DisplayPort is a digital display interface primarily used to connect a video source to a display device, such as a computer monitor or a television. It was developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), with the intention of replacing older standards like VGA and DVI. DisplayPort is unique in its ability to support multiple display devices through a single connection, and it's also capable of carrying audio, USB, and other forms of data.
Despite its name, DisplayPort is not just for displays. It's a versatile standard that can be used for a variety of purposes, from transmitting high-definition video and audio from a computer to a monitor, to carrying data between a laptop and a docking station. It's also used in some high-end professional video equipment, such as video wall controllers.
History of DisplayPort
The development of DisplayPort began in 2003, when VESA recognized the need for a new display interface that could support the increasing demands of digital display technologies. The first version of DisplayPort, 1.0, was released in 2006. It introduced a number of innovative features, such as the ability to daisy-chain multiple monitors together and support for high bit-rate audio.
Since then, DisplayPort has gone through several revisions, each introducing new features and improvements. The latest version, DisplayPort 2.0, was released in 2019. It significantly increases the maximum bandwidth, allowing for higher resolutions, faster refresh rates, and more color depth. It also introduces support for virtual reality (VR) displays and improves the ability to daisy-chain multiple monitors.
DisplayPort 1.0 and 1.1
The first version of DisplayPort, 1.0, was released in May 2006. It introduced a number of innovative features, such as the ability to daisy-chain multiple monitors together and support for high bit-rate audio. Version 1.1, released in April 2007, added support for HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection), a form of digital copy protection used to prevent the copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across connections.
These early versions of DisplayPort were significant because they were the first to introduce a micro-packet architecture, which allows for the simultaneous transmission of video, audio, and other data. This was a major departure from previous display interfaces, which typically had separate channels for video and audio.
DisplayPort 1.2 and 1.3
DisplayPort 1.2, released in December 2009, doubled the maximum bandwidth of the previous version, allowing for higher resolutions and refresh rates. It also introduced support for 3D displays and multiple independent video streams, which can be used to drive multiple monitors from a single DisplayPort connection.
Version 1.3, released in September 2014, increased the maximum bandwidth again, this time by 50%. This allowed for even higher resolutions and refresh rates, as well as support for 4K displays at 60Hz. It also added support for the HDMI 2.0 standard, making it easier to connect DisplayPort devices to HDMI displays.
DisplayPort 1.4 and 2.0
DisplayPort 1.4, released in March 2016, introduced support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) video, which provides more realistic colors and better contrast. It also added support for Display Stream Compression (DSC), a form of lossless compression that allows for higher resolutions and refresh rates without increasing the bandwidth requirement.
The latest version, DisplayPort 2.0, was released in June 2019. It triples the maximum bandwidth of the previous version, allowing for resolutions up to 16K and refresh rates up to 240Hz. It also introduces support for virtual reality (VR) displays and improves the ability to daisy-chain multiple monitors.
Features of DisplayPort
One of the key features of DisplayPort is its ability to support multiple display devices through a single connection. This is achieved through a feature called Multi-Stream Transport (MST), which allows multiple independent video streams to be sent over a single DisplayPort connection. This can be used to drive multiple monitors, or to send different video content to different parts of a single monitor.
DisplayPort also supports high bit-rate audio, which can provide better sound quality than traditional analog audio connections. In addition, DisplayPort can carry other forms of data, such as USB and Ethernet, making it a versatile solution for all kinds of digital connectivity.
High Bit-Rate Audio
High bit-rate audio is a feature of DisplayPort that allows for the transmission of high-quality digital audio signals. This can provide better sound quality than traditional analog audio connections, especially for high-definition audio formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.
DisplayPort supports up to eight channels of uncompressed digital audio at up to 24-bit resolution and 192kHz sampling rate. This is significantly higher than the capabilities of most other digital audio interfaces, making DisplayPort an excellent choice for high-end audio applications.
USB and Ethernet Data
In addition to video and audio, DisplayPort can also carry other forms of data, such as USB and Ethernet. This makes it a versatile solution for all kinds of digital connectivity. For example, a laptop could use a single DisplayPort connection to a docking station to carry video, audio, USB data, and Ethernet network data.
