t mean an HDMI cable doesn’t affect performance.
The main way that an HDMI cable can affect the refresh rate is through pixel data. The computer sends pixel data through the HDMI cable to the monitor to match its refresh rate.
The amount of pixel data the cable is required to transfer will vary depending on the resolution and refresh rate you wish to display. The appropriate cable must be chosen based on your bandwidth requirements.
In most cases, however, the refresh rate of your display will not be noticeably affected by the HDMI cable you use unless the cable is faulty.
HDMI cables are only responsible for carrying video and audio data between devices. The refresh rate of a display is determined by the timing signal it receives from the graphics card and the monitor’s set refresh rate.
As already mentioned, the most common times an HDMI cable can affect the refresh rate of your display is when you’re using a cheap or poorly made cable that doesn’t work properly.
If you’re experiencing problems with ghosting, tearing, or other artifacts, this may be due to a bad cable or other faulty hardware.
What Is Refresh Rate?
The refresh rate is how often a screen image is refreshed, and it can have a big impact on how smooth your image looks. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother your picture will look.
For example, if you’re watching an action scene in a movie or playing a game, you want a high refresh rate to make sure that the motion looks smooth and continuous. If you don’t have enough frames per second (fps), the result will look choppy rather than smooth.
HDMI cables are offered in various lengths, and each one will have different speeds of data transmission.
- Premium high-speed HDMI cables support up to 2160p (3840×2160) resolution and 10-bit color depth at 60 frames per second (fps).
- High-speed cables are known as category 2 cables and will support 4K resolutions (3840 x 2160), but not at 60Hz. Instead, they’ll only work at 30Hz for 4K resolution monitors or TVs. If you need 4K at 60Hz, then you’ll need a premium cable like category 2/2b or 3/3a/3b.
- Standard speed cables support 1080p resolution at 60Hz (and sometimes 120Hz). They won’t work with 4K video signals because they don’t have enough bandwidth to handle the extra data needed for 4K video signals.
Monitor/TV Refresh Rates
If you have a 60 Hz monitor and want to play a game that has a refresh rate of 120 Hz, then you will need to set your game to 120 Hz before playing it through HDMI.
Once you set the game to 120 Hz, you should be able to change resolution without affecting your refresh rate (although this may vary by game).
If you have an HDTV with a 60 Hz panel, then when using an HDMI cable, your refresh rate will be limited by your display’s capabilities.
For example, if you’re running at 1080p resolution with an HDMI connection on your 60 Hz TV, then there will be no difference between using an HDMI cable vs using component cables.
Can an HDMI Cable Cause Stuttering?
HDMI cables aren’t all cut from the same cloth. There are many different types of HDMI cables on the market, and some can cause stuttering, while others will not.
A subpar HDMI cable can cause stuttering and lag in a number of ways and for many reasons:
Bad Cable
A cheaply made HDMI cable will never be as good as the more expensive ones. It can lead to lag and screen tearing that will not only affect your performance during video games, but also be quite annoying when you’re trying to transmit any type of signal from your computer to your TV.
Audio Quality
Poor audio quality is a hallmark sign of a lower-quality HDMI cable. If you do notice that your sound quality is much lower than it should be, your HDMI cable should be one of the first things you’ll want to take a look at.
Shielding
When you don’t have a properly shielded HDMI cable, you’ll be dealing with increased interference from the other devices that are running along the same circuit.
Increased interference will lower the quality of the data that is being transmitted along your HDMI cable. A poorly shielded HDMI cable will always have lower quality than a properly shielded one.
Length
Longer HDMI cables typically have more signal loss in comparison to shorter cables. Signals that are transmitted over longer distances are subject to a higher chance of interference along the way.
How Do I Know If My HDMI Cable Is Bad?
There are a number of things you can look out for to determine if your HDMI cable is bad.
1. Are You Noticing Glitches Or Distortion?
If you’re watching a movie or playing a video game and commonly see visual distortions and glitches, that’s a good indicator that your HDMI cable might be drawing near the end of its life.
Consider pulling out the HDMI cable and connecting it between your computer and another TV or monitor to see if it is, indeed, the cable causing the issue. Glitches and distortion on your screen might come in the form of lines, screen flickering, or complete screen freezing.
