Q. What is DisplayPort?
A. We call DisplayPort the Ultimate Digital Connection. Why? It’s a simple but high-bandwidth interface designed to do things no other electronic connection has achieved. First, DisplayPort gives you true digital imaging and audio–pumping billions of colors and crystal clear sound – through one small plug, and it can even supply power. Second, it’s designed to work on all devices, you’ll soon see DisplayPort on computers, monitors and even some televisions, camcorders, cameras, DVD players, you name it. With DisplayPort, electronic devices can easily ‘talk’ to each other. Third, DisplayPort is designed to work with your older technology. With simple adapters you can be backwards compatible to VGA, DVI even HDMI.
Q. Where can I find DisplayPort?
A. Look for the DP Logo on electronics in-store, online, everywhere. Want to see the latest DisplayPort products? Go to our Products page.
Q. How do I know if a product is DisplayPort compliant?
A. Look at the DisplayPort Products page on this website for a list of all compliant products.
Q. How Do I Connect My DisplayPort Device to a Non-DisplayPort Device?
A. It’s easy! Just identify the type of connection the old device has and obtain the right adaptor for that type of connection. Get the details at Get Connected.
Q. What are the most significant benefits that DisplayPort provides a PC user?
A. The main product benefits that DisplayPort provides are higher performance as a standard feature, ubiquitous connectivity to any display device, audio and display over a single cable, and an ultra small connector that is perfect for space-constrained applications like ultra thin notebooks, netbooks and multi-connector graphics cards. DisplayPort also enables ultra sleek, easy to use direct drive flat panel monitors. DisplayPort’s micro-packet architecture sets the stage for future display features such as single-cable, multi-function monitor connectivity and daisy-chained displays for improved multi-monitor connectivity and usage. DisplayPort provides the ultimate range of connectivity options enabling a single connector on the PC to connect to monitors, projectors and HDTVs that may have VGA, DVI, or HDMI inputs, making DisplayPort an easy, universal and cross-application solution.
Q. Wasn’t DisplayPort conceived as a computer interface originally, or was it contemplated for CE systems since its inception?
A. DisplayPort was created to be a universal replacement for separate PC display interfaces including LVDS, DVI and VGA. DisplayPort does include many features important in consumer electronics, including surround sound audio and content protection for Blu-ray disc support.
Q. Can I Get 1080p?
A. DisplayPort delivers 1080p and beyond.
Q. How is DisplayPort different from HDMI? Aren’t they very similar?
A. DisplayPort and HDMI are very different technically, and each has a different product focus. HDMI is the de-facto connection in the home theatre and is used widely on HDTVs as an A/V interface. Some PCs and monitors include HDMI to enable connectivity with HDTVs and other consumer electronics gear. While DisplayPort has a rich consumer electronics feature set, it is expected to complement and not necessarily replace, HDMI. DisplayPort is focused on PC, monitor, and projector usages as a replacement for DVI and VGA where high performance and backwards and forwards compatibility over standard cables are valued. The DisplayPort connector is compatible with HDMI signals, enabling product interoperability. A multi-mode PC that implements both HDMI and DisplayPort only needs a simple DisplayPort cable adapter to make an HDMI connection to an HDTV.
Q. What Type of Display Interface is Best for High Performance Display Applications?
A. DisplayPort provides the fastest refresh rates, the deepest color depths and the highest fidelity with near zero latency. It is designed to work without resorting to lossy compression or artifact inducing encoding and to deliver every pixel to the screen as rendered by the PC with the highest accuracy and fastest response.
Q. Does DisplayPort Work with My TV?
A. Just like with PC’s, HDTV’s are replacing PC friendly VGA and DVI inputs with DisplayPort to enable PC connectivity. If your TV does not have a DP connection (look for the logo), you can still get connected with a readily available adaptor.
Q. Does DisplayPort Work on My Projector?
A. DisplayPort is the ideal connection for projectors. With standard long cable support and a plug and play digital experience with the latest notebook PCs. If your projector is an older model that does not have a DP connection (look for the logo) connection (look for the logo), you can still get connected with a readily available adaptor.
