DisplayPort 1.2 vs 1.4
32.4 Gbps against 21.6, plus Display Stream Compression — the difference between 4K60 and 4K120 or 8K60.
Last reviewed
DisplayPort 1.4 moves about half again as much data as 1.2, and adds a compression scheme that stretches it much further than the raw numbers suggest. In practice 1.2 tops out around 4K at 60 frames a second, while 1.4 handles 4K at 120 or 8K at 60, plus proper HDR. If you are driving a high refresh rate monitor or anything above 4K, you want 1.4. For a 1080p or 1440p display at 60 Hz, 1.2 is still plenty.
- Verdict:
- 1.4 for high refresh 4K and HDR
Side by side
| Specification | DisplayPort 1.2 | DisplayPort 1.4 |
|---|---|---|
| Total bandwidth | 21.6 Gbps | 32.4 Gbps |
| Data rate | 17.28 Gbps | 25.92 Gbps |
| 4K at 60 Hz | Yes | Yes |
| 4K at 120 Hz | No | Yes, with DSC |
| 8K at 60 Hz | No | Yes, with DSC |
| HDR metadata | No | Yes |
| Compression (DSC) | No | Yes |
Compression does the heavy lifting
Display Stream Compression is what takes 1.4 well past its raw bandwidth. It is visually lossless by design, and it is why a 1.4 port can drive displays the numbers alone say it should not.
HDR is a 1.4 feature
DisplayPort 1.2 has no way to carry the metadata HDR needs. If a monitor advertises HDR and your source is 1.2, you will not get it however good the panel is.
Cables are mostly not the limit
DisplayPort cables are certified by bandwidth rather than version. A cable rated HBR2 covers 1.2; HBR3 is what 1.4 wants at full rate. A short, well-made cable usually manages more than its label claims, but a long thin one is a common cause of flicker at high refresh.
Is DSC visually lossless?
It is certified as visually lossless, meaning testing found viewers could not reliably distinguish compressed from uncompressed. It is not mathematically lossless. For desktop work, gaming and video the distinction is academic; for colour-critical reference work some professionals still prefer to stay within uncompressed bandwidth.
Where the version lives
The source and the display each have a version, and you get the lower of the two. A 1.4 graphics card into a 1.2 monitor is a 1.2 link. Cables are rated by bandwidth rather than version, so a cable labelled HBR3 covers what 1.4 needs.
Common causes of flicker
At high refresh rates a long or thin DisplayPort cable is the usual culprit, showing as brief blackouts or the screen dropping to a lower rate on its own. A short, well-made certified cable fixes more high-refresh problems than any setting does.
Check before you swap. Batteries with similar dimensions are not always interchangeable. Always verify voltage, chemistry and the requirements printed in your device manual before fitting a replacement.
DisplayPort 1.2 vs 1.4: common questions
What is the difference between DisplayPort 1.2 and DisplayPort 1.4?
DisplayPort 1.4 moves about half again as much data as 1.2, and adds a compression scheme that stretches it much further than the raw numbers suggest. In practice 1.2 tops out around 4K at 60 frames a second, while 1.4 handles 4K at 120 or 8K at 60, plus proper HDR. If you are driving a high refresh rate monitor or anything above 4K, you want 1.4. For a 1080p or 1440p display at 60 Hz, 1.2 is still plenty.
Which should I choose, DisplayPort 1.2 or DisplayPort 1.4?
1.4 for high refresh 4K and HDR. 32.4 Gbps against 21.6, plus Display Stream Compression — the difference between 4K60 and 4K120 or 8K60.
Total bandwidth — how do they compare?
DisplayPort 1.2: 21.6 Gbps. DisplayPort 1.4: 32.4 Gbps.