DisplayPort 1.2 receives final VESA blessing, grows into a real standard
By Vlad Savov 
posted January 18th 2010 4:55AM
posted January 18th 2010 4:55AM
VESA(R) Introduces DisplayPort(TM) v1.2, the Most Comprehensive and Innovative Display Interface Available
Doubles Performance of Existing Standard, Multi-Monitor Support over single connector, optional Bi-Directional Data Transport supporting USB 2.0 and Ethernet, Support for the Mini DisplayPort Connector and Backwards Compatibility with the Current DisplayPort Standard
Milpitas, Calif., Jan. 18, 2010 -- The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today formally unveiled the industry's most innovative and flexible digital communication interface standard for transporting display, audio and other data.
VESA's DisplayPort Version 1.2 is a comprehensive extension to the original DisplayPort standard offering many new benefits to the end user. Benefits include: double the data rate of the previous DisplayPort v1.1a standard (enabling higher performance 3D stereo displays, higher resolutions and color depths, and fastest refresh rates); multiple monitor support from a desktop or notebook computer using only one DisplayPort connector; the ability to transport USB data between a PC and Display, supporting Display USB functions such as a webcam and USB hub. DisplayPort v1.2 is backward compatible with existing DisplayPort v1.1a systems, including existing cables and the Mini DisplayPort connector.
DisplayPort v1.2 increases performance by doubling the maximum data transfer rate from 10.8 Gbps (Giga-bits-per-second) to 21.6 Gbps, greatly increasing display resolution, color depths, refresh rates, and multiple display capabilities.
DisplayPort v1.2 supports "multi-streaming" -- the ability to transport multiple independent uncompressed display and audio streams over a single cable, supporting protected content and high performance applications such as 3D gaming. This enables the use of multiple monitors connected by cable in a daisy chain or hub configuration. Whereas the current Display v1.1a standard can support one 2560 x 1600 monitor at 60Hz, DisplayPort v1.2 can support two such monitors with one cable, or four 1920 x 1200 monitors. Many other combinations are possible, including multiple video sources, multiple displays (even at different resolutions) and multiple audio speakers.
Another new feature is the ability to support high-speed, bi-directional data transfer, allowing USB 2.0 or Ethernet data to be carried within a standard DisplayPort cable. For DisplayPort v1.2, the maximum data rate of this "AUX" channel has been increased from 1 Mbps (Mega-bit-per-second) to 720 Mbps, providing suitable bandwidth for USB 2.0. The DisplayPort cable can therefore support USB data to/from the display to support Display USB functions, in addition to sending the video and audio information. Standard Ethernet can also be transported in the DisplayPort cable.
DisplayPort v1.2 was designed to be compatible with existing DisplayPort systems and cables. To take advantage of the new capabilities, a PC will need to be DisplayPort v1.2 enabled, however existing standard cables can still be used, including those with the new Mini-DisplayPort connector. To achieve the 21.6 Gbps rate, the per-lane data rate is doubled from 2.7 Gbps to 5.4 Gbps, over the four lanes that exist in the standard cable. For a single display, this enables up to 3840 x 2400 resolution at 60Hz, or a 3D display (120Hz) at 2560 x 1600.
DisplayPort v1.2 also adds new audio enhancements including the following:
-- Audio Copy Protection and category codes
-- High definition audio formats such as Dolby MAT, DTS HD, all Blu-Ray
formats, and the DRA standard from China
-- Synchronization assist between audio and video, multiple audio channels, and
multiple audio sink devices using Global Time Code (GTC)
DisplayPort v1.2 also includes improved support for Full HD 3D Stereoscopic displays:
-- Life-like motion using up to 240 frames-per-second in full HD, providing 120
frames-per-second for each eye
-- 3D Stereo transmission format support
Field sequential, side by side, pixel interleaved, dual interface, and stacked
-- 3D Stereo display capability declaration
Mono, Stereo, 3D Glasses
"DisplayPort is a truly open, flexible, extensible multimedia interconnect standard that is ubiquitous in the PC, notebook and display markets and is rapidly gaining traction in consumer electronics applications," said Bill Lempesis, VESA's executive director. "DisplayPort Version v1.2 offers a complete set of benefits and capabilities that no other standard can provide. It is completely backward compatible with DisplayPort v1.1a and requires no new cables or other equipment, making it the standard of choice across the industry."
