You have a laptop but wonder if you can use it for playing games or as a secondary display for your PC? The only way to know if your laptop can is by checking if it has an HDMI-Input port, but unfortunately, most laptops lack this. But is it possible to get an HDMI Input in a laptop? Read to see what our engineers have to say.
Laptops with HDMI-In
It’s rare to see laptops with HDMI-In because they aren’t designed to have it. There are reasons for this. First, the incoming signals through the HDMI-In port need to be decoded by specific hardware, which isn’t commonly found in laptops.
Another reason for the absence of HDMI-In ports is the laptop screen. Laptop screens make use of LCD panels, which are different from the typical monitor screens. LCD panels require a different voltage called Low-Voltage Differential Signalling, which is lower than that of monitors.
Only a few laptops support HDMI-In and HDMI-Out. Examples of these laptops are Alienware M17x and M18x, Alienware R4, and Alienware 18.
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Is It Possible to Get an HDMI Input on a Laptop?
It’s possible to get an HDMI-Input on a laptop to read incoming signals. Mind you, a laptop with HDMI-Input can only be used for displays. Speakers and keyboards don’t work, meaning you will be stuck with visuals. It can be frustrating, especially for gamers who love to hear commentaries.
Nevertheless, you’ll agree that it can provide a portable display.
Speaking of solutions, one of the ways to get laptop HDMI input is by using a USB HDMI game capture. This device will allow you to stream content, record gameplay from a game console, and decode it using the OBS software.
The downside of this game capture is it doesn’t permit game playing on your laptop, no matter how geeky you are. Even if you try, you will experience so much lag. It’s also expensive, considering what you want to use it for [1]. Buying an HDMI monitor is more affordable than a game capture card.
Note that you can’t convert HDMI-Out to input. The ports are wired differently, so converting it is impossible. The only solution would be to get the game capture.
Laptop As An External Screen
Our team of technical experts has established that you can’t use a laptop as an external screen unless it has an HDMI-In port. However, you can consider some interesting tricks, especially if you have a Windows 10 laptop.
You can use a laptop as an external screen for your PC via Wi-fi, through the Miracast function. To achieve this, open the Display Settings > Projecting to PC. However, you will have to enable “Miracast” on both the PC and laptop.
Open the “Projection” menu on your PC, and then tap “Connect to a Wireless Display.” Your PC should find your laptop, and the latter will act as your secondary display. From there, make all the necessary configurations to achieve the correct display.
(Need a computer-TV integration using a cable? Then, find out whether DVI cable fully support audio here)
FAQ
How do you know if your laptop has an HDMI In-Port?
You can know if your laptop has an HDMI-In port from the labeling. Most HDMI-In ports are labeled, so you will know whether your laptop has one or not. If the HDMI port isn’t labeled as In or Out, it’s a regular HDMI-Out port.
Some devices have both HDMI-In and Out ports, so they can both send and receive signals using an HDMI cable or wireless HDMI.
What are the differences between an in and out HDMI port?
The difference between in and out HDMI ports is the direction of the signals. If a device sends the signals out, it means the device has an HDMI-Out port. If the device is receiving the signals, it means such devices have HDMI-In.
Most devices like laptops have an HDMI-Out port, meaning they can only send out signals. Displays like monitors and TVs have HDMI-In ports, and that’s why they can receive signals but not send them out.
Conclusion
It’s impossible to get a laptop HDMI Input for playing games on consoles and use it as an external screen unless your laptop supports HDMI input. Although our team suggested various alternatives, the latency rate is excessive, especially during gameplay. Overall, it’s best to get an HDMI monitor, as it’s cheaper than buying a USB HDMI game capture card.
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