VESA announces DisplayPort 2.0 Standard, nearly triples bandwidth

What you need to know

  • VESA announced the DisplayPort 2.0 standard.
  • The new standard almost triples the effective bandwidth over DisplayPort 1.3/1.4.
  • Devices supporting the standard are "projected to appear on the market by late 2020."

The Video Electronics Standard Association (VESA) announced DisplayPort 2.0, a new standard that almost triples the effective bandwidth of DisplayPort when compared to the current standard DisplayPort 1.3/1.4 (via AnandTech). The new standard will help devices keep up to date with the rising demand of monitors including 8K, high refresh rates, and HDR.

Specifically, devices that meet the DisplayPort 2.0 standard will be able to handle 8K video with a 60 Hz refresh rate and work with up to 16K video with compression. They will also support full-color 4:4:4 resolution and support HDR10 with 30 bits per pixel.

The current standard of 1.3/1.4 has a raw bandwidth of 32.4 Gbps and an effective bandwidth of 25.92 Gbps. DisplayPort 2.0 has a raw bandwidth of 80 Gbps and an effective bandwidth of 77.37 Gbps.

The upgraded performance will be available over Thunderbolt 3 ports, USB-C, or the DisplayPort. Devices that support the new specifications are "projected to appear on the market by late 2020" according to VESA.

While some devices won't require the full bandwidth of the new standard, monitors like Apple's upcoming Pro Display XDR will stand to benefit. Additionally, setups with multiple monitors will benefit from the increased bandwidth.

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Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_. 

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