About DisplayPort
DisplayPort is an open display interface standard developed and managed by the VESA organization. It is currently being adopted across the PC industry as the main display interface and will eventually replace DVI, LVDS and VGA. DisplayPort is the only display interface that accommodates compatibility with DVI, VGA and HDMI. The DisplayPort standard primarily addresses external display connections between video/audio source devices such as PCs or DVD players and display devices including monitors, projectors, or TVs. Related VESA standards address embedded DisplayPort applications within notebook PCs, Netbooks, and HDTVs. DisplayPort v1.2 and related standards are available to VESA member companies and can be purchased from VESA.
Doubles Performance of Existing Standard, Multi-Monitor Support over single connector, optional Bi-Directional Data Transport supporting USB 2.0 and Ethernet, Support for the Mini DisplayPort Connector and Backwards Compatibility with the Current DisplayPort Standard
Milpitas, Calif., Jan. 18, 2010 -- The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today formally unveiled the industry's most innovative and flexible digital communication interface standard for transporting display, audio and other data.
VESA's DisplayPort Version 1.2 is a comprehensive extension to the original DisplayPort standard offering many new benefits to the end user. Benefits include: double the data rate of the previous DisplayPort v1.1a standard (enabling higher performance 3D stereo displays, higher resolutions and color depths, and fastest refresh rates); multiple monitor support from a desktop or notebook computer using only one DisplayPort connector; the ability to transport USB data between a PC and Display, supporting Display USB functions such as a webcam and USB hub. DisplayPort v1.2 is backward compatible with existing DisplayPort v1.1a systems, including existing cables and the Mini DisplayPort connector.
DisplayPort v1.2 increases performance by doubling the maximum data transfer rate from 10.8 Gbps (Giga-bits-per-second) to 21.6 Gbps, greatly increasing display resolution, color depths, refresh rates, and multiple display capabilities.
DisplayPort v1.2 supports "multi-streaming" -- the ability to transport multiple independent uncompressed display and audio streams over a single cable, supporting protected content and high performance applications such as 3D gaming. This enables the use of multiple monitors connected by cable in a daisy chain or hub configuration. Whereas the current Display v1.1a standard can support one 2560 x 1600 monitor at 60Hz, DisplayPort v1.2 can support two such monitors with one cable, or four 1920 x 1200 monitors. Many other combinations are possible, including multiple video sources, multiple displays (even at different resolutions) and multiple audio speakers.
Another new feature is the ability to support high-speed, bi-directional data transfer, allowing USB 2.0 or Ethernet data to be carried within a standard DisplayPort cable. For DisplayPort v1.2, the maximum data rate of this "AUX" channel has been increased from 1 Mbps (Mega-bit-per-second) to 720 Mbps, providing suitable bandwidth for USB 2.0. The DisplayPort cable can therefore support USB data to/from the display to support Display USB functions, in addition to sending the video and audio information. Standard Ethernet can also be transported in the DisplayPort cable.
DisplayPort v1.2 was designed to be compatible with existing DisplayPort systems and cables. To take advantage of the new capabilities, a PC will need to be DisplayPort v1.2 enabled, however existing standard cables can still be used, including those with the new Mini-DisplayPort connector. To achieve the 21.6 Gbps rate, the per-lane data rate is doubled from 2.7 Gbps to 5.4 Gbps, over the four lanes that exist in the standard cable. For a single display, this enables up to 3840 x 2400 resolution at 60Hz, or a 3D display (120Hz) at 2560 x 1600.
DisplayPort v1.2 also adds new audio enhancements including the following:
-- Audio Copy Protection and category codes
-- High definition audio formats such as Dolby MAT, DTS HD, all Blu-Ray
formats, and the DRA standard from China
-- Synchronization assist between audio and video, multiple audio channels, and
multiple audio sink devices using Global Time Code (GTC)
DisplayPort v1.2 also includes improved support for Full HD 3D Stereoscopic displays:
-- Life-like motion using up to 240 frames-per-second in full HD, providing 120
frames-per-second for each eye
-- 3D Stereo transmission format support
Field sequential, side by side, pixel interleaved, dual interface, and stacked
-- 3D Stereo display capability declaration
Mono, Stereo, 3D Glasses
"DisplayPort is a truly open, flexible, extensible multimedia interconnect standard that is ubiquitous in the PC, notebook and display markets and is rapidly gaining traction in consumer electronics applications," said Bill Lempesis, VESA's executive director. "DisplayPort Version v1.2 offers a complete set of benefits and capabilities that no other standard can provide. It is completely backward compatible with DisplayPort v1.1a and requires no new cables or other equipment, making it the standard of choice across the industry."
