DisplayPort · 2019
DisplayPort 2.1 (and 2.0)
Up to 80 Gbps with UHBR20. 4K 240 Hz uncompressed and 8K without compression.
- data: 40 / 54 / 80 Gbps
- video: 4K 240 Hz / 8K 60 Hz uncompressed
Spec card
- Link rates
- UHBR10 (4 × 10), UHBR13.5 (4 × 13.5), UHBR20 (4 × 20 Gbit/s)
- Usable video
- 38.69 / 52.22 / 77.37 Gbit/s after 128b/132b and FEC
- Max video
- UHBR20: 4K 240 Hz 10-bit or 8K 60 Hz 10-bit uncompressed
- Compression
- DSC 1.2a
- Cables
- DP40 (UHBR10), DP54 (UHBR13.5), DP80 (UHBR20)
- Over USB-C
- DP Alt Mode and USB4 v2 / Thunderbolt 5 tunnelling
Also sold as DP 2.0DP 2.1DP 2.1aUHBR10UHBR13.5UHBR20DP40DP54DP80
The cable you need
Match the cable to the rate. DP40 for UHBR10, DP54 for UHBR13.5, DP80 for UHBR20. A port that says "DP 2.1" may support only UHBR10 or UHBR13.5.
Watch out for
- "DisplayPort 2.1" might mean any of three speeds.
- UHBR20 passive cables are short. Long runs need active or low-loss cables.
DisplayPort 2.0 (2019) introduced UHBR ("ultra high bit rate") lanes and efficient 128b/132b coding. DisplayPort 2.1 (2022) aligned it with USB4 and is the version you'll see on products. There are three speeds, and "DP 2.1" alone doesn't tell you which one you have. Graphics cards and monitors list their UHBR rate in the small print.
At UHBR20, 77 Gbps of usable bandwidth carries 4K at 240 Hz in 10-bit (68.6 Gbps) or 8K at 60 Hz in 10-bit (62.1 Gbps) without compression. UHBR13.5 (52 Gbps) covers 4K 165 Hz 10-bit uncompressed, and 4K 240 Hz with DSC.
Each rate has its own certified cable. DP80 cables for UHBR20 are short when passive, around 1 m. VESA later added DP80LL ("low loss") for longer passive runs.
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 2.1 UHBR10 | DP 2.1 UHBR13.5 | DP 2.1 UHBR20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p 60 Hz 8-bit | Fits 3.2 Gbps | Fits 3.2 Gbps | Fits 3.2 Gbps |
| 1080p 144 Hz 8-bit | Fits 8.0 Gbps | Fits 8.0 Gbps | Fits 8.0 Gbps |
| 1440p 144 Hz 8-bit | Fits 14.1 Gbps | Fits 14.1 Gbps | Fits 14.1 Gbps |
| 4K 30 Hz 8-bit | Fits 6.2 Gbps | Fits 6.2 Gbps | Fits 6.2 Gbps |
| 4K 60 Hz 10-bit | Fits 15.7 Gbps | Fits 15.7 Gbps | Fits 15.7 Gbps |
| 4K 120 Hz 10-bit | Fits 32.3 Gbps | Fits 32.3 Gbps | Fits 32.3 Gbps |
| 4K 144 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 39.2 Gbps | Fits 39.2 Gbps | Fits 39.2 Gbps |
| 4K 240 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 68.6 Gbps | With DSC 68.6 Gbps | Fits 68.6 Gbps |
| 8K 60 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 62.1 Gbps | With DSC 62.1 Gbps | Fits 62.1 Gbps |