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

DisplayPort 2.1 vs. HDMI 1.4

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

Comparing:
DisplayPort 2.1
HDMI 1.4
DisplayPort 2.1 →

DisplayPort 2.1, announced October 2022, is a certification-level refinement of the DisplayPort 2.0 specification VESA released back in June 2019. Its fastest UHBR20 mode delivers 80 Gbps raw bandwidth -- enough for a single 10K display at 60Hz uncompressed, or multiple high-refresh 4K/8K displays daisy-chained with compression.

View full DisplayPort 2.1 spec sheet →
HDMI 1.4 →

HDMI 1.4, released in 2009, added the HDMI Ethernet Channel, Audio Return Channel (ARC), and stereoscopic 3D video support, plus a 4K mode -- but capped at 24-30Hz, since bandwidth stayed at 10.2 Gbps. The even smaller Type D Micro connector was also introduced.

View full HDMI 1.4 spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

10 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
DisplayPort 2.1
HDMI 1.4
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
80.0 Gbps (UHBR20, 77.37 Gbps payload) 10.2 (unchanged from 1.3) Gbps
Max Resolution @ Refresh Rate
16K @ 60Hz (DSC) / 8K @ 120Hz / 4K @ 240Hz —
Pin Count
20 Pins (DP) / USB-C (DP40 / DP80 certified) —
Display Stream Compression (DSC)
DSC 1.2a Mandatory Support —
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
VESA Adaptive-Sync & Panel Replay —
Max Audio Channels
32 Channels —
Max Recommended Cable Length
1–2 Meters (Passive DP80) / 3m (DP40) —
Release Date
— 2009
Max 4K Resolution
— 3840x2160 @ 24, 25, or 30Hz only
HDMI Ethernet Channel
— 100 Mbps

Other Alternatives to Compare

Compare DisplayPort 2.1 vs. DisplayPort 1.0 → Compare DisplayPort 2.1 vs. DisplayPort 1.2 → Compare DisplayPort 2.1 vs. DisplayPort 1.4 → Compare DisplayPort 2.1 vs. DVI → Compare DisplayPort 2.1 vs. HDMI 1.0 → Compare DisplayPort 2.1 vs. HDMI 1.3 → Compare DisplayPort 2.1 vs. HDMI 2.0 → Compare DisplayPort 2.1 vs. HDMI 2.1 → Compare DisplayPort 2.1 vs. VGA →