VESA to Update DisplayPort 2.1 With New Active Cable Specification for Up to 3X Longer DP80 Cables

[Nomad76]

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA)today announced that it is working with members to introduce new DP80LL ("low loss") ultra-high-bit-rate (UHBR) cables that enable up to four-lane UHBR20 link rate support - a maximum throughput of 80 Gbps - over an active cable up to three meters in length. The spec for these new cables will be a key highlight of DisplayPort version 2.1b, which will be released in the spring of 2025. As a result, the DisplayPort 2.1b update will provide for up to 3X the cable length for UHBR20 GPU-to-display connections compared to existing VESA certified DP80 passive cables. VESA certified DP80LL cables are expected to roll out into the market within the next several months.

UHBR20 and DP80LL Product Demos at CES 2025
VESA will showcase samples of pre-certified DP80LL cables alongside product demonstrations of DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 - the highest-performance UHBR tier in the DisplayPort 2.1 spec - as well as other VESA standards at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), taking place this week in Las Vegas, January 7-10.

"With VESA's new DP80LL active cable spec, users are no longer limited to a one-meter cable connection between their DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 source and hub or sink devices. With more DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 products expected to roll out into the market this year, DP80LL active cables will provide consumers with more options and greater flexibility in their gaming or workstation setup to take full advantage of the highest video performance enabled by DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20," stated James Choate, compliance program manager for VESA.

NVIDIA and VESA Collaboration
As a leading innovator in high-performance GPUs, NVIDIA has been actively collaborating with VESA to ensure optimal performance and compatibility between NVIDIA GPUs and the upcoming DisplayPort 2.1b technologies, including UHBR20 across DP80LL cables. This partnership aims to provide users with cutting-edge display solutions that maximize bandwidth and flexibility, enhancing both gaming and professional workflows.

Adding to this sentiment, Justin Walker, Director of GeForce Product Management at NVIDIA, commented, "With UHBR20's ultra-high bandwidth of 80 Gbps, users can experience stunning HDR visuals, ultra-high resolutions, and smoother gameplay. VESA Certified DP80LL cables are critical for ensuring reliable connections between GPUs and monitors, enabling maximum performance in gaming and professional setups."

Advantages of DisplayPort
Besides the incredibly high video resolutions enabled by DisplayPort 2.1's massive bandwidth, DisplayPort offers numerous other advantages to consumers and manufacturers alike. These include the ability to drive multiple displays from over a single cable interface through its multi-stream transport (MST) feature, which is useful for competitive gaming, content creation and office workstation setups. DisplayPort is also supported by multiple connector formats. In addition to being connected through a standard full-size or mini DisplayPort cable, DisplayPort can also be provided through the USB Type-C connector as DisplayPort Alt Mode, enabling video and data transmission as well as charging from the same cable. DisplayPort is also supported as a tunneled protocol through Intel's Thunderbolt interface as well as the USB4 interface.

DisplayPort's common PHY/IP with the USB connector (the smallest form-factor connector available) provides easier integration into chip designs for electronics products. It is also the video interface of record for embedded applications - with adoption among virtually all laptops, notebooks and premium tablets as the connection to the display panel. In addition, it is a common standard for automotive video applications where it provides automotive display functional safety as well as secure integrity and authentication for up to 16 display regions of interest. Because DisplayPort is developed by VESA, which is an open standards body, each of VESA's 340-plus member companies has an opportunity to participate and contribute to the development of the video standard.

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[TheLostSwede]

Hopefully these cables will still be reasonably priced.

 

[Neo_Morpheus]

Given how the HDMI Consortium hates open source, I really wish that TV manufacturers included at least on DP port on TV's.

But since all TV's OEMS are part of the HDMI Consortium, I dont hold much hope.

 

[Hakker]

Given how the HDMI Consortium hates open source, I really wish that TV manufacturers included at least on DP port on TV's.

But since all TV's OEMS are part of the HDMI Consortium, I dont hold much hope.

impressive considering Displayport isn't an open consortium as well.
My main problem with Displayport is how it's thrown out of the device manager in Windows when a monitor is turned off. In multi monitor setups this will lead to windows reposition when you turn them on again. Sure you either need to turn off your second monitor or have a pc running 24/7 to notice it but it is annoying. Also before someone starts this is by Displayport design not by Microsoft.