This capability is made possible by the micro-packet architecture of DisplayPort, which allows for the simultaneous transmission of different types of data. Each micro-packet can contain video, audio, or other data, and the DisplayPort connection can dynamically allocate bandwidth between these different types of data as needed.
DisplayPort Connectors and Cables
DisplayPort uses a unique connector that is different from those used by other digital display interfaces. The standard DisplayPort connector is a 20-pin connector that is similar in size to an HDMI connector. There is also a smaller version, called Mini DisplayPort, which is commonly used on laptops and other small devices.
DisplayPort cables are available in a variety of lengths and types, including standard, mini, and extension cables. They can also be used with adapters to connect DisplayPort devices to displays that use other interfaces, such as HDMI, DVI, and VGA.
Standard DisplayPort Connector
The standard DisplayPort connector is a 20-pin connector that is similar in size to an HDMI connector. It has a unique shape that prevents it from being inserted upside down, and it includes a locking mechanism that helps to prevent accidental disconnection.
One of the advantages of the DisplayPort connector is that it supports both digital and analog signals, which means that it can be used with a wide range of displays. This is in contrast to other digital display interfaces, which typically only support digital signals.
Mini DisplayPort Connector
Mini DisplayPort is a smaller version of the standard DisplayPort connector. It was originally developed by Apple for use on their laptops, but it has since been adopted by other manufacturers and is now part of the official DisplayPort standard.
Despite its smaller size, Mini DisplayPort offers the same capabilities as the standard DisplayPort connector. It supports the same high resolutions, high refresh rates, and multiple display devices. However, because of its smaller size, it may not be able to carry as much power as the standard DisplayPort connector, which can limit its ability to power certain types of devices.
DisplayPort in Cybersecurity
As a digital interface, DisplayPort is subject to potential cybersecurity threats. Hackers could potentially exploit vulnerabilities in the DisplayPort interface to gain unauthorized access to a system, or to intercept and manipulate the data being transmitted. However, DisplayPort includes several features designed to enhance security and protect against such threats.
One of these features is support for HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection), a form of digital copy protection developed by Intel Corporation. HDCP is designed to prevent the copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across connections. It does this by encrypting the data, so that it can only be decrypted and viewed by authorized devices.
HDCP and DisplayPort
HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is a form of digital copy protection developed by Intel Corporation. It is designed to prevent the copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across connections. HDCP does this by encrypting the data, so that it can only be decrypted and viewed by authorized devices.
DisplayPort supports HDCP, and most DisplayPort devices include HDCP support as a standard feature. This means that when you connect a DisplayPort source device (like a computer or a game console) to a DisplayPort display device (like a monitor or a TV), the source device will encrypt the video and audio data before sending it to the display device. The display device will then decrypt the data before displaying it. This process is transparent to the user, and it does not affect the quality of the video or audio.
DisplayPort and Secure Firmware
Another security feature of DisplayPort is the ability to update the firmware of DisplayPort devices. Firmware is a type of software that controls the hardware of a device. By updating the firmware, manufacturers can fix bugs, add new features, and enhance the security of their devices.
However, the process of updating firmware can also pose a security risk, as it could potentially be exploited by hackers to install malicious software. To mitigate this risk, DisplayPort includes a secure firmware update mechanism. This mechanism uses cryptographic techniques to ensure that only authorized firmware updates can be installed, and that the firmware cannot be tampered with during the update process.
Conclusion
DisplayPort is a powerful and versatile display interface that offers many advantages over older standards like VGA and DVI. With its ability to support high resolutions, high refresh rates, multiple display devices, high bit-rate audio, and other forms of data, it's an excellent choice for any digital display application.
However, like any digital interface, DisplayPort is subject to potential cybersecurity threats. It's important to be aware of these threats and to take appropriate measures to protect against them. By understanding the features and capabilities of DisplayPort, as well as the potential security risks, you can make informed decisions about how to use this technology safely and effectively.
About the author
Sofie Meyer is a copywriter and phishing aficionado here at Moxso. She has a master´s degree in Danish and a great interest in cybercrime, which resulted in a master thesis project on phishing.