About DisplayPort
DisplayPort is an open display interface standard developed and managed by the VESA organization. It is currently being adopted across the PC industry as the main display interface and will eventually replace DVI, LVDS and VGA. DisplayPort is the only display interface that accommodates compatibility with DVI, VGA and HDMI. The DisplayPort standard primarily addresses external display connections between video/audio source devices such as PCs or DVD players and display devices including monitors, projectors, or TVs. Related VESA standards address embedded DisplayPort applications within notebook PCs, Netbooks, and HDTVs. DisplayPort v1.2 and related standards are available to VESA member companies and can be purchased from VESA.
No more thumbscrews? Oh thank the lord!
@(Unverified)
Agreed. The thumbscrews on DVI to VGA adapters are the worst - you can hardly screw them its so cramped.
@M C
Ilol
nnuendo was not intended.
@(Unverified)
hdmi doesn't have thumbscrews...
It's "HDMI".
@mrqs
we're talking computer market here. not home audio / video market.
@mikeyrogers
Because those two markets absolutely NEED to use two standards...
@(Unverified)
I hope it carries audio as well.
Is this supposed to be a HDMI replacement or something?
@Almo
its surely to run in tandem with hdmi but aimed at the computer market, rather than home entertainment.
@Almo It supports higher data rates than HDMI for >1080p resolutions, and other features useful for computers such as USB support and single cable/multiple monitor support.
@Almo
Its more a replacement for DVI rather than HDMI.
@Almo - basically it adds some chaos to a market that was once truly standardized...
Would have been too easy to just agree on one *real* standard as a follow-up to DVI/VGA, after all. Now we have HDMI, DisplayPort, and soonish LightPeak all competing for no good reason at all.
HDMI IS DVI. It's mostly a different plug and the addition of audio and HDCP.
@NewL Isn't competition a good thing?
HDMI was, believe it or not, designed for old raster-scan devices. DisplayPort is more advanced, versatile, and streamlined. Here's a good rundown on DisplayPort vs. HDMI:
http://www.edn.com/article/CA6594089.html
@Almo: more an enhancement. HDMI can only do 480, 720 and 1080 p/i afaik, DP can do any resolution, so it's supposed to replace your standard VGA/DVI cable.
But you're right, it's a pain in the butt, every time I see news about HDMI 1.2, 1.3, DP 1.2 or how far they are, I think wait… I don't even use any form of HDMI or DP yet (at least not to its full extend).
My MBP has mini DP, but that's connected to DVI, the projector in the basement does have HDMI, but that port is waiting on an HD DVR while the VGA port is connected to a mac mini via DVI-VGA.
Why can't they make a cable with - I don't know - 80 connectors, use that as standard for the next 20 years and just start using 40 of them, adding more as they improve the standard, instead of making a new cable every time they add something. HDMI 1.3 doesn't work with 1.2 cables, it does, but to use 1.3 features you have to get a new cable. WTF?
@NewL HDMI is the successor to SCART/Component and DisplayPort the successor to VGA/DVI. Sounds simple enough to me.
LightPeak might replace some standards in the future, but it's too early to tell what or if at all, let alone when. It has the potential to replace almost everything from USB over SATA to HDMI/DP, though.
@ULMarc
its dead already. Horrible....
@NewL You are seriously confused as to what light peak is for, bud. Light peak is for everything, literally. We'll finally have full bandwidth capacity transfer for external video cards, etc. It's gonna be awesome.
@sebastian Because a wire with 80 pins in twisted pairs or appropriate shielding would be unwieldy. Remember db25 and parallel? Those cables only became managable after the industry dropped several wires, and they were still limited to about 6 feet. I agree that a universal wire would be nice, but just never practical. 20 years? That would be like having a heavy shielded 2005 DVI cable connecting your 1985 VCR to your Trinitron, only it would be even thicker to accomodate analog noise. If we had the foresight to anticipate future standards enough to be compatible, why wouldn't we just adopt them early?
@Almo
Display Port still lacks Consumer Electronics Control signals that allow it to take control of your AV equipment like HDMI can.
@The Dead Marxist Trio '
-er, Lightpeak is for everything, except power.
@rduran
LightPeak v2.0 could potentially fix that with the addition of 2 electrical wires. Heck, using light sensitive photoelectronics could be used to generate a small current from the signal it's self.
If only it supported digital audio, it could be the new multiroom distribution system.
Never mind eh?
Maybe HDMI will add USB?
@Joylove Displayport does support audio.....
@ed So it does. I'm off to upgrade my system right now! Bye Bye IR extenders, hello USB!
@Joylove DisplayPort is not good for multiroom because the cable length limits are an issue. At these high signalling rates you need a very thick cable to get more than a few feet.