 

[NoLoihi]

I don’t know how DP differs from HDMI in this regard, but what I can say is that it’s software on your computer (and software alone) that decides how and where to place windows. This can be Windows’ display stack or it can be the window manager or compositor under Linux. So, I can’t see how this problem would be forced in any way by DisplayPort. Do devices disappear? Well, remember them if you expect them to come back. It’s not that hard. Maybe keep the last dozen or so around for people who switch places. Might need more UI, there’s generally a shortage of that in personal computing.

 

[Event Horizon]

With the way coil whine, power consumption (+heat output), and overall system noise under load have been getting worse every generation, long cables could be a viable solution. It certainly beats in-home streaming in latency and image quality.

So I'm looking to put my PC in a well ventilated but isolated location and run long cables and a power switch to it.

 

[R-T-B]

impressive considering Displayport isn't an open consortium as well.
My main problem with Displayport is how it's thrown out of the device manager in Windows when a monitor is turned off. In multi monitor setups this will lead to windows reposition when you turn them on again. Sure you either need to turn off your second monitor or have a pc running 24/7 to notice it but it is annoying. Also before someone starts this is by Displayport design not by Microsoft.

I literally do not have this issue, so "by design" is really questionable as the spec is platform agnostic and isn't even aware of a "device manager."

 

[kapone32]

How many different versions of DP 2.1 are there. It is a a little confusing. My monitor support DP 2.1 but not 4K at 240 hz.

Given how the HDMI Consortium hates open source, I really wish that TV manufacturers included at least on DP port on TV's.

But since all TV's OEMS are part of the HDMI Consortium, I dont hold much hope.

There used to be a time where all GPUs came with 2 HDMI and 2 DP ports. This 3 DP 1 HDMI is not cool. DP to HDMI cables do exist though. What is truly insane is USB C. I guess I should buy a Reference GPU from AMD as they are the only cards that have USB C. My monitor has it though.

 

[TheLostSwede]

With the way coil whine

Huh? It's been a decade since I last had any issue with coil while and that was a PSU.

How many different versions of DP 2.1 are there. It is a a little confusing. My monitor support DP 2.1 but not 4K at 240 hz.

One, but at UHBR10, 13.5 and 20, which is ~40, 52 and 80 Gbps. Previous versions of DP had HBR, HBR2 and HBR3.

There used to be a time where all GPUs came with 2 HDMI and 2 DP ports. This 3 DP 1 HDMI is not cool. DP to HDMI cables do exist though. What is truly insane is USB C. I guess I should buy a Reference GPU from AMD as they are the only cards that have USB C. My monitor has it though.

I want to see more USB-C ports on graphics cards too. My old card had one, but one of those weird ones for VR headsets that never became a proper standard...

 

[Chrispy_]

Given how the HDMI Consortium hates open source, I really wish that TV manufacturers included at least on DP port on TV's.

But since all TV's OEMS are part of the HDMI Consortium, I dont hold much hope.

This.
HDMI at 4K 120Hz is messy if the cable is over about 3m.
Displayport would solve a whole bunch of issues on TVs connected to PCs but I've never seen a consumer TV with anything other than HDMI.

 

[Alan Smithee]

This wording is very concerning. "upcoming DisplayPort 2.1b technologies, including UHBR20 across DP80LL cables" implies that the DP80LL cables will only work with new DP 2.1b devices, thus obsoleting the handful of existing DP2.1 monitors.

 

[TheLostSwede]

This wording is very concerning. "upcoming DisplayPort 2.1b technologies, including UHBR20 across DP80LL cables" implies that the DP80LL cables will only work with new DP 2.1b devices, thus obsoleting the handful of existing DP2.1 monitors.

No, it doesn't imply that. It implies that it will be added to the DP standard in version 2.1b of the DP standard. There should be no reason why these cables aren't fully backwards compatible with all version of the DP standard. Also, this will just be active cables, which you could do right now if you wanted to, as we already have this with HDMI.

 

[Alan Smithee]

No, it doesn't imply that. It implies that it will be added to the DP standard in version 2.1b of the DP standard. There should be no reason why these cables aren't fully backwards compatible with all version of the DP standard. Also, this will just be active cables, which you could do right now if you wanted to, as we already have this with HDMI.

It literally says it's a DP2.1b feature. Citation please.