549

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 3) 37 comments
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[-] WraithGear@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

why not just use DisplyPort?

[-] de_lancre@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

Cause device targets couch gaming with TV. TVs don't have DP, they have HDMI.

[-] WraithGear@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

oh… to be honest i don’t have a tv, i thought they would just have a plethora of connections to match what ever hardware you use like pc’s i don’t see why not when display port is open sourced

[-] Truscape 2 points 1 day ago

The humble $5 DP in to HDMI out adapter cable:

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[-] LodeMike@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days ago

Because the machine can't render at higher than that probably

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[-] yucandu@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Chroma subsampling is because they don't have the bandwidth for 4k120@RGB, not because HDMI won't allow it. The two things aren't related.

[-] Cort@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Right, but they have to use chroma subsampling on hdmi2.0 because HDMI won't allow an open source driver for HDMI 2.1

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[-] Psythik@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago

Wow, no HDMI 2.1 is a deal breaker for me. This is fucking sad.

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this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2025
549 points (100.0% liked)

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