DisplayPort is a digital interface that delivers higher resolutions and faster refresh rates. It is a key pick for high-performance gaming, video and motion graphics, image editing, and pro content creation.
DisplayPort is a video interface that VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) introduced in 2006 to replace older VGA and DVI interfaces.
Since 2006, VESA has released several DisplayPort versions, each one raising performance and adding useful features such as multi-display support.
Higher resolution and higher refresh rate need a lot of data. To keep up, VESA raised DisplayPort bandwidth from 8.64 Gbps of usable payload with early High Bit Rate to as high as 80 Gbps raw link rate with DisplayPort 2.1 using UHBR modes.
DisplayPort bandwidth (also called the bit rate) is the maximum data the link can carry at a time. Each DisplayPort generation defines specific transmission modes that set the speed and capabilities for that version.
Table of Contents
What is High Bit Rate?
High Bit Rate, or HBR, is a DisplayPort transmission mode with 8.64 Gbps of usable video bandwidth (out of a 10.8 Gbps raw link). Compared with Reduced Bit Rate (RBR), which tops out at 1080p, HBR enables up to 1440p at 60 Hz or 4K at 30 Hz, depending on timings and color format.
When DisplayPort 1.0 launched in 2006, RBR ran at 1.62 Gbps per lane across four lanes for a 6.48 Gbps raw link, with about 5.18 Gbps usable after 8b/10b encoding overhead. That was enough for 1080p.
HBR kept the same encoding overhead but raised the per-lane rate to 2.7 Gbps, bringing the total to 10.8 Gbps raw and 8.64 Gbps usable. That enabled better image quality such as 1440p at 60 Hz or 4K at 30 Hz on early 4K panels.
As resolutions climbed, VESA added faster modes under the same HBR name and appended a number to tell them apart.
HBR2: Double the Bandwidth, Flexible Multi-Monitor Setups
In 2009, VESA introduced HBR2 with DisplayPort 1.2 to meet demand for higher resolutions, refresh rates, and color depth. HBR2 supports up to 4K at 60 Hz on a single display and unlocked powerful multi-monitor options.
DisplayPort 1.2 raised total raw bandwidth from 10.8 Gbps to 21.6 Gbps (5.4 Gbps per lane). The extra headroom enabled Multi-Stream Transport (MST), which lets several displays share the same link through daisy chaining or an MST hub.
MST with DP 1.2 gave users real flexibility, such as up to four WUXGA (1920 × 1200) monitors at 60 Hz, or a single 4K at 60 Hz panel. You trade resolution and refresh rate for the number of displays you run and choose the mix that fits your workflow.
HBR3: Higher Speeds for 5K and 8K
As 5K and 8K panels appeared, VESA released HBR3 with DisplayPort 1.3 and 1.4. HBR3 raises the per-lane rate to 8.1 Gbps for a 32.4 Gbps raw link. With the same 8b/10b encoding overhead, the usable payload climbs to 25.92 Gbps.
DisplayPort 1.4 also added Display Stream Compression (DSC), a visually lossless, low-latency codec that cuts data needs while keeping image quality. With HBR3 plus DSC, a single cable can handle up to 8K at 60 Hz. Without DSC, popular setups include 4K at 120 Hz or 5K at 60 Hz.
In multi-monitor layouts, HBR3 supports two 4K displays at high refresh, or three and four display setups at more modest timings, which covers gaming, creation, and productivity use cases.
HBR2 vs HBR3 Comparison
| Specification | HBR2 | HBR3 |
| Year of introduction | 2009 | 2014 |
| DisplayPort version | DP 1.2 | DP 1.3 / DP 1.4 |
| Total raw bandwidth | 21.6 Gbps | 32.4 Gbps |
| Usable video payload | 17.28 Gbps | 25.92 Gbps |
| MST (daisy chaining) | Yes | Yes |
| 8K video | No | Yes with DSC |
| Max single-display example | Up to 4K at 60 Hz | Up to 8K at 60 Hz with DSC |
| High refresh examples | 1080p at 240 Hz | 1080p at 360 Hz |
| Encoding | 8b/10b | 8b/10b |
| Ideal use case | Productivity and mainstream 4K | High refresh 4K, 5K, and 8K with DSC |
HBR2 vs HBR3
HBR2 and HBR3 are technical link speeds. In retail listings, you will usually see DisplayPort version labels such as DP 1.2 or DP 1.4 rather than HBR2 or HBR3. Cables follow the same pattern, so always check the rated speed, not just the connector. For newer standards, look for DP40 or DP80 on certified DP 2.1 cables.
Conclusion
HBR2 and HBR3 were big steps when they launched in 2009 and 2014. They raised refresh rates, unlocked multi-monitor setups, and pushed 4K and above into the mainstream.
It is now 2025, and both are widely supported but near the ceiling of what many creators and gamers want. The latest DisplayPort 2.1 link rates, called UHBR, run at 10, 13.5, or 20 Gbps per lane for 40, 54, or 80 Gbps total. With these modes and DSC, you can drive very high refresh 4K multiscreen setups or 8K at 60 Hz, and you get lower overhead thanks to 128b/132b encoding.
If you are building a new setup, consider DP 2.1 with UHBR support to keep headroom for the next few years. If your gear is DP 1.2 or DP 1.4, match the cable and GPU to the display and you will still get excellent results.
