The Plugable DP-HDMI active adapter allows you to connect your DisplayPort-enabled computer or tablet to virtually any HDMI display. As more and more system manufacturers such as Microsoft, Intel, Dell, and Lenovo include DispalyPort outputs on their systems, Plugable’s active adapters enable you to continue to utilize your existing HDMI displays while minimizing potential compatibility issues that can be caused by low-cost, low-quality “passive” adapters.

Our active DisplayPort to HDMI adapter is capable of supporting up to a 594MHz pixel clock and allows resolutions up to 3840×2160@60Hz (4K). (Most inexpensive “passive” adapters on the market, also known as “level-shifters” or “Type 1" adapters, have a maximum resolution of 1920×1200.) Supports pass-through of LPCM/HBR audio up to 8-channels and 192kHz sample rate.

The adapter has passed the extensive testing requirements necessary for VESA certification, and is compliant with VESA Dual-Mode DisplayPort 1.2, High Bit Rate 2 (HBR2), and HDMI 2.0 standards. The adapter is also AMD Eyefinity and Nvidia compatible.

• Active adapter enables you to connect a DisplayPort video output from your laptop, desktop, or tablet PC to HDMI-equiped displays, TVs, and projectors
• Supports resolutions up to 3840×2160 (4k) Ultra-HD@60Hz. 1080p displays supported at 120Hz
• VESA (DisplayPort) certified to ensure maximum compatibility and performance
• Compliant with VESA Dual-Mode DisplayPort 1.2, High Bit Rate 2 (HBR2), and HDMI 2.0 standards
• Compatible with the Plugable UGA-4KDP USB 3.0 DisplayPort graphics adapter
• AMD Eyefinity compatible for 3+ displays
• Supports 8-channel LPCM and HBR audio up to 192kHz sample rate
• Complies with HDCP content protection
• Requires no driver installation or external power supply

The Plugable active DisplayPort to HDMI adapters should work with virtually any DisplayPort-enabled host and HDMI display, regardless of which operating system is in use. Though please note that system will require functional graphics drivers as normal.

Available resolution options will be determined by the specifications and abilities of your computer/graphics adapter and attached display. I.e.; if the graphics adapter in your system is only capable of outputting a maximum of 1080P to an external display, the Plugable active adapters will not allow you to exceed this limitation, regardless of the specifications of the attached monitor.

Q: What’s the difference between an active and passive adapter?
DisplayPort is a very interesting standard. It has a function known as “Dual-Mode” or “DisplayPort++/DP++” which allows other signal types to be passed through the DisplayPort connector, including TMDS which is the signaling required by HDMI and DVI displays. Passive adapters rely entirely upon the “Dual-Mode” DisplayPort functionality in conjunction with a voltage boost (DisplayPort natively has a 3.3V output, where HDMI requires 5V). When outputting a TMDS (DVI/HDMI) signal through Dual-Mode, most DisplayPort sources as well as the inexpensive passive adapters on the market are limited to a 165MHz clock rate. This limited clock rate generally limits the maximum resolution to 1980×1200 and reduces the maximum available color-depth to preserve the limited bandwidth.

Some mid-range DP -> HDMI adapters (whether these qualify as “active” or “passive” is a subject of much debate and confusion) are capable of operating at up to 300MHz, but ultimately they are still reliant upon the Dual-Mode functionality of the host to transmit the TMDS signal required for HDMI/DVI displays.

Plugable’s DP-HDMI adapter is truly active. Rather than relying upon passing a TMDS signal via DisplayPort’s Dual-Mode, the adapter actively converts the outgoing DisplayPort LVDS packets into the necessary TMDS signalling. With an internal clock rate of up to 594MHz, our adapter supports all the “must-have” features of HDMI 2.0, with resolutions up to 4K@60Hz, steroscopic 3D support, and higher color depths.

Q: Why does the product information state “Audio will not be passed through the adapter to an attached HDMI display on Mac systems.”?
Apple transmits audio over DisplayPort/Thunderbolt in a unique way. Implementing support for this feature on Apple systems would have resulted in the adapter no longer qualifying for VESA (DisplayPort) certification.

Q: Does the Plugable DP-HDMI adapter support AMD Eyefinity setups beyond two monitors?
Yes! AMD Eyefinity will allow up to two “legacy” display connections (HDMI, DVI, or VGA). The third connection must be native DisplayPort, i.e.; not Dual-Mode/DP++ carrying an HDMI signal (since that would count as one of the two “legacy” displays). When using our active adapters, the video card will not need to utilize one of the legacy connections, but instead will address it as a native DisplayPort display. (Please note: per AMD, their graphics cards support a maximum of two active adapters.

Q: Does the Plugable DP-HDMI adapter support 4:4:4 color/chroma sampling?
Yes! Our adapter supports 4:4:4 chroma sampling at 4K@60Hz resolutions at 8bit color depth (8bpc). Please be aware that the display that is being connected must also support 4:4:4 color depth and the HDMI cable must be HDMI 2.0 capable while connected to a HDMI 2.0 input port on the display.

Q: Does your adapter support HDR?
Our adapter does not support HDR imaging (High Dynamic Range). HDMI 2.0a is the minimum specification for supporting HDR, while our adapter supports HDMI 2.0 and previous standards.

Q: Does this adapter support the HTC Vive or the Oculus Rift CV1 VR systems?
Our DP-HDMI adapter is compatible with the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift devices on VR capable and supported systems.