A lot of new graphics cards and monitors benefit from DP connections, leaving a vacant HDMI slot on many a motherboard. But it doesn’t have to remain unused. There are tons of neat things you can connect to that HDMI slot, including projectors, VR headsets, and second displays.
Switch to a sleek soundbar instead of speakers
Channel speaker systems have their place, but it’s mostly in the past. If you’ve got a free HDMI slot, you should consider switching to a small soundbar instead, which can not only save you desk space but also provide you with better sound quality. It’ll save you a ton of room on cable space since it only needs one, and soundbars come in a huge range of prices, so it’s not difficult to find one within your budget.
Just keep in mind that some cheap soundboards might only support USB connections. But you’d really be better off with HDMI, since it supports many audio formats and generally offers pretty good bandwidth for high-fidelity audio. HDMI is the standard for most soundbars, even the cheaper ones, but you’ll want to double-check to make sure.
Older VR headsets work with an HDMI connection
Admittedly, most modern VR headsets use a USB-C port to connect to your PC to play PCVR games, but there are a few older models—such as the Oculus Rift CV1 or HTC Vive—that use an HDMI port instead. If your monitor is already using the DisplayPort on your graphics card, nothing is stopping you from using the newly freed HDMI port to connect to a VR headset that uses HDMI. Admittedly, older headsets have a more limited game library, but it’s still worth considering.
I’m not saying you should go out of your way to buy a VR headset that you don’t have, but if you have an old one lying around gathering dust or can get an old one for cheap because you want to try out some VR games, it’s not a bad idea to use that HDMI port for this.
Connect a capture card for dual-PC streaming
Streaming is more popular than ever, and if you’re already into it or looking to get started, you may want to use a dual-PC setup. Making that work requires a capture card. Connect a capture card to your free HDMI port, and it can send the feed from your streaming PC via USB. This removes the burden of streaming from your graphics card, removing any hits to game performance while you’re capturing your video game adventures for the masses.
Granted, if you have a more powerful modern GPU, this probably won’t be a problem for you anyway. But on the other hand, there are plenty of people who haven’t been able to upgrade in a long time, and they shouldn’t be barred from effective streaming just because of a somewhat dated GPU. If you find yourself in that boat, then using a capture card in the way I’ve described here might improve your streaming experience.
Change your visual experience with a projector
Some people like seeing things on the big screen. Others prefer keeping things a little smaller, at least when it comes to the PC. If you’re in the “big screen” camp, you might be able to achieve that experience without actually buying a screen at all. You can consider a projector instead of using your regular monitor, which can give you a way more immersive gaming and media experience. It’s great for anyone who enjoys movie nights or gaming on huge displays.
The best part is, it’s super easy to do. Just connect the projector to your PC through the HDMI port and find an ideal spot to project your display onto. Granted, not everyone has a big flat wall to make use of in their home, but it’s still a pretty cool idea. That said, be mindful of the speaker quality. Some projectors come with built-in speakers, but they might not be as good as a pair of dedicated speakers you already have.
- Length(s)
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2m
- Brand
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Anker
- Externally Powered
-
No
The Anker Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable (A8743) is an excellent choice for most people. It comes from a reputed brand, has nylon braiding for durability, and is officially certified.
Double your screen space with a second display
Perhaps the most obvious, yet most useful thing you can do with a free HDMI port is get yourself a second display. Having a second monitor is much better for efficient multitasking, and even if your GPU only has one HDMI port, you can always use a DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter to connect that second display.
Granted, having a second monitor isn’t for everyone. You might not have the desk space, or maybe you prefer a single ultra-wide screen instead of two separate ones. Still, there are many fields of work where two separate monitors are pretty great: coding, video editing, photography, and anything else that might require you to hop back and forth between multiple programs to get the job done. It might not be for everyone, but it can be life-changing for productivity.
There are plenty of other things you could hook up to a free HDMI slot on your PC. Really, the more ports you have, the more versatile your entire setup can be. Why even stop with the ports in your PC? There are also plenty of ways to make use of ports on your monitor. At the end of the day, it’s just about discovering what nifty thing you could add to your setup, even if you don’t strictly need it.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
