Can HDMI 1.4 do 4K 60Hz?

Answered by Phillip Nicastro

HDMI 1.4 cannot support 4K resolution at 60Hz. HDMI 1.4 is an older version of the HDMI standard, and it has limitations in terms of bandwidth and data transfer capabilities.

HDMI 1.4 was introduced in 2009 and supports a maximum resolution of 3840×2160 pixels, which is commonly referred to as 4K resolution. However, this resolution can only be achieved at a maximum refresh rate of 30Hz.

To achieve 60Hz refresh rate at 4K resolution, you would need a higher bandwidth than what HDMI 1.4 can provide. HDMI 2.0, which was introduced in 2013, is the first version that supports 4K resolution at 60Hz. It offers significantly higher bandwidth, allowing for smoother and more fluid motion on the screen.

If you use HDMI 1.4 with a 4K display, you will be limited to a 30Hz refresh rate. While this may be sufficient for some applications, it can result in noticeable motion blur or stuttering, especially in fast-paced content like gaming or sports.

However, it’s important to note that HDMI 1.4 can still support 60Hz refresh rate at lower resolutions. For example, if you connect a 2560×1440 (also known as 1440p) display to an HDMI 1.4 port, it will be able to handle the 60Hz refresh rate without any issues.

HDMI 1.4 is not capable of supporting 4K resolution at 60Hz. If you need to achieve a 60Hz refresh rate at 4K resolution, you will need to use a display or device that supports HDMI 2.0 or a newer version of the HDMI standard.