Q. I can’t find my DP connection, where is it?
A. Look for the DP icon by the connector on your device. If you can’t find it, but are certain your device came with a DisplayPort connection, check the instruction manual.
Q. The Plug Does Not Fit. What Do I Do?
A. First, look for the DP Logo. If there is no DP Logo, check your instruction manual for the electronic device in question. Make sure you are at the DisplayPort connection, and the plug is properly aligned. Never force the plug into a device, as this may damage the device. If you are trying to connect to a different type of connector, such as VGA, DVI or HDMI, make sure you have the right adaptor.
Q. What Makes Products With DisplayPort Better?
A. DisplayPort provides the high performance needed to get the best experience from your monitor or projector. It enables connectivity to existing equipment that uses older interfaces such as VGA, DVI or HDMI. It is also ‘future ready’ – unlike many connectivity technologies, DisplayPort is designed to supply an affordable, future-ready connection. DisplayPort not only connects backwards to older technologies, it is designed to accommodate future advances too. So always look for the DisplayPort logo to get the Ultimate Digital Connection.
Q. Is DisplayPort Better For Home Theatre Installations?
A. DisplayPort is ideal for in-room and room-to-room home theatre installations due it’s native support for fiber optic cables, support for standard cables up to 15 meters in length, and it’s Blu-ray Disc ready support for surround sound audio, HDCP, and bi-directional control. DisplayPort also features optional latches on cables to prevent plugs from pulling out unintentionally from home theatre equipment.
Q. Can DisplayPort Clean Up My Office Clutter?
A. While DisplayPort technology is powerful, you’ll still need to organize your clutter. But when you have products that contain DisplayPort, you’ll have more room to make cluttered. DisplayPort’s unique Direct Drive Monitor capability enables ultra thin displays that take up less physical space on your desk, and DisplayPort’s thin cables mean that routing cables is easier and more manageable than before.
Q. Where Can I Use DP?
A. DisplayPort is the next generation interface technology for monitors and projectors replacing DVI and VGA. For the home, office, data center, hospital and movie studio – the DisplayPort logo on a product is your assurance that it will deliver the high performance that you expect while providing backwards compatibility with existing equipment.
Q. Where Do I Find DisplayPort Adaptors?
A. Adaptors to VGA, DVI and HDMI are widely available in stores and online. Check your favorite electronics store or online.
Q. How Far Can I Run A DP Cable?
A. DisplayPort is specified and tested to run 15 meters without the need for a booster station. In fact, it often can supply an excellent signal even further, but our certified range is 15 meters.
Q. Why is DisplayPort the best DVI / VGA replacement for PCs, monitors, and projectors?
A. DisplayPort is the ideal replacement for legacy connectors since it supports the higher resolutions, refresh rates, and color depths found in monitors and the long distance performance and easy plug & play experience needed in projectors over standard cables. Since DisplayPort uses the latest low voltage technology, it is easily supported in the next generation silicon processes found in the latest chipsets, GPUs, and display controllers, and it is an extensible VESA standard. Many of DisplayPort’s unique benefits, such as ultra sleek direct drive monitor design and single cable multifunction monitor connectivity are not available with alternatives such as HDMI. Also, business and enterprise customers may not want to implement all of the consumer electronics features that are required in HDMI products. High resolution support and high performance are standard features with DisplayPort, whereas these are optional or premium features with other interfaces. DisplayPort is designed to meet the future needs of the PC industry while preserving connectivity with DVI, VGA, and HDMI.
Q. What does ‘High Performance is Standard’ mean?
A. DisplayPort simplifies the cable purchase experience by standardizing on performance. You no longer need to pay a premium to ensure that you have the right cable for your display application, or be uncertain as to whether your cable will work with your display. DisplayPort Certified cables are assured to deliver the highest resolutions, fastest refresh rates, and deepest color depths as needed by your monitor or projector. DisplayPort delivers the highest audio, display, and bi-directional communications performance in the industry without requiring consumers to buy special cables. With DisplayPort, high performance is standard.
Q. Can DisplayPort support 3D Stereo?
A. Yes.