What is a DisplayPort?

Recently I bought a 32 inch monitor as an external display for my laptop so that I can read and type in a large screen, as well as see video clips better! When I checked the rear side of the monitor I found a new type of port which I had not noted earlier. It is was the DisplayPort, which is really not that new when I read about it. The first version of DisplayPort was designed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) in 2006 and is being produced from 2008 to present. It was meant to supersede the DVI port about which I had posted earlier. Like the HDMI port it permits hot plugging meaning that it can be plugged in while the system is on, while the DVI port cannot be. DisplayPort is a digital video interface used to connect to a display device like a computer monitor.

Checking other systems at home, I found that a desktop computer had a DisplayPort and was being connected to an HDMI port of a monitor with a cable with HDMI pin on one end and DisplayPort pin at the other end.

The picture shows three types of sockets on a monitor – DP-IN is DisplayPort in, HDMI IN for an HDMI cable and D-SUB IN is a D-subminiature or D-sub connector. D-sub connector has a D shaped metal shield and is used for Video Graphics Array (VGA) which was quite common on computers and projectors. VGA connector has 15 pins set in three rows.

DisplayPort is able to transmit audio and video simultaneously unlike DVI which can transmit only video and needs another cable for audio. DisplayPort has gone through several versions of development from 1.0 in 2006 to 2.1a which was announced on 8 January 2024! DisplayPort 2.0 can support 16K resolution at 60 Hz and two 4K at 144 Hz refresh rate.