I'm looking to set up my PC a bit away from my desk because I live in a hot environment and having it right by my feet isn't ideal. It doesn't run particularly hot, staying under 70 degrees Celsius even during gaming, but I'd prefer to minimize the heat I feel from it. I've read that DisplayPort cables have a limit of around 3 meters. Can anyone tell me how far I can safely run HDMI or DisplayPort cables before I start to face issues?
5 Answers
For HDMI, you're good up to about 15 meters, but realistically, 10 meters is safer. If you need to go longer, check out KVM over ethernet or look at SDI adapters, but those can get a bit pricey. I’ve managed 4K with a 10-meter HDMI cable, but splitting the signal needed a powered HDMI splitter, which took some finding to get a quality one.
The cable length also depends on your resolution. For a 50-ft HDMI, you might only get 4K at 30fps, but if you drop to 1440p, you might push 60fps. Just keep in mind, I'm using it with an older TV that doesn’t need high frame rates, so be sure what you plan to connect it to.
Honestly, it might be better to improve your room's ventilation or get an AC instead of just moving the PC around. Better airflow could make that heat less of an issue.
With HDMI, a 30-foot cable should work fine without problems if you're not aiming for high refresh rates. You'll definitely get 1080p60, and with a quality cable, you might hit 1080p120 or even 1440p60. Just make sure to keep it away from other cables to reduce interference.
If you're open to it, fiber optic HDMI cables can go really long—like over 50 feet without losing signal quality! Regular cables struggle after about 20 feet, so fiber could be a great option for your setup.
Definitely! Fiber optic HDMI cables are specifically designed for longer runs. They can be a bit pricier, but I got a 50-ft one for around $30 on Amazon.
Wait, can a fiber optic cable be used as an HDMI or DisplayPort cable? And how much more expensive are they compared to standard cables?