Databranch

Want better graphics capabilities?
reprinted with permission from HP

If good graphics quality is important to you, you're going to love the new DisplayPort technology. Even if you're not an architect, graphic designer or someone who needs high resolution and better display performance now, these features are going to benefit everyone as we all communicate and collaborate more with our PCs.

Never heard of DisplayPort? Well, you will. It's a new digital PC display interface that's expected to become the industry standard in a few years, eventually replacing both VGA and DVI. For now it can be found in conjunction with VGA ports on all HP Compaq dc7900 Business Desktop PCs. Eventually, you'll find it standard on all PCs.

What is DisplayPort?
DisplayPort is a new digital display interface that provides better interoperability, higher resolutions for new and future monitors, and content protection. It offers smaller size, faster speed, enhanced graphics performance, lower total cost of ownership (TCO) than DVI[1] and includes multi-monitor support, optional audio support and HD (high-def) content protection.

Size: DisplayPort has a smaller connector than DVI for digital output - about the size of a USB port - which means it takes up much less space than the bulky VGA and DVI
Speed: With up to 10.8 Gbit/sec bandwidth, DisplayPort is twice as fast as most DVI interfaces and blows VGA speeds out of the water[2].
Performance: DisplayPort offers higher resolutions than any other display adapters on the market.[3]
TCO: DisplayPort comes standard, along with VGA, in a number of PCs and will become more ubiquitous in the future. That means you won't need to invest in an extra video card to take advantage of features like multi-monitor support and higher resolution.

VGA
Bandwidth: Indefinite: ~150+ MHz pixel rates
Audio: No support
Content protection: No support

DVI
Bandwidth: Up to 4.95 Gbit/sec (single-link) 9.6 Gbit/sec (dual-link)
Audio: Optional
Content protection: Opt HDCP

Display Port
Bandwidth: Up to 10.8 Gbit/sec
Audio: Optional
Content protection: Opt HDCP

Straight to the details
DisplayPort differs from the earlier TMDS-based interfaces (such as DVI and HDMI) in several significant ways. First, it uses a packetized communications protocol, which enables simple support of multiple data types and other features. Audio may be carried - optionally - along with the digital video information, as well as other data types (text, etc.), and later versions are expected to use the packetized protocol to enable support for multiple displays per physical connection, tiling, conditional update, etc., with full backwards compatibility. DisplayPort was also designed to be both an "external" (monitor, TV, etc.) connection as well as an "internal" (panel-level) interface. Physically, the connector resembles HDMI in size, but differs in the shape of the shell and in that it includes a thumb-operated latching mechanism.

Preparing for the future
DisplayPort's advanced features and increased interoperability means that it will work with monitors today and continue to work with the latest, greatest displays of the future. Its audio capabilities and ability to take advantage of HD performance give it an edge over existing interfaces when it comes to being prepared for future advances in monitor technology.

If you're concerned about using a DisplayPort monitor with your existing PC, don't worry - you don't have to throw out your old PC when you buy a new monitor with DisplayPort technology! There are adapters that convert the signal from a DisplayPort monitor to a DVI port on your PC. Plans to provide a similar adapter from a DisplayPort monitor to a VGA port are under development.

Available now
DisplayPort is available in all the HP Compaq dc7900 series desktop PCs. And, the new HP LP2480zx, LP2275w and LP2475w performance displays all currently include DisplayPort connectivity. Look for more DisplayPort-capable PCs and monitors in the near future. If you would like more information, please contact your Databranch Account Manager .