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

DisplayPort 1.2 vs. HDMI 2.1

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

Comparing:
DisplayPort 1.2
HDMI 2.1
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 2.1 →

HDMI 2.1 increases total bandwidth to 48 Gbps via Fixed Rate Link (FRL). It mandates Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable certification and supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and eARC.

View full HDMI 2.1 spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

10 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
DisplayPort 1.2
HDMI 2.1
Max Resolution @ Refresh Rate
3840x2160 (4K) @ 60Hz, 10-bit color 8K @ 60Hz / 4K @ 120Hz (10K with DSC)
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
— 48 Gbps (FRL 4 lanes)
Pin Count
— 19 Pins (Type A)
Display Stream Compression (DSC)
— DSC 1.2a Supported
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
— HDMI Forum VRR & Quick Media Switching (QMS)
Max Audio Channels
— 32 Channels (eARC up to 192kHz / 24-bit uncompressed)
Max Recommended Cable Length
— 3 Meters (Passive Ultra High Speed) / 100m+ (Active Optical AOC)

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 2.0 → Compare DisplayPort 1.2 vs. VGA →