Why won't Steam Machine support HDMI 2.1?

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/12/why-wont-steam-machine-support-hdmi-2-1-digging-in-on-the-display-standard-drama/

48•saghm•2mo ago

Comments

0xC0ncord•2mo ago

deepsun•2mo ago

Why don't they use DisplayPort 2.1? It's just superior. Why stick to HDMI?

No wonder why Apple took DisplayPort-Mini port for their Thunderbolt interface. Back in 2011!

gh02t•2mo ago

Presumably because most people want to plug it into a TV, and supporting both would add cost.

thfuran•2mo ago

I'd buy a SteamTV that's a good panel with a decent soc, DP instead of HDMI, and no webshit.

giancarlostoro•2mo ago

An no “Smart” bullshit, just a good device that syncs up to all your gaming devices.

giancarlostoro•2mo ago

Call me ignorant and feel free to correct me but I thought DisplayPort didnt support audio?

cweagans•2mo ago

DisplayPort 1.1 and above supports audio transmission.

Telaneo•2mo ago

DP supports audio just fine. It just isn't usually used for that, since it's used with monitors and not TVs.

troupo•1mo ago

> It just isn't usually used for that, since it's used with monitors and not TVs.

Monitors have had audio outputs since forever, and now most displays these days are also USB hubs to boot.

sevensor•2mo ago

> players that want to avoid the issue can use the Steam Machine’s DisplayPort 1.4 output, which supports even more bandwidth than HDMI 2.1 (and which can be converted to an HDMI signal with a simple dongle).

Looks like users can do just that.

ThatPlayer•2mo ago

> DisplayPort 1.4 output, which supports even more bandwidth than HDMI 2.1

That's pretty wrong isn't it? HDMI 2.1 does 48 Gigabit/s. DP 1.4 is ~26 Gigabit/s. I think they meant to compared it to HDMI 2.0 @ 15 Gigabit/s?

yesco•1mo ago

Are you aware of any new TVs that have a displayport? Genuinely asking since I haven't been very successful finding any.

gridlocdev•2mo ago

It’s unfortunate the HDMI forum is dragging their feet on this, but it’s kind of the nature of their business model so I’m not holding my breath waiting for things to resolve.

To use Linux at 4k at a high refresh rate with a TV or other screen that only has HDMI ports, they sell high-performance DisplayPort to HDMI adapter cords for like $30 on Amazon. My Bazzite machine works just fine on a 4K tv at 120hz, and even enables HDR now which it didn’t before with the regular HDMI cord.

If the HDMI forum thing doesn’t work out, I totally could see Valve offering a DP to HDMI cable just so folks don’t need to do extra searching to get the best performance out of their new hardware.

greatgib•2mo ago

Sad that the European union are slow lazy institutions when defending citizen rights is needed, because otherwise it would worth a good anti-trust procedure against the HDMI forum and its members in my opinion!

fellowmartian•2mo ago

It wouldn’t be HN without an EU bashing comment for no reason. Seems like it’s living in people’s heads rent free.

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