519

The TL;DR is that the organization that controls the HDMI standard won't allow any open source implementation of HDMI 2.1.

So the hardware is fully capable of it, but they'll get in trouble if them officially implement it.

Instead it's officially HDMI 2 (which maxes out at 4k @ 60Hz), but through a technique called chroma sub-sampling they've been able to raise that up to 4k @ 120Hz.

However there are some minor reductions in picture quality because of this, and the whole thing would be much easier if the HDMI forum would be more consumer friendly.

In the meantime, the Steam Machine also has display port as a completely issue free display option.

(page 2) 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] Luci@lemmy.ca 73 points 1 day ago

Is this why DisplayPort looks better for me on Linux???

[-] cecilkorik@piefed.ca 70 points 1 day ago

Yes. DP is the right choice for civilized people.

[-] Midnitte@beehaw.org 35 points 1 day ago

Yep it's pretty much better in all regards.

The only downside is no ARC support, but I suppose support for that is pretty hit or miss anyway.

load more comments (1 replies)
[-] Templa@beehaw.org 29 points 1 day ago

I really wish I could find a TV within my desired specs that had DisplayPort. We will buy a Steam Machine to use it in place of our docked Steam Deck in the living room, so being able to use DP would be amazing.

[-] Truscape 19 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Adapting DisplayPort to HDMI with minimal quality loss is child's play. It's the other way around that's misery.

Any cheap adapter cable that supports DisplayPort In to HDMI Out should be perfectly fine.

[-] Templa@beehaw.org 3 points 1 day ago

I just realized I have such cable in my desk (brand new), DP to HDMI 4k 60fps

My spouse need something for the other way around for his desk setup

[-] xthexder@l.sw0.com 3 points 1 day ago

Those specs sound like HDMI 2 anyway. HDMI 2.1 can do 4K @ 144Hz with HDR. Or apparently even 10K @ 120Hz.

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[-] skymtf 6 points 1 day ago

At this point just make an "adapter" that captures the disaply port signal and outputs it from a "supported" device

load more comments (4 replies)
[-] Mac@mander.xyz 14 points 1 day ago

Ship a high quality DP adapter with each onr 😂

load more comments (8 replies)
[-] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 22 points 1 day ago

Countdown until some community member patches 2.1 support in

[-] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 22 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Not that easy.

To get HDMI 2.1 support for the Gabe Cube itself essentially requires kernel level patches. Which on a "normal" Linux device is possible (but ill advised) but on these atomic distros where even something like syncthing involves shenanigans to keep active week to week? Ain't happening. Because HDMI is not just mapping data to pins and using the right codecs. There are a LOT of handshakes involved along the way (which is also the basis for HDCP which essentially all commercial streaming services utilize to some degree).

There ARE methods (that I have personally used) to take a DP->HDMI dongle and flash a super sketchy Chinese (the best source for sketchy tech) firmware to effectively cheat the handshakes. It isn't true HDMI 2.1 but it provides VRR and "good enough for 2025" HDR at 4k/120Hz. But... I would wager money that is violating at least one law or another.

So expect a lot of those "This ini change fixes all of Windows 11. Just give money to my patreon for it" level fixes. And... idiots will believe it since you can use a dongle to already get like HDMI 2.05 or whatever with no extra effort. And there will likely be a LOT of super sketchy dongles on AliExpress that come pre-flashed that get people up to 2.09 (which is genuinely good enough for most people). But it is gonna be a cluster.

And that is why all of us with AMD NUCs already knew what a clusterfuck this was going to be.


There are also ways to fake the handshake in software. I personally did not try that but from what I have seen on message boards? It is VERY temporary (potentially having to redo every single time you change inputs on your TV/receiver) and it is unclear if the folk who think it works actually tested anything or just said "My script printed out 'Handshake Successful', it works with this game that doesn't even output HDR!"

Cable Matters sells plenty of different DP->HDMI 2.1 adapters that work with VRR. The main issue here is that you won't get CEC if you use those.

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[-] myfunnyaccountname@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 day ago

Pfft. People using monitors or tvs. I just plug into it and play it in my head.

[-] ryper@lemmy.ca 21 points 1 day ago

That's what the Steam Frame is for.

load more comments (1 replies)
[-] Grass@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 day ago

I would normally prefer no hdmi at all, but it's an entry point device so it doesn't really make sense to do that.

load more comments
view more: ‹ prev next ›
this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2025
519 points (100.0% liked)

Steam Hardware

19887 readers
728 users here now

A place to discuss and support all Steam Hardware, including Steam Deck, Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and SteamOS in general.

As Lemmy doesn't have flairs yet, you can use these prefixes to indicate what type of post you have made, eg:
[Flair] My post title

The following is a list of suggested flairs:
[Deck] - Steam Deck related.
[Machine] - Steam Machine related.
[Frame] - Steam Frame related.
[Discussion] - General discussion.
[Help] - A request for help or support.
[News] - News about the deck.
[PSA] - Sharing important information.
[Game] - News / info about a game on the deck.
[Update] - An update to a previous post.
[Meta] - Discussion about this community.

If your post is only relevant to one hardware device (Deck/Machine/Frame/etc) please specify which one as part of the title or by using a device flair.

These are not enforced, but they are encouraged.

Rules:

Link to our Matrix Space

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS