VESA introduces new certification level for DisplayPort cables

[Glenwing]

https://www.vesa.org/featured-articles/vesa-strengthens-8k-video-resolution-ecosystem-with-market-ready-dp8k-certified-displayport-cables/

 

For quite a long time, the official situation has been that there is only one level of DisplayPort cable, that is a "standard DisplayPort cable". There are no "DisplayPort 1.1 cables" or "DisplayPort 1.2 cables". A cable is either VESA-certified, or it is not. Any cable that meets the certification will handle data rates of any DP version. Granted, not all cables are certified, and many cheap cables on the market fail to meet the "standard DisplayPort cable" spec and therefore aren't capable of carrying high data rates like 4K 60 Hz, but as far as the official classifications go there has been only one level of DP cable certification that a cable could have. This is all based on a statement from VESA, here.

 

However, this statement was written when DisplayPort 1.2 was the highest version. It was never clear whether this applied to DisplayPort 1.3/1.4 bandwidth. On the release of DP 1.3/1.4 VESA stated that existing cables were compatible, but it was ambiguous whether the "any VESA-certified cable will handle the full bandwidth of all versions" still applied beyond DP 1.2. However, in the absence of a contradicting statement, and a lack of actual DP 1.3/1.4 monitors available to test it with, we assumed it was still valid.

 

But it appears this assumption was wrong, as today VESA introduces a new separate certification for "DP8K" cables, which validates that cables can handle HBR3 mode, or 8.1 Gbit/s per lane (standard DP connection is 4 lanes for a total of 32.4 Gbit/s). This is the full bandwidth of DP 1.3 and DP 1.4. In DP 1.3 (assuming 8 bpc RGB/4:4:4) it is enough for 8K 30 Hz or 4K 120 Hz uncompressed, and in DP 1.4 it is enough for the same uncompressed, but also 8K 60+ Hz or 4K 240+ Hz via compression (DP 1.4 has the same bandwidth as 1.3, but introduces a compression algorithm for video; exact maximums are somewhat vague, but more than 2x effective bandwidth).

 

Fortunately since displays that actually use DP 1.3/1.4 are basically nonexistent even now (I believe Dell's 32" 8K monitor, the UP3218K, is the only one), there hasn't been much mis-advice given based on the outdated information, and the introduction of this certification comes ahead of the anticipated 4K 144 Hz monitor releases which presumably use DP 1.4 (though in theory they could also be using DP 1.2 with 4:2:0 subsampling to reduce bandwidth; you can't let your guard down in the display industry ).

 

(By the way, if you want to call it a "DP 1.4 cable", note that a "DP 1.3 cable" would also refer to the same thing since they both have the same bandwidth. This is precisely why we don't use version numbers to refer to cable tiers, they often span multiple versions of a standard).

 

An interesting tidbit at the end too (emphasis mine):

Quote

Even Higher Data Rates on the Horizon

 

With the wide field of view offered by AR/VR displays combined with motion, the virtual world is putting more demands on resolution, refresh rate and color depth. In addition, two displays are needed for AR/VR applications, one for each eye, which doubles the data rate demand. Higher data rates will also be needed to support increases in HDR performance and resolutions beyond 8K for traditional displays. VESA is continuing to work on DisplayPort to increase data-rates by two-fold and beyond to enable the higher performance requirements demanded by these applications.

Any bets as to whether it will be called DP 1.5, or pull an HDMI and skip straight to DP 2.0?

[Agosto]

Oh come on, the DP cable market already sucks, they should focus on better standardization (like the 20/19pin debacle) rather than adding certification that many vendors will fake.

[Dabombinable]

All this talk about display port, and its still nearly impossible to get a standard sized Displayport cable or adapter in stores. And those that I do find cost far too much for the length of the cable.

[Agosto]

Just now, Dabombinable said:

All this talk about display port, and its still nearly impossible to get a standard sized Displayport cable or adapter in stores. And those that I do find cost far too much for the length of the cable.

I'm looking for a cable with reasonable cost because I think mine isn't working properly (probably the 20 pin stuff) with my new RX 580. It's a nightmare.

