# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison Display Cables

DisplayPort 1.2 vs. HDMI 2.0

Comparing 2 standards across 10 specifications. 10 key differences identified.

Comparing:
DisplayPort 1.2
HDMI 2.0
DisplayPort 1.2 →

DisplayPort 1.2, released January 7, 2010, doubled maximum bandwidth to 21.6 Gbps via a new High Bit Rate 2 (HBR2) mode, enabling 4K at 60Hz for the first time. Its headline feature, Multi-Stream Transport (MST), lets multiple monitors daisy-chain from a single DisplayPort output.

View full DisplayPort 1.2 spec sheet →
HDMI 2.0 →

HDMI 2.0, released September 4, 2013, raised maximum bandwidth to 18 Gbps, finally enabling 4K resolution at 60Hz. It also increased maximum audio to 32 channels; HDR support followed later via the HDMI 2.0a update in 2015, not the original 2.0 release.

View full HDMI 2.0 spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

10 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
DisplayPort 1.2
HDMI 2.0
Max Resolution @ Refresh Rate
3840x2160 (4K) @ 60Hz, 10-bit color 4K @ 60Hz / 1440p @ 144Hz
Release Date
January 7, 2010 —
Max Bandwidth, HBR2 4 lanes (raw / effective)
21.6 / 17.28 Gbps —
AUX Channel Bandwidth
up to 720 (up from 1.0's 1 Mbps) Mbps —
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
— 18.0 Gbps (TMDS)
Pin Count
— 19 Pins (Type A)
Display Stream Compression (DSC)
— Not Supported
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
— Vendor-specific (AMD FreeSync over HDMI)
Max Audio Channels
— 32 Channels (Standard ARC up to 5.1 lossy)
Max Recommended Cable Length
— 5 Meters (Passive Premium High Speed)

Other Alternatives to Compare

Compare DisplayPort 1.2 vs. DisplayPort 1.0 → Compare DisplayPort 1.2 vs. DisplayPort 1.4 → Compare DisplayPort 1.2 vs. DisplayPort 2.1 → Compare DisplayPort 1.2 vs. DVI → Compare DisplayPort 1.2 vs. HDMI 1.0 → Compare DisplayPort 1.2 vs. HDMI 1.3 → Compare DisplayPort 1.2 vs. HDMI 1.4 → Compare DisplayPort 1.2 vs. HDMI 2.1 → Compare DisplayPort 1.2 vs. VGA →