Intel Arc GPUs don't natively support HDMI 2.1

Intel has released a new video on its Arc GPU mini-site with an overview of what display tech its soon-to-be-released cards will support. Along with stating that adaptive sync gets a tick on the feature list, it also confirms that HDR support is present and correct, and that it natively supports DisplayPort 2.0. What it doesn't do though is support HDMI 2.1, at least not without some extra magic.

Intel's Arc graphics cards natively support HDMI 2.0, but in order to bump this to HDMI 2.1 its graphics card partners and laptop builders will need to use a PCON to convert the DisplayPort output to HDMI 2.1. Whether card manufacturers will want the extra outlay on these more affordable cards is another question.

We recommend using DisplayPort over HDMI wherever possible, although when it comes to some of those big cheap 4K TVs that isn't an option. And if you want to drive those at above 60Hz then you're going to need support for HDMI 2.1, which is good for 4K at 120Hz.

It's a shame these first budget Arc GPUs don't support it natively then, and that these PCONs are needed. As Ryan Shrout, who hosts the video, states: "Our Intel branded A750 and A770 limited edition graphics cards do integrate that and thus will fully support HDMI 2.1." 

He also explains that Intel will be, "validating 100+ top VRR displays to make sure you have an amazing experience when the Intel Arc A700 family of cards launch." Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) may not be the sexiest tech in town, but promising a tear-free experience is certainly good news. Hopefully, this won't introduce another brand name like AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, though. 

Ryan Shrout shows off the benefits of these display technologies by playing Death Stranding, which the A750 appears to handle without much hassle. Although, to be fair, it generally involves standing inside or outside buildings with not much happening on screen. Still, you're looking at 80fps+ at the default settings at 2560 x 1440, which isn't bad at all.

We still don't have a firm date on when we're going to be able to buy Intel's much-anticipated Arc A750, but surely it must be soon. You know, before AMD and Nvidia launch their next-gen cards.

Best gaming PCBest gaming laptop


Best gaming PC:
The top pre-built machines from the pros
Best gaming laptop:
Perfect notebooks for mobile gaming

Alan Dexter

Alan has been writing about PC tech since before 3D graphics cards existed, and still vividly recalls having to fight with MS-DOS just to get games to load. He fondly remembers the killer combo of a Matrox Millenium and 3dfx Voodoo, and seeing Lara Croft in 3D for the first time. He's very glad hardware has advanced as much as it has though, and is particularly happy when putting the latest M.2 NVMe SSDs, AMD processors, and laptops through their paces. He has a long-lasting Magic: The Gathering obsession but limits this to MTG Arena these days.

Read more
Intel architectural breakdown of new Battlemage GPU designs
Intel is 'confident' about next-gen Arc Celestial GPUs following Battlemage's success
HDMI line connecting the audio and video system of notebook to projector or TV
The next version of HDMI is said to launch at CES 2025, with 'a wide range of higher resolutions and refresh rates' and a new cable
Intel Arc B580 graphics card
Intel says 'demand for Arc B580 graphics cards is high' but the GPU should be restocked every week
Intel Arc B580 graphics card
New Intel Battlemage graphics cards spotted but they may not be the cut-price RTX 4070 killers we're all desperate for
AMD slides about its new RDNA 4 graphics card architecture
AMD's RDNA 4 GPUs are about efficiency in terms of performance and price: 'We know where gamers buy products, it's well below that $1,000 price point'
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 RDNA 4 GPUs arranged in diagonal lines, taken from a CES 2025 presentation slide
AMD just gave us our first look at the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 RDNA 4 GPUs and I am officially whelmed
Latest in Graphics Cards
Jensen Huang, co-founder and chief executive officer of Nvidia Corp., speaks while holding the company's new GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards and a Thor Blackwell robotics processor during the 2025 CES event in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. Huang announced a raft of new chips, software and services, aiming to stay at the forefront of artificial intelligence computing. Photographer: Bridget Bennett/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Group allegedly trying to smuggle Nvidia Blackwell chips stare down bail set at over $1 million
Nvidia RTX 5090 Founders Edition graphics card on different backgrounds
AI will be crammed in more of the graphics pipeline as Nvidia and Microsoft are bringing AI shading to a DirectX preview next month
Nvidia RTX 50-series graphics cards alongside an RTX 4090
Nvidia says it's sold twice as many RTX 50-series cards as RTX 40-series in the first 5 weeks. I'd bloody well hope so given there was essentially just the RTX 4090 for competition
AMD Radeon RX 9070/9070 XT graphics cards with artistic renders of reference design cards circled
Looks like a reference design AMD RX 9070 XT card has shown up in China, but let's not get carried away with thoughts of MBA cards just yet
AMD Radeon Sapphire Pure RX 9070 XT graphics card for PC gaming in white colourway
Ranking AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics cards by their visual design, cuz, you know, I can't buy one for MSRP so have to kill my time somehow
XFX Radeon RX 9070 XT Quicksilver graphics card on a blue background with angel wings on either side
XFX is letting you add customisable 3D printed wings to its Quicksilver RX 9070-series graphics cards
Latest in News
Pirate Bay co-founder Carl Lundstrom
Pirate Bay co-founder and far-right politician found dead after plane crash
Roblox CEO David Baszucki.
'Don't let your kids be on Roblox', Roblox CEO tells parents, before comparing himself to Walt Disney and declaring the platform 'the future of communication'
Titus in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3 reveal promo image
Praise be to the Omnissiah! Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3 is officially in development
Jensen Huang, co-founder and chief executive officer of Nvidia Corp., speaks while holding the company's new GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards and a Thor Blackwell robotics processor during the 2025 CES event in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. Huang announced a raft of new chips, software and services, aiming to stay at the forefront of artificial intelligence computing. Photographer: Bridget Bennett/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Group allegedly trying to smuggle Nvidia Blackwell chips stare down bail set at over $1 million
New art of Harry and Kim from Disco Elysium, with Harry holding a lit molotov cocktail.
Despite Disco Elysium Mobile aiming to 'captivate the TikTok user,' it looks surprisingly decent—but it's still insulting to Disco's ousted creators
Flag of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia buys Pokémon GO maker for $3.5 billion with a 'B'