[Glenwing]

4 minutes ago, Agost said:

Oh come on, the DP cable market already sucks, they should focus on better standardization (like the 20/19pin debacle) rather than adding certification that many vendors will fake.

The 19/20 pin thing was never a problem of standardization, it was always clearly stated in the specification how the cable should be configured. Some manufacturers just didn't pay attention and built a cable that didn't follow spec. Had they submitted their cables for certification from VESA they would have been notified, but they decided to start selling without certifying that it met the established standard.

[Dabombinable]

1 minute ago, Agost said:

I'm looking for a cable with reasonable cost because I think mine isn't working properly (probably the 20 pin stuff) with my new RX 580. It's a nightmare.

Pretty much the only way to easily get one is off Ebay-and that's a crapshoot as to whether or not you get a cable that will work correctly.

[Matu20]

I just want to see DP on TVs already, then it will start to take off.

[Notional]

5 minutes ago, Matu20 said:

I just want to see DP on TVs already, then it will start to take off.

Why? At this point HDMI is surpassing DP in both features and quality.

[cj09beira]

1 hour ago, Notional said:

Why? At this point HDMI is surpassing DP in both features and quality.

ya.. no

[Mira Yurizaki]

1 hour ago, Notional said:

Why? At this point HDMI is surpassing DP in both features and quality.

Royalty free for one. But HDMI royalty fees are mostly offset by plastering the logo somewhere.

Edited January 4, 2018 by M.Yurizaki

[2FA]

2 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

Royalty free for one. But that's mostly offset by plastering the logo somewhere.

How else will we know if the display has a port called DisplayPort, not to be confused with other ports that may be on the display.

[Notional]

20 minutes ago, cj09beira said:

ya.. no

Technically ya. They even have variable refresh rate now too.

[Mira Yurizaki]

23 minutes ago, DeadEyePsycho said:

How else will we know if the display has a port called DisplayPort, not to be confused with other ports that may be on the display.

I realized my post was confusing, so I edited it.

[cj09beira]

37 minutes ago, Notional said:

Technically ya. They even have variable refresh rate now too.

daisy chain, better connector, hdmi is only catching up   

[Notional]

4 minutes ago, cj09beira said:

daisy chain, better connector, hdmi is only catching up   

Daisy chain, sure, but how many use that?

Better connector? How so?

HDMI 2.1 is superior in bandwidth than DisplayPort 1.4 and support higher resolutions and framerates.

 

Pretty sure this new initiative is because DP needs new cables for higher bandwidth to catch up to (and/or surpass) HDMI.

[Mira Yurizaki]

12 minutes ago, cj09beira said:

better connector

I find the latching mechanism annoying. Especially since a lot of cables don't have positive feel whether or not the latch was really depressed or not. And then there's the awkward positioning I get sometimes on monitors that have the plug-in direction parallel to the panel.

 

[Drak3]

47 minutes ago, cj09beira said:

daisy chain, better connector, hdmi is only catching up   

Both of those things are nice only for permanent installation. But daisy chaining isn't particularly useful to many people, and the lock connextor is annoying to deal with when one needs to.

[Glenwing]

There are DP cables with no latches for people who prefer that.

[Dabombinable]

3 hours ago, M.Yurizaki said:

Royalty free for one. But HDMI royalty fees are mostly offset by plastering the logo somewhere.

Being royalty free doesn't stop displayport accessories such as cables being far more expensive.

[dizmo]

I think they'll go right to 2.0. 

1.5 looks too much like half, consumers generally don't like half of things. 

[Doobeedoo]

Yeah I think they could go 2.0 as well. 

We're seeing quite a great progress in display port so that's great. 

[DOSjockey]

In my experience, neither standard comes even close to performing as intended.

[Mihle]

On 4.1.2018 at 9:22 PM, Dabombinable said:

All this talk about display port, and its still nearly impossible to get a standard sized Displayport cable or adapter in stores. And those that I do find cost far too much for the length of the cable.

It's easy here and it's cheaper than HDMI