DisplayPort 2.1 (DP 2.1) is the current DisplayPort standard from VESA, the Video Electronics Standards Association. DisplayPort began in 2006 with DP 1.0 as a replacement for VGA and DVI, which struggled with modern resolutions and refresh rates. In 2025, DP 2.1 is the premium PC-centric video link for high-resolution, high-refresh displays and multi-monitor workstations.
Over the years, VESA has increased bandwidth and improved the signaling that DisplayPort uses. Where DP 1.0 typically handled 1440p at 60 Hz in the late 2000s, DP 2.1 can drive extreme setups up to 16K at 60 Hz with DSC, and very high refresh 4K panels, along with multi-display configurations that creators and gamers rely on.
Raw resolution and refresh are the headline, but DP 2.1 also adds quality-of-life improvements. It defines multiple transmission modes so you can match the link speed to your hardware, simplifies cable shopping with DP40 and DP80 labels, and works through USB-C Alt Mode and Thunderbolt 5 for one-cable desks.
Table of Contents
DisplayPort 2.1 Specifications and Upgrades
- Peak output: up to 16K at 60 Hz with DSC, and uncompressed 10K at 60 Hz on capable links.
- High refresh: uncompressed 4K at very high refresh on DP 2.1 links, and even higher refresh with DSC. Exact combos depend on GPU, monitor, and link rate.
- USB-C and Thunderbolt: DP 2.1 video tunnels over Thunderbolt 5 and runs as USB-C DP Alt Mode for single-cable docks and laptops.
- Real devices: DP 2.1 monitors from major brands are on sale, and modern GPUs like AMD RDNA 3 support DP 2.1. Availability is wider than in 2023 but still concentrated in mid to high end gear.
- Three link speeds: UHBR10, UHBR13.5, and UHBR20 let you choose between 40 Gbps, 54 Gbps, or 80 Gbps raw link rates depending on cable and hardware.
- Backward compatible with older DisplayPort versions and cables where supported, and easier cable shopping with DP40 and DP80 labels.
- Still a newer ecosystem, so top-tier monitors and accessories can be pricier than DP 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 options.
DisplayPort 2.1 link rates: UHBR10 to UHBR20
DisplayPort uses four lanes for video and data. Early versions topped out at 10.8 Gbps raw link (HBR). As demand rose, VESA added HBR2 and HBR3. With DP 2.1, the link moved to Ultra-High Bit Rate modes called UHBR10, UHBR13.5, and UHBR20.
| Transmission Mode | Cable label | Total raw bandwidth |
| RBR | — | 6.48 Gbps |
| HBR | — | 10.8 Gbps |
| HBR2 | — | 21.6 Gbps |
| HBR3 | DP8K (legacy) | 32.4 Gbps |
| UHBR10 | DP40 | 40 Gbps |
| UHBR13.5 | DP80 | 54 Gbps |
| UHBR20 | DP80 | 80 Gbps |
Note: UHBR13.5 hardware exists but is less common than DP40 (UHBR10) and DP80 (UHBR20) devices and cables in 2025.
DP 2.1’s higher link rates are only part of the story. It also cuts protocol overhead with a new encoder, which is why it can feed more pixels than older versions at the same nominal “Gbps.”
Why 128b/132b encoding matters
DP 1.x used 8b/10b encoding. For every 8 bits of video data, 2 bits were overhead, so 20 percent of the link was not video. DP 2.1 switches to 128b/132b. It carries 128 bits of data with just 4 bits of overhead, which is about 3 percent. You get more usable video bandwidth from the same raw link, and that translates directly into higher resolutions and refresh rates, or more monitors on a single cable.
Real-world video specs in 2025
With DP 2.1 you can run uncompressed 4K at very high refresh on UHBR links, and go higher still with DSC (Display Stream Compression), which is visually lossless and low-latency. Typical headline examples on capable hardware include:
- Single display: up to 10K at 60 Hz uncompressed, or 16K at 60 Hz with DSC.
- Dual display: up to 8K at 120 Hz with DSC, or high-refresh dual 4K depending on link rate and GPU.
- Triple display: 4K multi-monitor at high refresh with DSC on UHBR links, or very high refresh at lower resolutions.
- USB-C DP Alt Mode (2-lane): fewer lanes than full-size DP, but still supports impressive multi-4K options with DSC on modern laptops and docks.
Support depends on the whole chain: your GPU’s display engine, the cable rating, and the monitor’s inputs. New GPUs such as AMD RDNA 3 advertise DP 2.1, and many 2025 creator and gaming monitors include DP 2.1 inputs. Thunderbolt 5 laptops also carry DP 2.1 video through the same USB-C port that handles data and charging.
DisplayPort certification made simple: DP40 vs DP80
VESA labels DP 2.1 cables by total bandwidth instead of just a version number. That keeps things simple:
- DP40 supports UHBR10 (40 Gbps). Good for most 4K high-refresh and multi-monitor setups with DSC.
- DP80 supports UHBR20 (80 Gbps). Pick this for top-end 4K high-refresh without compromise, multi-8K, and the most demanding creator rigs.
DisplayPort 2.1 vs HDMI 2.1
Both standards are excellent, but they serve slightly different worlds. HDMI 2.1 peaks at 48 Gbps and dominates TVs and living-room gear. DisplayPort 2.1 has higher link rates up to 80 Gbps, supports MST daisy chaining for multi-monitor desks, and appears first on GPUs, monitors, and PC docks. For a single screen on a gaming PC or console, HDMI 2.1 is great. For multi-monitor PC work and the highest refresh 4K and beyond, DP 2.1 is usually the better fit.
How Thunderbolt 5 fits in
Thunderbolt 5 tunnels DisplayPort 2.1, so you can hang high-end displays from a dock while using the same cable for data and charging. TB5 runs at 80 Gbps bi-directional with a Bandwidth Boost mode up to 120 Gbps for displays, which is why many next-gen docks and laptops can handle complex multi-monitor setups from a single USB-C port.
Conclusion
In 2025, DisplayPort 2.1 is the PC-first standard for high-end image quality, extreme refresh, and multi-monitor flexibility. It costs more than older interfaces, but if your work or play leans into 4K high refresh, multi-8K experiments, color-critical grading, or dense productivity walls, DP 2.1 gives you room to grow. For everyone else, DP 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 still deliver great results at friendlier prices. Match the link to your monitor and GPU, choose the right cable label, and you will be set.
