How To Know If I Need To Upgrade My Service Wires

If y'all're ownership a new Television set, the PlayStation 5 or anXbox Series Ten/S, you lot might be wondering if you need new HDMI cables. There is, in fact, a new standard chosen HDMI 2.i, and included with that new standard are new higher-bandwidth cables, chosen "Ultra High Speed HDMI cables." In fact both of the new consoles include such a cable.

However, for about people, you probably don't need new cables. At that place are some key exceptions to that argument, and beneath is a list of potential reasons why you might need to upgrade your HDMI cables. We'll first with the basic questions.

Do you need new cables if you're...

...Ownership a new Goggle box? Probably not

If you're buying a new 4K Goggle box, and your current sources work with your electric current TV, they'll probably work with the new Tv set, too. If yous plan on also ownership an Ultra HD source, like a Roku, Ultra HD Blu-ray player or one of the new gaming consoles, chances are your current cables will also piece of work with those.

...Buying a new 4K HDR streamer, UHD Blu-ray role player, PS5 or Xbox 10? Probably non

The best streaming devices, Blu-ray players and the latest versions of both gaming consoles tin output 4K HDR. If your HDMI cables are but less than about 10 anxiety long, they'll probably work merely fine. If they're, longer you lot might have problems. Even if they worked fine with regular 4K, HDR is additional data and that might be likewise much for longer runs. If you lot can't get your TV to brandish HDR, fifty-fifty though you're sure your source and content are HDR, the cablevision might be the problem. Check all your other settings first even so.

...Want to run games at 4K120 and have a Tv set that supports that resolution or framerate? Probably

ThePlayStation 5 andXbox Series X/S have the power to output 4K at 120 frames per second. Merely a handful of TVs can actually have that frame rate still. At that place are also only a few games that tin run at 4K120. Most people won't have all those pieces, and then their electric current cables will probably exist fine. If you have 1 of those consoles, and have a Television receiver that supports 4K120, and want to play one of the 4K120-capable games, and you need more than the single cable that comes with the panel, and so yous should look into Ultra Loftier Speed HDMI cables.

Brett Pearce/CNET

...Connecting a calculator to a Telly and running 4K resolutions? Peradventure

Computers tin can send the maximum resolution and frame rate possible in the current HDMI spec. If y'all've got a beefy computer and want to connect to a UHD TV, it's probably worth it to become Ultra High Speed or at least Premium Certified cables. Noncertified cables might work, but it'due south less probable.

...Dealing with a Idiot box image that blinks, flashes or otherwise cuts out? Probably

If the image on your Telly is cutting out randomly (or isn't showing upwards at all), this might be a cable issue. If none of your gear has changed, it might be a unlike problem, just maybe the HDMI cable is getting worn out (likely if you plug and unplug all the time, or the cable is on the floor and gets trodden on). A new low-toll HDMI cablevision is at best a cheap fix, and at worst a cheap indicator that the problem is something else.

On the other hand, if you've bought a new Boob tube and information technology won't show the 4K or HDR content you send it, the cable might not exist able to handle it. A different, but yet cheap, HDMI cable should practise the trick. Or you tin spend a little more and get a Premium Certified HDMI cablevision, which should definitely piece of work. Ultra High Speed HDMI cables are likely overkill, but if the price is close they won't hurt, every bit they're completely astern-compatible with lower resolutions and frame rates.

Samsung QN90A QLED TV — David Katzmaier/CNET

Reminder: HDMI cables are 'all or nothing'

Your current HDMI cables are likely "Loftier Speed." This is but what they're called, they don't break the laws of physics to let electrons to move faster over them. High Speed HDMI cables are designed to handle 4K resolutions, but not necessarily college data versions like 4K HDR or the higher frame rates of the new consoles. Short cables of a few feet or a meter will probably handle 4K60 without event. Longer cables might not. Even if the cable works with 4K, it might not work with 4K HDR.

Or it might -- that'due south the infuriating part. There are too many variables for me to say for sure. "Test it and come across" is, unfortunately, the only way to know. The skillful news is, because of how HDMI works, if your source device is sending 4K HDR, and your TV is displaying 4K HDR, that means information technology's perfect.

There'due south no improvement to be had with more expensive cables. It's either all or nothing. The virtually likely scenario, if your cable can't handle the resolution you want, is the image either won't announced at all, it will flicker or cut out or, a pretty mutual case, your source will revert to a lower resolution.

Which is to say, if you set up your Roku to transport 4K and it flickers for a moment, then your TV shows 1080p, that might be because your cable can't handle plenty of the signal for it to work.

Keep in listen, for well-nigh people cheap HDMI cables are fine. If you're having trouble, then mayhap it'south worth considering an upgrade. Simply just because you're ownership new gear or because in that location's a new HDMI standard that doesn't necessarily mean yous must upgrade.

HDMI input - gettyimages-15731226-mbbirdy — Getty Images/mbbirdy

Salvage your coin

Let'south say you've adamant you do demand new HDMI cables. Should yous spend extra on Ultra High Speed HDMI cables cables then yous're "futureproof"? Not as a rule, no, only for the well-nigh part Ultra High Speed HDMI cables aren't much more than expensive than "regular" cables. In that location's no reason to spend more than $10 to $20 for a three-foot cablevision, regardless of its spec, and you can observe Ultra High Speed HDMI cables for that price and less.

The bottom line is, if your current cables work, keep them. If yous get new gear and the cables continue to work, keep them. If you lot get new gear and you lot tin't get the resolutions that should be possible with your new gear, most probable all you'll need is some new, inexpensive, High Speed cables. Check out Best HDMI cables for more on specific cables to consider.

If y'all're a gamer and take or are planning to get aPlayStation 5 orXbox Series X and have/planning to get a TV that supports a 4K120 input, consider Ultra High Speed HDMI cables. Only keep in heed that you lot don't need to spend a lot on those either. Typically they're only a few dollars more per foot than the better High Speed cables.

Note: This article was beginning published in 2017 but has been updated with new links and info.

Equally well equally roofing TV and other display tech, Geoff does photograph tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, airplane graveyards and more.

You tin follow his exploits on Instagram and YouTube about his 10,000 mile route trip. He also has written a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, along with a sequel.