If there is no chip, the adapter is considered passive. Basically, if the adapter includes a little box that houses the conversation chip it is active. If the adapter cable is no bigger than a regular plug, it is most likely passive.
How do you tell if a cable is active or passive?
Active cables/adapters have a chip (semiconductor) to boost the performance of that device. If there is no chip, the cable/adapter is considered as passive.
Do I need active or passive DisplayPort adapter?
If the source supports dual-mode DisplayPort (also known as DP++), then you can use a passive adapter because the source can perform the conversion. If the source does not support DP++, then you must use an active converter, which includes additional chips to perform the conversion.
What is a passive DisplayPort adapter?
Passive adapters rely on the DisplayPort output of the host system to provide the necessary signaling to support an HDMI display. The adapter supports resolutions up to 4K 30Hz (3840×2160 @ 30Hz).
What is the difference between active and passive DisplayPort?
The difference between an Active and a Passive DisplayPort adaptor is a circuit that makes the conversion happen. Active DisplayPort adaptors have a chip that makes the conversion happen while passive DisplayPort adaptors do not.