DisplayPort 2.1 grew to become a a lot larger speaking level than anticipated when AMD revealed its upcoming RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT GPUs. It’s the most recent customary from DisplayPort, a revision to the two.0 spec launched in 2019, and it’s a pure inclusion for next-gen GPUs. There’s only one drawback — Nvidia’s behemoth RTX 4090 nonetheless makes use of DisplayPort 1.4a.

Although the 1.4a spec continues to be greater than sufficient for most individuals, the inclusion of DisplayPort 2.1 does give AMD a bonus this technology. No, I’m not right here to promote you on 8K gaming — in some elements of the world, 8K could not even be potential — however for a crowd of aggressive avid gamers and VR fanatics, DisplayPort 2.1 may mark a significant shift.

An replace 4 years within the making

VESA, the corporate that defines and certifies the DisplayPort customary, launched DisplayPort 2.1 in October 2022. It often takes years for merchandise to make their technique to market supporting a brand new customary, however DisplayPort 2.1 isn’t all that new. It’s a refresh to DisplayPort 2.0, which launched in 2019, and a large enchancment over DisplayPort 1.4 that we’ve seen since 2016.

Like any new connection, it’s all about bandwidth. DisplayPort 1.4a, which you’ll discover on all current graphics playing cards wanting the Intel Arc A770 and A750, in addition to AMD’s upcoming RX 7900 XTX, tops out at 25.92 Gbps of most knowledge price. DisplayPort 2.1 goes as much as 77.37Gbps (theoretical bandwidth is increased, in case you see totally different numbers, however that is the precise knowledge price potential throughout the cable). If you run some, admittedly difficult, math, you’ll discover that the required knowledge price for 4K at 120Hz with HDR turned on is 32.27Gbps — increased than what DisplayPort 1.4a is able to.

Monitors just like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 help 4K at 240Hz with solely DisplayPort 1.4a, so what provides? DisplayPort (and HDMI now) makes use of Display Stream Compression (DSC) to cut back the quantity of knowledge required. DSC isn’t mathematically lossless, however it’s visually lossless. And it could actually scale back the required knowledge by as much as a 3:1 ratio, taking that 32.27Gbps quantity all the way in which all the way down to 10.76Gbps. That’s nice, and DSC is the one cause that DisplayPort 1.4a hasn’t been kicked to the curb already.

The drawback is that the constraints of DisplayPort 1.4a are beginning to crop up, even with DSC enabled. A theoretical 4K monitor at 360Hz wouldn’t be capable to run at its full refresh price, even with DSC compressing by 3:1 (the required knowledge price is 36.54Gbps, in case you have been questioning). And increased colour depths for HDR add much more bandwidth necessities, as do increased refresh charges and resolutions.

A 4K 360Hz monitor could sound insane now, however we now have {hardware} able to driving such a show. AMD is claiming 295 fps at 4K in Apex Legends and 355 fps in Overwatch 2. In addition, the RTX 4090 can push above 300 fps at 4K in Rainbow Six Siege, and the body technology capabilities of DLSS 3 and the upcoming FSR 3 are certain to problem the place of the 4K at 240Hz most we at present have on gaming screens.

Most folks don’t want that further refresh price, however let’s be trustworthy; most individuals don’t must spend $1,600 (and even $1,000) on a GPU, both.

We have the {hardware}

Strangely, we’re not ready on {hardware} to benefit from screens. We’re ready on screens to indicate off new {hardware}. Samsung has already teased its “8K” Odyssey Neo G9 for CES this yr — for the document, it’s not true 8K, however slightly two 4K shows side-by-side within the 32:9 facet ratio — and we anticipate to see at the very least a handful of 8K gaming screens to be proven off on the present alongside Samsung’s show.

That show is an effective touchstone, too. Assuming Samsung desires to maintain with a 240Hz refresh price like the present model has, you’re a knowledge price above 45Gbps with HDR on (36.19Gbps with HDR off), and that’s with 3:1 compression. This is all theoretical for the time being, we have to wait till we see this show and different 8K choices, however the numbers counsel that the RTX 4090 could not be capable to drive them resulting from its DisplayPort 1.4a connection (at the very least at full refresh price, DisplayPort is backwards appropriate).

There’s no want to limit this dialog to 8K or tremendous excessive refresh charges at 4K, both. OLED TVs masquerading as gaming screens have gotten more and more in style, they usually may see large advantages from 5K and 6K resolutions. As I noticed with LG’s UltraGear 48 OLED, the pixel density must be increased for such a big display so near your face. DisplayPort 1.4a can drive 5K and 6K with DSC, however not at refresh charges above 120Hz and never at increased HDR colour depths.

That capping of knowledge price exhibits up in VR, as effectively. The Pimax Crystal, which is at present a Kickstarter marketing campaign, ought to require round 29Gbps of knowledge with DSC at 3:1 primarily based on the specs. That’s inside what DisplayPort 1.4a is able to, nevertheless it’s reaching the restrict.

From massive kind issue shows to VR headsets to increased refresh charges at 4K, DisplayPort 1.4a is beginning to attain its full capability. If each AMD and Nvidia caught with DisplayPort 1.4a, that wouldn’t be a giant deal. Display producers would adapt to the capabilities of what’s at present available in the market. But AMD is opening the floodgates with its new GPUs.

An essential distinction, however not a promoting level

Out of all the issues to base a shopping for determination on, the DisplayPort customary ought to be very far down on that listing. We nonetheless must see how AMD’s new GPUs carry out, what options like FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 3.0 will convey, and if pushing previous the barrier gaming screens are at now even is smart.

That’s the place the development is heading, although, and the distinction between DisplayPort 1.4a and a pair of.1 may develop into extra related a lot sooner than we anticipated — at the very least for a high-end class of avid gamers who wish to experiment with bleeding-edge tech.

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