@spin cycle Shirley cable length reduces maximum resolution, but for regular 1080p DisplayLink should be able to go the same distance as HDMI? Unless one type isn't using a balanced and sheilded signal.
@Joylove For resolutions at which HDMI uses single link, the distances are the same. However, for higher resolutions HDMI uses two links, which doesn't impose any more severe cable length restrictions, while DP doubles the signaling rate instead, which cuts the usable cable length down to 1/4 or something,
Note that HDMI dual-link is somewhat theoretical, I've never seen a cable that does it even though it has a spec (and a connector spec). DVI dual link is very common.
One day, Computers and televisions will all use one universal plug that does everything. This takes us one step closer.
@jareth86 One day, computer and televisions and other devices won't need plugs, they will use wireless, perhaps even for power in some cases. (And here's hoping long term exposure to same is safe. We'll know re WiFi/Cell and others in about 15-20 years if today's generation grow tumors.)
@Oflife by then there would be 5 or so competing standards for delivering video sans wires all confusing,
@jareth86 Actually, this takes us further away - now you need a second cable for audio which you didn't with HDMI.
@boe Yeah, it supports audio. This is now an all-in-one cable. How would you suppose it could support USB and ethernet but not audio?even if it didn't initially support audio, LG or someone would "innovate" audio over USB, and suddenly the whole market would do same.
Then again for home theatre I have no idea why anyone would want audio an video on the same cable.
I'm just excited about plugging my laptop into 1 wire for my desktop display, projector, and hard drive. Hello easy.
still does not support CEC and xvYCC color space
@(Unverified)
Who needs the poorly featured CEC when USB is available?
The industry love all the chaos with standards. The markup on cables and adapters is massive. Hence the iPhone and iPod do not use mini USB, they use Apple's own non standard docking technology. For example, being the battery life is so poor on the iPhone, I now have to go buy a spare charging cable to keep with me. (My main cable is connected to the iPhone dock on my desk.) The price of a new cable (in the shops) is between £15 and £22. £22 with a second USB charging plug. This all ads up. So, once DisplayPort 1.2 is embedded in every device, we'll all need to buy converters for our other older cables and devices - and then, just when everything is all nice - DisplayPort 2.0 or Light Peak will come along and we'll be back to square one! Wireless will make all this so easy, but of course, there are so many issues with wireless, from security to safety to power consumption.
When all fails, use pen and paper and obtain all your entertainment from the great outdoors. Technology isn't liberating, it is captive!
;)
When all fails, use pen and paper and obtain all your entertainment from the great outdoors. Technology isn't liberating, it is captive! -oflife
and submit to the great big differing standards war of cursive handwriting vs normal, or decide on a standard of either pen which can't be corrected or pencil which easily gets rubbed off?
and lets not start on the standards of outdoor entertainment, we have fishing, jogging, and watching something. and lets not get to sport as most countries that were lucky not to have been colonised by britain think cricket is the most boring sport on earth.
when all fails we can just sleep on a bed and obtain all your entertainment from dreaming shit up
Intelligence isn't liberating its restrictive!!!!
@Oflife
Displayport 1.2 allows for higher resolution panels with higher refresh rates. Want a true 120hz 2560x1600 or 2560x1440 in the future? Well, Dual-link DVI and HDMI simply do not have enough bandwidth for that refresh rate at that high of a resolution. Think about that for a second before you dismiss new standards like this.
@grumbles Dual-link HDMI 1.3 (in as much as it even exists) has the same bandwidth as this does. So if dual-link HDMI 1.3 can't do 120Hz 2560x1600 then this can't either.
@spin cycle: Do you know of any device that uses dual-link HDMI?
HDMI still is based on TMDS signals, which needs a transmitter per link. With a synchronizer signal.
@Pyronick There are no additional synchronizers for the additional links, they all use the same clock. You do need a 2nd transmitter pair though.
I've never seen a dual-link HDMI device before. In practice, you can run the extended versions of HDMI over dual-link DVI though, minus CEC.
All we really need is Optical, all of this is just another upgrade path that we have to pay for.
@NeatOman: DisplayPort supports fiber optics. I'd rather have an optical royalty-free DisplayPort cable than a proprietary Lightpeak cable.
So with bi-directional data can you now use a new imac to display an xbox360?
@taoprophet420 No, because Xbox 360 doesn't support DisplayPort, only HDMI.
DisplayPort v1.2 seems good
@websitedesign
Yeah, except that I just bought this fancy-shmancy new laptop with DisplayPort. I haven't used it once, and now it's already old tech!
So when is the new HDMI standard coming out? I liked having just one cable to cover sound and video.