What is DisplayPort?
DisplayPort is a digital display interface standard (approved May 2006, current version 1.1a approved on January 11, 2008) put forth by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA).

What are the DisplayPort Connector specifications?


20 pins for external connectors on desktops, notebooks, graphics cards, monitors, etc. / 30/20 pins for internal connections between graphics engines and built-in flat panels.

The DisplayPort connector supports 1, 2, or 4 data pairs in a Main Link that also carries clock and optional audio signals, each with a symbol rate of 1.62 or 2.7 Gbit/s. The video signal path supports 6 to 16 bits per color channel. A bi-directional auxiliary channel (at a constant 1 Mbit/s) carries management and device control data for the Main Link using VESA EDID and VESA MCCS standards. The video signal is not compatible with DVI or HDMI, but a DisplayPort connector can pass these signals through. While DVI and HDMI require separate clock signals, DisplayPort embeds the clock in the data signal. The data transmission protocol in DisplayPort is based on micro packets and is extensible for future feature additions, whereas DVI/HDMI transmission protocol is a Serial Data Stream at 10x pixel clock rate. Finally, unlike the separate DVI/HDMI and LVDS standards, DisplayPort supports both external (box-to-box) and internal (laptop LCD panel) display connections.

What is the DisplayPort Cable specifications?
DisplayPort currently supports a maximum of 10.8 Gbit/s data rate over a 3 metre cable.

Maximum length 15 metres for video transmission (resolution at least 1920×1080p60 at 24bpp), 3 metres for full bandwidth transmission, made of materials of either copper or optical fibre.

Does DisplayPort support Content Protection?
DisplayPort includes optional DPCP (DisplayPort Content Protection) copy-protection from AMD, which uses 128-bit AES encryption, with modern cryptography ciphers. It also features full authentication and session key establishment (each encryption session is independent). There is an independent revocation system. This portion of the standard is licensed separately. It also adds support for verifying the proximity of the receiver and transmitter, a technique intended to ensure users are not bypassing content protection system to send data out to distant, unauthorized users.

Newly featured in version 1.1 is the support of HDCP content protection and support for fiber optic cables as an alternative to copper, allowing a much longer reach between source and display without image degradation.

What companies support DisplayPort?
The following companies have announced their intention, at one point or another, to implement or support DisplayPort: AMD, Analogix, Apple, ASRock, ASUSTeK, Dell, Genesis Microchip, Hewlett-Packard, Hosiden Corporation, Intel, Integrated Device Technology, JAE, Lenovo, Luxtera, Molex, NVIDIA, NXP Semiconductors, Palit Microsystems Palit, Parade Technologies, Philips, Quantum Data, Samsung, Sparkle Computer, Texas Instruments, and Tyco Electronics.

Technical Specification

• Hot pluggable: YES
• Audio signal: Optional, 1-8 channels, 16 or 24 bit linear PCM, 48/96/192 kHz sampling rate, uncompressed, max. 6.144 Mbit/s bit rate
• Video signal: Optional, maximum 2560x1600 resolution
• Bandwidth: 1.62 or 2.7 GHz symbol rate, 1/2/4 lanes (total 5.184 or 8.64 Gbit/s; latest version 1.1a, 10.8 Gbit/s) plus 1 Mbit/s for AUX CH (for additional data)
• Protocol: mini-packet
• Electrical:
  • +3.3 V
  • Max voltage: 16.0 V
  • Max current: 500mA
• 10.8 Gbit/s forward link channel supports high resolution displays with a single cable.
• 8B/10B data transmission (up to 2.7 GHz symbol rate, up to 4 lanes, 8B/10B modulation).
• Reduced bandwidth transmission for 15 metre cable (at least 1920x1080p60, 24 bpp).
• Full bandwidth transmission for 2 metre cable.
• Supports color depth of 6, 8, 10, 12 and 16 bits per color component.
• Supports YCbCr color space (ITU-R BT.601-5 and BT.709-4), 4:2:2 chroma subsampling
• Supports legacy signal streams (analog and DVI/HDMI]]); backward compatibility achieved with adapters/dongles
• 128-bit AES DisplayPort Content Protection (DPCP) support, and support for 40-bit High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) from version 1.1 onwards.
• Supports internal and external connections so that one standard can be used by computer makers reducing costs
• Open and extensible standard to help with broad adoption