DisplayPort is a digital display interface developed by a consortium of PC and chip manufacturers and standardized by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). The interface is primarily used to connect a video source to a display device such as a computer monitor, and it can also carry audio, USB, and other forms of data.

SIMPLE INFO ABOUT DISPLAY PORT

DisplayPort delivers more high-performance features than any other digital interface. Designed to replace older standards like DVI and VGA, DisplayPort opens up new possibilities in computing, digital displays and consumer electronics. It’s the future standard and it’s available today.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE DISPLAY PORT STANDARD?

  • DisplayPort 1.4 was published in March, 2016 and defines the new normative requirement and informative guideline for component and system design.
  • Most DisplayPort products currently available in the market today were built to the previous version, DisplayPort v1.2a.
  • Testing that is performed for DisplayPort device certification is also still based on the DisplayPort v1.2a Standard (devices must be certified to use the DisplayPort logo).
  • Products built to DisplayPort 1.4, as well as compliance testing based on DisplayPort 1.4, should become available in 2017.

WHICH TYPES OF PRODUCTS INCLUDE DISPLAY PORT?

Now available on a wide range of tablets, notebooks, and desktop computers as well as monitors. It is now also becoming available on digital televisions, including some 4K TVs, as a display input.

WHAT ARE SEVERAL ADVANTAGE OF DISPLAY PORT?

DisplayPort offers several advantages over the older standards. Notable examples include the following.

  • It is an open, royalty-free standard.
  • Its extensibility should encourage widespread adoption.
  • It offers a video data transfer rate of up to 17.28 Gbps (17.28 billion bits per second).
  • Multiple video streams can be transmitted over a single connection.
  • Flexible bandwidth allocation allows for any desired division of resources between audio and video.
  • It is adaptable to long-distance transmission over fiber optic cables.
  • It can support communication between chips and circuits within a single device.
  • It can drive displays directly, eliminating the need for auxiliary control hardware.

HOW IS DISPLAY PORT DIFFERENT FROM HDMI? AREN’T THEY VERY SIMILAR?

Both are different technically, and each began with a different product focus.

  • HDMI has been the de-facto connection for home entertainment systems and is used widely on HDTVs as an AV interface.
  • Some PCs and monitors include HDMI to enable connectivity with HDTVs and other consumer electronics gear.
  • DisplayPort, a newer standard originally developed to support the higher performance requirements of personal computers, is based on updated signal and protocol technology similar to that already used in today’s computer systems, enabling an increase in performance and integration.
  • Because DisplayPort uses common signaling technology in use for data communications and a packetized data structure, through a common connector, it can be combined with standards such as USB and Thunderbolt.
  • With link training/link quality monitoring as in data communications, DisplayPort provides a more robust and stable AV link.

DOES DISPLAY PORT ALSO SUPPORT AUDIO?

Yes, DisplayPort supports multi-channel audio and many advanced audio features. DisplayPort to HDMI adapters also include the ability to support HDMI audio.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE UNIQUE CAPABILITIES IN DISPLAY PORT?

  • Because of its high data rate, DisplayPort 1.2a systems today can support 4K displays at 60Hz refresh and full 30-bit 4:4:4 color (non-chroma subsampled).
  • DisplayPort 1.4 systems will support 5K displays (5120 x 2880) at 60Hz refresh, and for 4K displays will enable deeper color and higher refresh rates.
  • When enabled with DisplayPort’s Multi-Stream feature, several monitors can be connected to a single output on a video source device (such as a laptop or computer), using a daisy-chain or hub configuration.