DisplayPort · 2016
DisplayPort 1.4
The current workhorse. 4K 120 Hz uncompressed, 4K 240 Hz and 8K with DSC.
- data: 32.4 Gbps
- video: 4K 120 Hz / 4K 240 Hz (DSC)
Spec card
- Max link rate
- 32.4 Gbit/s (4 lanes × 8.1, HBR3)
- Usable video
- 25.92 Gbit/s after 8b/10b
- Max video
- 4K 120 Hz 8-bit, 4K 97 Hz 10-bit uncompressed; 4K 240 Hz or 8K 60 Hz with DSC
- Compression
- DSC 1.2 (visually lossless, up to 3:1)
- HDR
- HDR10 metadata
- Cable
- DP8K-certified cable for HBR3
Also sold as DP 1.4DP 1.4aHBR3DP8K
The cable you need
A VESA DP8K-certified DisplayPort cable. HBR3 is the first rate where cheap cables commonly fail.
Watch out for
- 4K above 120 Hz on DP 1.4 needs DSC or chroma subsampling.
- Uncertified cables often fail at HBR3, showing as flickering or black screens at high refresh rates.
DisplayPort 1.4 runs the same four lanes at 8.1 Gbps (HBR3), so after 8b/10b coding 25.92 Gbps carries video. 4K at 120 Hz in 8-bit needs 25.82 Gbps, which fits with a sliver to spare. In 10-bit, the limit works out to about 97–98 Hz, which is why early 4K HDR gaming monitors were sold as "4K 144 Hz" but dropped to 98 Hz for full-colour HDR.
The real upgrade is Display Stream Compression. DSC 1.2 cuts the data rate by up to 3:1 with no visible loss for normal viewing, which lets DisplayPort 1.4 drive 4K 144–240 Hz and 8K 60 Hz. The graphics card and the monitor both have to support DSC.
DisplayPort 1.4 is also what most USB-C video ports carry, in DisplayPort Alt Mode.
What it can carry
Computed from each link's usable bandwidth; 4K at 60 Hz and above assumes 10-bit HDR colour. How.
| Mode | DP 1.4 |
|---|---|
| 1080p 60 Hz 8-bit | Fits 3.2 Gbps |
| 1080p 144 Hz 8-bit | Fits 8.0 Gbps |
| 1440p 144 Hz 8-bit | Fits 14.1 Gbps |
| 4K 30 Hz 8-bit | Fits 6.2 Gbps |
| 4K 60 Hz 10-bit | Fits 15.7 Gbps |
| 4K 120 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 32.3 Gbps |
| 4K 144 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 39.2 Gbps |
| 4K 240 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 68.6 Gbps |
| 8K 60 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 62.1 Gbps |