Atif Qazi
One of the first questions that come to your mind when you buy a shiny new PS5 is whether it will be compatible with your old TV or monitor which still conforms to the old HDMI standards.
Fortunately, the simplest answer to the question “can you use PS5 with HDMI 1.4?” is a yes. You can use your PS5 with an HDMI 1.4 port or with an HDMI 1.4 cable.
The only issue with interfacing PS5 with an HDMI 1.4 is that the output capability of the PS5 will be bottlenecked.
The version PS5 offers is HDMI 2.1 and it is designed to support 4K resolution and 120Hz (120 FPS) max on select games. If you were to interface PS5 with an HDMI 1.4 monitor, TV, or HDMI 1.4 cable, you will be limited to lower resolution and FPS.
In the text below I will discuss in detail whether you can use HDMI 1.4 with PS5 and if so what kind of performance to expect.
HDMI Ports and Cables Conform to Different Versions
The question of whether you can use PS5 with HDMI 1.4 is a two-part question and it relates to both the HDMI port as well as to the HDMI cable version.
The input HDMI port on your TV/monitor and the HDMI cable version should all match with that of the PS5’s (HDMI 2.1) ideally.
However, if your TV/monitor has an inferior port version or if you have a cable with inferior specs, the PS5 WILL work albeit at lower performance.
Older HDMI port versions have a lower bandwidth. Meaning, they cannot carry as much information. The following table explains this in detail:
| HDMI Version | Max Resolution | Refresh Rate | HDR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 | 1440P | 1080P = 60Hz 1440P = 30Hz | No |
| 1.3-1.4 | 4K (4096 x 2160) | 1080P = 120Hz 1440P = 60Hz 4K = 30Hz | No |
| 2.0 | 4K (4096 x 2160) | 1080P = 240Hz 1440P = 144Hz 4K = 60Hz | Yes |
| 2.1 | 8K (7680 x 4320) | 1440P = 240Hz 4K = 144Hz 4K = 240Hz (DSC) 8K = 120Hz (DSC) | Yes |
From the table above, you can see that while the HDMI 1.4 port can support FHD @ 120Hz (120 FPS), if you wish to utilize the full 4K and 120Hz gaming potential of your PS5, you will need to have an HDMI 2.1 input port on your monitor.
Does PS5 Support HDMI 1.4 TV or Monitor?
Yes, in light of the discussion above, the HDMI 1.4 TV or monitor WILL work, but take note it will work at FHD @ 120Hz max.
The option for enabling 4K @ 60 or 120Hz will be disabled.
Cable Versions and PS5 Support
Additionally, the cable version also matters. Currently, there are four categories of HDMI cables:
- Standard
- High Speed
- Premium High Speed
- Ultra High Speed
The following table explains the bandwidth of the aforementioned HDMI cable types and what port they are ideal for.
| HDMI Cable Certification | Supported Specs | Intended HDMI Port Version |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1080P @ 60Hz | 1.0-1.3 |
| High Speed | FHD @ 144Hz QHD @ 60Hz 4K @ 30hz | 1.4 |
| Premium High Speed | FHD @ 240Hz QHD @ 144Hz 4K @ 60Hz | 2.0 |
| Ultra High Speed | FHD @ > 240Hz 1440P @ > 240Hz 4K @ 144Hz (240Hz with DSC) 8K @ 120Hz (DSC) 10K @ 120Hz (DSC) | 2.1 |
The key point to note here is that if you have an inferior cable, PS5 will not work at 4K or 120Hz refresh rate.
In other words, even if you have a monitor/TV with an HDMI 2.1 cable, if you do not interface using an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable, then you will not get the rated 4K / 120Hz specs.
Fortunately, PS5 comes bundled with a certified HDMI 2.1 cable. You wouldn’t need to buy a new one unless you have damaged or misplaced the original cable or if you need a longer one.
Also Read: How Long is the PS5 HDMI Cable?
Avoid Buying Fake HDMI 2.1 Cables
When buying a new HDMI 2.1 cable, make sure you actively look for the label “Ultra-High Speed” with a QR code and a holographic image certifying its specs.
The certifications to cables are given by the HDMI Forum and the QR code on the box makes sure that you can verify its authenticity.
There are many cheap knock-off listings on Amazon or AliExpress that claim to be HDMI 2.1 Ultra High-Speed cable only for you to find out later that it was all fake.
Make sure you buy from trusted HDMI cable manufacturers like Belkin, Anker, Ugreen, etc.
So Can You Use PS5 with HDMI 1.4?
It should be clear from the discussion above that you can certainly use a monitor or a TV with an HDMI 1.4 port with your PS5. You can also use an HDMI 1.4 cable (aka High-Speed cable) for interfacing your PS5 with your display device. The only drawback is the resolution and FPS bottleneck.
Do You Really Need an HDMI 2.1 Port or an Ultra High-Speed Cable for PS5?
Given the fact that there are only a handful of games that support either 4K or 120Hz refresh rate, many gamers do not need to bother much with getting a shiny new monitor or a TV with a 4K / 120Hz refresh rate.
Even if you take the good old GTA 5 as an example, this game works at 4k @ 60 FPS on PS5 at best, which requires HDMI 2.0 at best NOT HDMI 2.1.
For most games, particularly the competitive ones, most gamers would still prefer to play at FHD @ 120FPS max which the HDMI 1.4 can support.
QHD or 4K @ 120Hz is way too taxing for most PS5 games and you will find that many games are ditching these high-quality display modes. Plus, the monitor itself that features such specs would cost a fortune.
HDMI 1.4 CAN Support 120Hz (120FPS) on PS5
If your burning question is whether you’d be able to play games at the super-fast frame rate of 120 FPS on PS5 with a mere HDMI 1.4 then the answer is a yes again.
As mentioned, HDMI 1.4 can support FHD @ 120hz max and therefore should have no issues supporting 120FPS on select games.
There are some that unfortunately face the issue of their 144Hz monitors not supporting 120hz refresh rate on PS5. There can be many reasons for this worst of which is that the monitor does not support 120Hz mode at all.
Take for instance the 144Hz monitor above, it does not have 120Hz mode support and hence it will clock the FPS down to 60 only.
PS5 works only at 30Hz, 60Hz, or 120Hz modes for 30, 60, and 120 FPS respectively. Nothing in between or above is supported.
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