Disclaimer: this text consists of sponsored promotion, however all content material, opinions and commentary are our personal. This refers back to the inclusion of varied MSI displays and GPU’s on this article and the accompanying video for testing and demonstration, in addition to inclusion of Silkland’s 2m DP 2.1 cable
Introduction
Right this moment we’re going to be taking an in depth take a look at varied updates and enhancements to DisplayPort 2.1, and perform a load of testing utilizing a contemporary DP 2.1-capable graphics card and varied DP 2.1 succesful displays which were launched. We’ll take a look at the advantages of utilizing DP 2.1, together with how one can get a few of these advantages even when you’ve acquired an older DP 1.4 monitor! You possibly can open up entry to some options and capabilities you would possibly in any other case have been lacking even on these older displays.
We’ll additionally present varied updates on enhancements to DP 2.1 graphics playing cards and cables. Loads of information and updates to share immediately so you possibly can think about whether or not DP 2.1 goes to be vital to you to your subsequent show buy.
Video Model of this Article
If you happen to would like to observe a brief video model of this content material, you are able to do utilizing the hyperlink above.
3 Totally different Screens Used for this Testing
We’ll make an assumption right here that you’re aware of what DP 2.1 is, what it affords, the varied phrases (like UHBR for instance) and the varied bandwidth tiers obtainable. If you happen to’re unfamiliar with any of that, and likewise wish to know in regards to the varied challenges with adoption and certification for DP2.1, take a look at our video right here for hundreds extra information.
To make this testing doable, MSI kindly despatched us out 3 of their latest QD-OLED displays, two of which have DisplayPort 2.1 and assist the complete UHBR20 80Gbps bandwidth. In addition they despatched us a 32” OLED monitor with DisplayPort 1.4 so we are able to check that alongside.
There’s the MPG 272URX QD-OLED monitor which we reviewed not too long ago. That is their first 27″-sized QD-OLED monitor with a 3840 x 2160 “4K” decision, mixed with a 240Hz refresh charge. It affords a considerably elevated pixel density of round 166 PPI, offering a super-sharp and clear picture for gaming, multimedia and workplace purposes. This helps remove any lingering textual content readability issues as properly which is nice information.
It affords a well-recognized function set for different MSI QD-OLED displays together with their newest OLED Care 2.0 options, a customized heatsink for cooling, and together with the full-speed UHBR20 DisplayPort 2.1 connection there are 2x HDMI 2.1 and 1x USB type-C (with DP Alt mode and 98W energy supply) connections offered.
We’ve additionally acquired the not too long ago launched 32” 4K 240Hz MPG 322URX, which is an replace to their very fashionable MPG 321URX monitor we reviewed final yr, now simply including a full-speed UHBR20 DP 2.1 connection. The underlying panel and the remainder of the spec stay the identical, and it was already a superb OLED monitor anyway, however when you’ve acquired an applicable DP 2.1-capable graphics card and desire a show that options this connection, that is one other glorious possibility within the MSI OLED vary.
Lastly there’s additionally the MPG 321URXW which is identical display because the MPG 321URX we reviewed, simply in a white end which is fairly uncommon these days however appears very good. It even comes with all white cables and equipment so when you’ve acquired a white case and PC setup, and desire a modern wanting monitor to match, it is a nice possibility.
This explicit mannequin nonetheless has an older DisplayPort 1.4 connection (with DSC), however the causes for together with this within the testing will grow to be clear later. We’ll discuss much more later about how one can get some DP 2.1-associated advantages in your DP 1.4 monitor!
So, we’ve acquired 2 MSI QD-OLED displays which have DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 connections, and one with the older DisplayPort 1.4 connection and DSC.
DisplayPort 2.1 Cabling replace – longer cables now obtainable
Again in September final yr we talked in regards to the issues with DisplayPort 2.1 cables, and on the time when you wanted a cable to assist the complete UHBR20 80Gbps speeds (aka a “DP80” cable), the overwhelming majority of cables you may purchase had been solely 1m in size, a couple of reaching as much as 1.2m most when you had been fortunate.
