DisplayPort Video Connection: Versions and Features

There are many options we have to connect video devices, such as the graphics card to the PC monitor: VGA (D-Sub), DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, Thunderbolt … and all of them have different versions that they support maximum bandwidth, which means that each version of the interface is capable of supporting a specific maximum resolution and refresh rate. And it is not the same that they sell you a graphics card with DisplayPort 1.2 output than 1.4, so let’s see the differences.

DisplayPort versions

As you know, this type of interface “competes” with HDMI and, like this, has as an option with its own protection system against piracy called DPCP (DisplayPort Content Protection), and since it was launched in 2008 both NVIDIA and AMD They began to incorporate it into their graphics cards, so its use is widely extended in the PC industry, although not in the television industry.

DisplayPort 1.0 and 1.1

This is the first “full” version of the standard, approved by VESA in 2006, and revolutionized the industry by offering a data transmission speed of up to 10.8 Gbps with a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels at 60 Hz frequency. refresh, supporting colors of 8, 100, 12 and up to 16 bits.

The DP 1.0 cables have a maximum length of two meters for maximum resolution and refresh rate, although they can reach up to 15 meters but only if they are to be used with resolutions up to Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels).

Version 1.1 and 1.1a allowed the implementation of alternative connections under this type of connector, such as fiber optics, which allowed the maximum cable length to be considerably extended without degrading the signal. In many places, they directly omit version 1.1 of this interface because a standard was never officially implemented.

DisplayPort 1.2 and 1.2a

This version was introduced on January 7, 2010, and its most significant improvement was expanding its bandwidth to 17.28 Gbps in HBR2 (High Bit Rate 2) mode, which allowed higher resolutions, higher frequencies. of soda and more options in terms of color depth. This standard was also the first of the interface to support multiple monitors with the same cable connected by Daisy Chain (one output and one input per monitor).

This version supported 4K resolution for the first time at 60 FPS, and when using multi-monitor configurations up to 2560 x 1600 with two monitors and 1920 x 1200 pixels with three or four displays were supported.

This version, which is still widely used to this day, also improved multi-channel data transmission, allowing high-definition audio formats such as DTS and Dolby Digital. In addition, it supports 3D video formats with a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels at 120 Hz.

DisplayPort 1.3 and 1.4

This version was approved on September 15, 2014, and enabled a bandwidth of up to 32.4 Gbps with the new HBR3 mode that had 8.1 Gbps per channel. This version already supports 4K resolution at 120 Hz and 24-bit color depth, 5K resolution (5120 x 2880 pixels) at 60 Hz and 30 bits, or an 8K screen (7680 x 4320 pixels) at 30 Hz and 24 bits color.

As for revision 1.4, it was released on March 1, 2016. No new streaming modes were defined in this release, but support for Display Stream Compression (DSC), bug fixes, and HDR10 support were added. This review supports 8K 60Hz or 4K 120Hz displays with 30-bit color depth, as well as 4K 60Hz with HDR.

In April 2018 the DisplayPort 1.4a standard was published, which is one of the most frequent today. It just updated the DSC implementation from version 1.2 to 1.2a.

DisplayPort 2.0 and Alt Mode 2.0

This version was formally presented on June 26, 2019, and the maximum bandwidth was raised to 77.37 Gbps in addition to incorporating resolutions greater than 8K, higher refresh rates and HDR support at higher resolutions. Given the date of presentation of the standard, to this day there are still not many compatible products, with below we show you some examples of their compatibility:

• A 16K monitor (15360 x 8640) at 60 Hz and 30 bit with HDR.
• Two 8K (7680 x 4320) monitors at 120 Hz and 30 bit with HDR.
• Two 4K monitors (3840 x 2160) at 144 Hz and 24 bit without HDR.
• Three 10K monitors (10240 x 4320) at 60 Hz and 30 bit with HDR.
• Three 4K (3840 x 2160) monitors at 90 Hz and 30 bit with HDR.

Finally, we have Alt Mode 2.0 which is a mere upgrade to support USB 4.0 standards with USB-C connector.

Comparison of all DisplayPort versions

Having seen all the versions of DisplayPort, we are going to summarize them below in a table with their fundamental characteristics so that you can differentiate them at a glance.