Getting the best HDMI cable for gaming is important for your games to look their best.
The very idea that there’s such a thing as the best HDMI cable will probably annoy plenty of you, but when it comes to HDMI cables, this is frustratingly true. HDMI cables are one of those things you rarely think about until you need one, but they’re rated at specific bandwidths, and if you buy a cable that isn’t rated high enough, you won’t be able to hit the resolutions and refresh rates your hardware can deliver. So, when buying the best HDMI cable for gaming, here’s what you need. The best monitor (Image credit: Future) The best gaming monitor Want your games looking their best? Try one of these amazing bits of kit. Ideally, you should be using a DisplayPort to hook up your PC to your monitor. Perhaps, you’re plugging your rig or game console into TV or an older monitor that doesn’t have DisplayPort. You still want the best color and performance possible to get the most of the system, and a dinky old HDMI cable you found in a drawer is likely only doing you a disservice. The most basic HDMI cable you want for gaming is a High-Speed HDMI cable. Such cables support a bandwidth of 18Gbps, which covers you for 4K gaming at 60Hz as well as supporting HDR content. It’s worth making sure that the cable is certified to support the faster HDMI 2.0 standard as well. If you’re looking towards the future, Ultra High-Speed HDMI cables sport a bandwidth of 48Gbps and support 8K at 120Hz. These cables sell at a premium, but if you’re targeting more than 60Hz at 4K, then this is what you want. Of course, you’ll need one of the best graphics cards around, as well as a 4K monitor or 4K TV, or it won’t matter how fancy your cable is. You’ll see reference to CL2 and CL3 ratings for HDMI cables, and this is to do with how the copper cables are coated and defines their abilities to handle high votalges for in-wall installations. CL2 HDMI cables can handle up to 150 volts and are designed for residential use, while the CL3 cables are intended for commercial installations and can handle up to 300 volts. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Amazon) Image 2 of 3 (Image credit: Amazon) Image 3 of 3 (Image credit: Amazon) 1. AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI The best budget HDMI cable for gaming. Transfer speed: 18Gbps| Length: 6 ft — 35 ft (1.8m — 10.6m)| Certification: CL3-certified Prime $6.
