DisplayPort is a digital display interface developed by a consortium of PC and chip manufacturers and standardized by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). It is primarily used to connect a video source to a display device such as a computer monitor. It can also carry audio, USB, and other forms of data.
DisplayPort was designed to replace VGA, FPD-Link, and Digital Visual Interface (DVI). It is backward compatible with other interfaces, such as HDMI and DVI, through the use of either active or passive adapters. It is the first display interface to rely on packetized data transmission, a form of digital communication found in technologies such as Ethernet, USB, and PCI Express. It permits the use of internal and external display connections.
DisplayPort Versions
DisplayPort has evolved over the years, with new versions offering higher bandwidth and support for new features. The latest version, DisplayPort 2.1, was released in 2022 and supports resolutions up to 16K at 60Hz with HDR.
Here is a table of the different DisplayPort versions and their capabilities:
Version | Maximum Bandwidth | Maximum Resolution | Maximum Refresh Rate | Other Features |
---|---|---|---|---|
DisplayPort 1.0 | 10.8 Gbps | 2560×1600 | 60Hz | |
DisplayPort 1.1 | 10.8 Gbps | 2560×1600 | 60Hz | Added support for 3D displays and audio over DisplayPort |
DisplayPort 1.2 | 17.28 Gbps | 4096×2160 (4K) | 60Hz | Added support for higher resolutions and refresh rates, including 4K at 60Hz |
DisplayPort 1.3 | 32.4 Gbps | 7680×4320 (8K) | 30Hz | Added support for even higher resolutions and refresh rates, including 8K at 30Hz |
DisplayPort 1.4 | 32.4 Gbps | 7680×4320 (8K) | 60Hz | Added support for HDR, variable refresh rate (VRR), and Display Stream Compression (DSC) |
DisplayPort 2.0 | 80 Gbps | 15360×8640 (16K) | 60Hz | Added support for even higher resolutions and refresh rates, including 16K at 60Hz |
DisplayPort 2.1 | 80 Gbps | 15360×8640 (16K) | 60Hz | Added support for USB4 compatibility |
DisplayPort Features
DisplayPort offers a number of features that make it an attractive choice for connecting video sources to display devices.
- High bandwidth: DisplayPort offers high bandwidth, which means that it can support high resolutions and refresh rates.
- Backward compatibility: DisplayPort is backward compatible with other display interfaces, such as HDMI and DVI, through the use of either active or passive adapters.
- Packetized data transmission: DisplayPort uses packetized data transmission, which makes it more efficient and reliable than other display interfaces.
- Internal and external connections: DisplayPort can be used for both internal and external display connections.
- Support for audio, USB, and other data: DisplayPort can carry audio, USB, and other forms of data in addition to video.
DisplayPort Use Cases
DisplayPort is used in a variety of applications, including:
- Gaming: DisplayPort is a popular choice for connecting gaming PCs to monitors because it can support high resolutions and refresh rates.
- Content creation: DisplayPort is also a popular choice for connecting content creation workstations to monitors because it can support high resolutions and color accuracy.
- Home theater: DisplayPort can be used to connect home theater PCs to TVs and projectors.
- Enterprise: DisplayPort is also used in enterprise applications, such as digital signage and video conferencing.
DisplayPort Cables
DisplayPort cables are available in a variety of lengths and configurations. When choosing a DisplayPort cable, it is important to make sure that it is compatible with the DisplayPort version of your source and display devices.
DisplayPort cables are also available with different features, such as support for HDR and VRR. When choosing a DisplayPort cable, it is important to consider the features that you need.