What Are Display Ports? (DisplayPort)

DisplayPort Frequently Asked Questions

When will the first DisplayPort-equipped products come to the market? Several major companies are now shipping products that include DisplayPort technology with more on the way. Which types of products do you expect will be the first to incorporate DisplayPort? It is anticipated that PC manufacturers will adopt DisplayPort as a solution for connecting all types of displays–including monitors, projectors and HDTVs–with a single connector. DisplayPort will also be adopted in LCD panels as well.

Are customers actively asking for this kind of interface now?

Customers have been asking for smaller connectors, easier set up, thinner cables, fewer cables, higher color depths, higher refresh rates, higher resolutions, digital projectors, thinner and sleeker displays, and ubiquitous display connectivity–all features that DisplayPort delivers on.

What are the most significant benefits for the user?

The main product benefits are that DisplayPort provides improved performance as a standard feature relative to DVI, and can be packaged into a USB-sized connector for space-constrained applications like notebooks and graphics cards. DisplayPort also enables ultra sleek, easy to use direct drive flat panel monitors and sets the stage for future display features such as single-cable multi-function monitor connectivity and daisy chained displays. DisplayPort enables a wide range of connectivity options to monitors, projectors and HDTVs via a single connector, making it an easy, universal and cross-application solution.

Wasn’t DisplayPort conceived as a computer interface originally, or has it been contemplated for CE systems since its inception?

DisplayPort was originally intended to provide a common replacement for LVDS, DVI and VGA, but while DisplayPort has a rich A/V feature set, it is expected to complement, not replace, HDMI.

How will VESA handle the issues of interoperability to be certain that DisplayPort- equipped products are able to work together?

VESA has developed a DisplayPort Compliance and Interoperability program to assure that products carrying the DisplayPort certified logo interoperate successfully.

Is there going to be a logo program indicating that a company’s product complies with the DisplayPort standard?

Yes. VESA is administering a DisplayPort logo program via the DisplayPort website. Products that successfully pass the compliance and interoperability tests are eligible to receive and use the DisplayPort certified logo.

What other standards compete with the DisplayPort objectives? Is UDI a
direct competitor?

DisplayPort is the preferred industry standard for replacing DVI, LVDS, and VGA long term.

Will DisplayPort work with standards like HDMI and VGA, or replace them?

DisplayPort is designed to replace LVDS, DVI and eventually VGA. While DisplayPort has a rich A/V feature set, it is expected to complement, not replace, HDMI, and the connector is compatible with HDMI signals. A multi-mode device that implements both HDMI and DisplayPort only needs a simple cable adapter to make an HDMI connection.

How will DisplayPort be implemented with existing or legacy TVs and other products? Is there going to be an adapter or similar system available soon?

Guidelines for DisplayPort-to-DVI and DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapters are provided in the VESA DisplayPort Interoperability Guideline. Other types of adapters, such as DisplayPort-to-VGA, are also anticipated.

Will content protection be implemented in the specification, and how?

The DisplayPort 1.1a specification includes protocol hooks for HDCP v1.3 DisplayPort supports content protection but does not require it, though it is widely anticipated that all consumer applications of DisplayPort will include content protection. Content protection systems will continue to have license agreements and specifications that are separate from the DisplayPort specification.

Why not simply use HDMI as a VGA replacement for PC monitors?

HDMI was designed as an HDTV interface, not a general-purpose internal and external display interface for computer equipment. Many of DisplayPort’s unique benefits, such as direct drive monitor design and single cable multi-function monitor connectivity are not available with HDMI. High resolution support and high performance are standard features of DisplayPort, whereas these are optional premium features of HDMI. Business and enterprise customers may not want to implement all of the consumer electronics features that are required in HDMI products DisplayPort is designed to meet the future needs of the PC industry while preserving compatibility with HDMI.

 

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