Bandwidth calculator
Pick a resolution, refresh rate and colour depth. The calculator works out the data rate, including blanking, and checks it against every common link, with and without Display Stream Compression.
| Link | Needs | Has | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI 1.4TV timing | 35.64 Gbps | 8.16 Gbps | Too much |
| HDMI 2.0TV timing | 35.64 Gbps | 14.40 Gbps | Too much |
| HDMI 2.1 40G | 32.27 Gbps | 35.56 Gbps | Fits |
| HDMI 2.1 48G | 32.27 Gbps | 42.67 Gbps | Fits |
| DP 1.2 | 32.27 Gbps | 17.28 Gbps | Too much |
| DP 1.4 | 32.27 Gbps10.76 with DSC | 25.92 Gbps | With DSC |
| DP 2.1 UHBR10 | 32.27 Gbps | 38.69 Gbps | Fits |
| DP 2.1 UHBR13.5 | 32.27 Gbps | 52.22 Gbps | Fits |
| DP 2.1 UHBR20 | 32.27 Gbps | 77.37 Gbps | Fits |
| USB-C DP 1.2 ×2 | 32.27 Gbps | 8.64 Gbps | Too much |
| USB-C DP 1.4 ×2 | 32.27 Gbps10.76 with DSC | 12.96 Gbps | With DSC |
| USB-C DP 1.4 ×4 | 32.27 Gbps10.76 with DSC | 25.92 Gbps | With DSC |
| Thunderbolt 4 | 32.27 Gbps10.76 with DSC | 25.92 Gbps | With DSC |
How the numbers are worked out
Reduced-blanking timing (VESA CVT-R2)
3840×2160 active → 3920 × 2287 total pixels per frame
3920 × 2287 × 120 Hz = 1075.80 MHz pixel clock
1075.80 MHz × 30.0 bits per pixel = 32.27 Gbps
10-bit colour, full RGB/4:4:4: 3 × 10 = 30.0 bits per pixel.
"Has" is the link's usable rate after line coding. DSC is modelled as up to 3:1 compression. Full method.
By resolution
| 10-bit colour | 60 Hz | 120 Hz | 144 Hz | 240 Hz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 4.0 DP 1.2 | 8.2 DP 1.2 | 10.0 DP 1.2 | 17.5 DP 1.4 |
| 1440p | 7.0 DP 1.2 | 14.5 DP 1.2 | 17.6 DP 1.4 | 30.8 DP 2.1 UHBR10 |
| Ultrawide 1440p | 9.4 DP 1.2 | 19.3 DP 1.4 | 23.5 DP 1.4 | 41.0 DP 2.1 UHBR13.5 |
| 4K | 15.7 DP 1.2 | 32.3 DP 2.1 UHBR10 | 39.2 DP 2.1 UHBR13.5 | 68.6 DP 2.1 UHBR20 |
| 5K | 27.7 DP 2.1 UHBR10 | 57.1 DP 2.1 UHBR20 | 69.3 DP 2.1 UHBR20 | 121.2 DP 2.1 UHBR13.5 + DSC |
| 8K | 62.1 DP 2.1 UHBR20 | 127.8 DP 2.1 UHBR13.5 + DSC | 155.1 DP 2.1 UHBR13.5 + DSC | 271.4 beyond DP 2.1 |
Gbps needed, and the lowest DisplayPort version that carries it uncompressed ("+ DSC" only where no version can). Open a resolution for every refresh rate and both HDMI and DisplayPort.
What each link carries
| Link | On the wire | Coding | Usable | DSC | Cable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI 1.4 | 10.2 Gbps | 8b/10b (TMDS) | 8.16 | No | High Speed HDMI |
| HDMI 2.0 | 18.0 Gbps | 8b/10b (TMDS) | 14.40 | No | Premium High Speed HDMI |
| HDMI 2.1 (40 Gbps port) | 40.0 Gbps | 16b/18b (FRL) | 35.56 | Yes | Ultra High Speed HDMI |
| HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps) | 48.0 Gbps | 16b/18b (FRL) | 42.67 | Yes | Ultra High Speed HDMI |
| DisplayPort 1.2 (HBR2) | 21.6 Gbps | 8b/10b | 17.28 | No | any standard DisplayPort cable |
| DisplayPort 1.4 (HBR3) | 32.4 Gbps | 8b/10b | 25.92 | Yes | DP8K-certified DisplayPort cable |
| DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR10) | 40.0 Gbps | 128b/132b | 38.69 | Yes | DP40 cable |
| DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR13.5) | 54.0 Gbps | 128b/132b | 52.22 | Yes | DP54 cable |
| DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR20) | 80.0 Gbps | 128b/132b | 77.37 | Yes | DP80 cable |
| USB-C, DisplayPort 1.2 Alt Mode, 2 lanes (USB data kept) | 10.8 Gbps | 8b/10b | 8.64 | No | full-featured USB-C cable |
| USB-C, DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode, 2 lanes (USB data kept) | 16.2 Gbps | 8b/10b | 12.96 | Yes | full-featured USB-C cable (USB 10Gbps or better) |
| USB-C, DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode, 4 lanes | 32.4 Gbps | 8b/10b | 25.92 | Yes | full-featured USB-C cable (USB 10Gbps or better) |
| Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps (one display) | 32.4 Gbps | DP 1.4 HBR3 stream tunnelled | 25.92 | Yes | Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 40Gbps cable |