Display-Port-DP-Adapters-HDMI-DVI-Cables

So there's a new cable on the block. I know, I know. For those of you that have a cable phobia, that is the last thing that you want to hear. But, like it or not, you need to get familiar with Display Port (DP) cables.


Display Port is a new technology along the lines of USB and HDMI, and can be found on Dell laptop computers as well as other devices. It is used for a display output - like a DVI, VGA, or HDMI. It is a high-quality digital signal, along the lines of HDMI, and can carry data, along the lines of USB for smart communication between devices and the computer.


Here is the official website: http://www.displayport.org/

And here is their logo

Yes, it looks like HDMI and USB, so there will be confusion. Here is an image of the connector:

You can buy adapters that go from DP to HDMI and from DP to DVI. Find them at http://www.whatacable.com/

DP supports all the latest graphics requirements and is much smaller than the DVI connector and there are no pins to break like on the VGA connector. The real question is, "Will it compete well with the HDMI connection that is now also being found on laptop computers and is the dominant connection on HDTVs?" It's a hard sell, but there are some big names backing the DP technology, so for us cable companies, we get to sell lots of cross-technology adapters.

To make things more confusing, can you guess who has their own DP that is different from the standard DP? Yeah, of course. Apple is using a "mini-display-port". The Mini-DP was first publicly announced Oct. 14, 2008. It is better than the Mini-DVI that has been a common display connector on Apple computers, but the Mini-DP will handle resolutions up to 2560x1600, commonly used with 30-inch displays.

HDMI is the de facto standard for high-resolution displays and HDTVs. Do we need both? Or will one go the way of the Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD?

According to Brian O’Rourke, principal analyst for In-Stat, although manufacturers will ship limited amounts of DisplayPort-enabled products during 2008, shipments will grow to more than 600 million units in 2012.

There is a great article going more in detail on the technical differences, so I won't re-hash it all. I'll just point you to it. http://www.edn.com/article/CA6594089.html

So just as HDMI looked like it might bridge the gap between PCs and Consumer Electronics, the DP might become the de facto PC display connection by 2012, replacing the VGA and DVI ports. This is good news because more and more people are using their PC to watch TV, and the Analog VGA connection is not compatible with the Digital HDMI signal (although you can find converter boxes from VGA to HDMI). It looks like the the battle royale is about to begin, and we may just end up with both technologies on each PC. Apple... well they'll do whatever they want.

Until next time

The Cable Guy