2. Is It Frayed Or Damaged?
If you’re buying a new HDMI cable and open up the package to find that there are small strands of the cable dangling out of it, or even worse, that there’s a huge tear in your cable, then it means that this particular model has been cheaply made with substandard materials and will likely cause problems with your audio or video signal.
If you see this kind of damage on your existing HDMI cables then it’s probably time to replace them with better models.
3. Buzzing Sounds
Another symptom of a bad HDMI cable is a buzzing sound that might be heard coming out of the speakers while you’re gaming or watching movies.
4. Is There Interference When Using It?
If you notice that there’s some kind of interference when using an HDMI cable, then it might be time to get rid of it.
If there’s static coming from your speakers when using this type of connection, then there could be something wrong with either the device or the connection between them. This may be caused by poor quality cables or faulty equipment on either end.
How to Reduce HDMI Input Lag
HDMI cables are one of the most common ways to connect gaming consoles and monitors. Most computers, monitors, and televisions have an HDMI input, along with other alternatives, such as VGA or DisplayPort.
If lag or delay is experienced while playing video games, the cause could be the HDMI cable, but it could also be a bunch of other things, including the monitor or TV. Before you jump to any conclusions, troubleshoot the cables, the devices, and the settings using the methods below to make sure you’ve tried everything.
There are a couple of ways to reduce HDMI input lag:
1. Turn Enhancement Off (TV)
Motion enhancement might be a feature that you learn to enjoy while watching movies, but it can increase HDMI input lag. This feature is also commonly referred to as Clear Motion, Motion Flow, Clarity, and other terms on certain brands of TVs.
2. Disable Power Saving (PC)
Power saving mode will reduce the overall performance of the computer to save battery. This mode forces the computer to work with fewer resources, which can lead to some input lag. Disabling the feature should reduce your input lag.
- Right-click the battery on the taskbar in Windows 10
- Select Power Options
- Uncheck the box Turn battery saver on automatically if my battery falls below
3. Disable Adaptive Brightness (PC)
Adaptive screen brightness will automatically adjust brightness levels to your surroundings to provide the best experience at all times. While this feature is great, it can add some additional input lag. Disabling it could reduce the input lag slightly.
- Right-click the Windows start button
- Select Settings -> System -> Display
- Select Brightness
- Uncheck the Help improve battery by optimizing the content shown and brightness box
4. Test Other HDMI Inputs
The input lag you’re experiencing could be caused by a single HDMI input on your computer or monitor. If you have the possiblity to connect your computer through another port, that’s worth trying as it could be the solution to your problem.
5. Shut Off the Reduction Features
Reduction features can sometimes increase the lag experienced. Reduction features can come in a number of different names, so you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled for things like Mosquito Reduction, NR Reduction, and Noise Reduction.
6. Try Turning On Game Mode (TV)
This mode is mainly used for video games, and it optimizes the performance of your TV for gaming. This feature was first introduced around 2005, and it is now a standard feature on most TVs.
7. Disable HDMI-CEC
CEC, or consumer electronics control is a feature of HDMI that allows HDMI-connected devices to control and communicate with one another. This makes it possible to control multiple devices using only one remote controller.
This feature has, however, turned out to add a little bit of input lag. Disabling it should reduce your input lag by 10-15ms.
8. Use Separate Speakers
Truthfully, I’m not sure how many of you out there who actually use the TV’s built-in speakers when playing games, but it’s worth noting that doing so uses more of the TV’s resources, which will lead to additional input lag.
By using the built-in speakers instead of a headset or external speakers, you can expect to add an extra 5-10ms of input lag. This depends on your device, of course.
Are All HDMI Cables the Same?
HDMI cables are not all the same. While they all might still plug into the same port on your TV or A/V receiver, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re identical.
HDMI cables come in different lengths, shapes, and thicknesses, and some are better than others at carrying an HD signal.
The two primary types are Standard and High-Speed Cables.
HDMI Cable Types
HDMI cables come in different types (types A and B) and categories (1-4). The type is important because it determines which audio formats and video resolutions can be sent through the cable.
Categories determine how much bandwidth the cable can handle, which also affects what kind of content it can transmit.