If you happen to’ve purchased any of the brand new OLED displays that assist this top-tier UHBR20 bandwidth then you definately’ll discover the offered cable within the field normally measures solely 1m. An instance of the DP80 cable shipped with MSI’s MPG 272URX monitor is proven above, measuring solely 1m in size. This isn’t very lengthy and doesn’t offer you a lot selection in the place your PC case and monitor are positioned, they must be fairly shut to at least one one other for it to succeed in.
This was a giant restriction within the early days of DP 2.1 adoption, however fortunately the state of affairs has improved rather a lot within the final 6 months, with loads of UHBR20 licensed cables obtainable now that are longer than this, generally 1.5m or 1.8m. Some passive DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 cables may even attain 2m now in truth, and you’ll find a couple of choices listed on the VESA licensed cables database now.
Silkland had been one of many first to launch an authorized 2m lengthy cable and theirs was the primary obtainable on Amazon (affiliate hyperlink), and so they’ve kindly despatched us their S1334 2m DisplayPort 2.1 DP80 cable so we are able to use it in our testing. If you happen to’ve acquired a brand new DP 2.1 graphics card and a appropriate monitor, however you want one thing longer than the brief cable offered by the monitor producer, you should purchase the Silkland 2m DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20 cable under on Amazon (affiliate hyperlink):
The cable itself has gold-plated connectors, an aluminium shell and a sturdy nylon braided cable so it appears sensible and may final a very long time. At 2m size it must be lengthy sufficient for most individuals, and so with these cables now available, the DisplayPort 2.1 cable drawback appears to be resolved fortunately.
If you happen to don’t have a correct DP 2.1 cable or use an outdated DP 1.4 cable you will discover you might be restricted to the settings you possibly can choose, or you might not get a sign in any respect in some conditions. Be sure you purchase a correct licensed DP 2.1 cable, as listed on the DisplayPort database, for the bandwidth tier you want if in case you have a succesful graphics card and monitor.
If both your graphics card or your monitor is DP 1.4 then you definately solely want an older, decrease price DP 1.4 cable, there’s no want or profit in having a DP 2.1 cable except each ends of the hyperlink are DP 2.1.
NVIDIA DP 2.1 Graphics Playing cards Now Accessible
MSI additionally despatched us a brand new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card for our testing which is a part of the brand new NVIDIA RTX 50 collection that lastly added DP 2.1 connectivity when it was launched earlier this yr. All of the RTX 50 collection playing cards have DP 2.1 now with the complete UHBR20 bandwidth (80 Gbps), whereas all earlier NVIDIA playing cards solely featured DP 1.4 on the most.
This implies you possibly can lastly reap the benefits of shows that function this connection, and also will have the ability to energy future shows which have specs past the capabilities of DP 1.4 altogether. It should additionally provide help to drive fashionable monitor specs just like the 4K 240Hz panels used on this article, as you want a robust GPU and system to drive that form of top-end configuration.
Points with DisplayPort 1.4 and DSC Explored
There have been varied points and complaints about displays that depend on the earlier DisplayPort 1.4 connections and we’ll try to take a look at every of these right here.
To energy many fashionable monitor specs like 4K 240Hz as an illustration and the opposite examples proven above, displays and graphics playing cards with DP 1.4 use a compression function referred to as DSC, or Show Stream Compression. Whereas it is a compressed video sign, it offers what’s promoted as a “visually lossless” compression and so nearly all of folks shouldn’t see any visible distinction between a monitor which makes use of DSC, and one which doesn’t. In all our testing of contemporary high-end displays, we’ve by no means seen any visible points with people who use DSC ourselves. We’ve by no means seen DSC add any significant or measurable lag both for avid gamers, so there is no such thing as a concern there based mostly on all our testing.
Nevertheless, for DP 1.4 connections when DSC is used, it generally causes points and restricts entry to sure settings and options
NVIDIA Customized Resolutions and DSR / DLDSR Help
Firstly when you’re an NVIDIA graphics card consumer, you’ll usually discover that the flexibility to create customized resolutions from the NVIDIA management panel is greyed out, and maybe extra importantly for some folks, you usually lose entry to NVIDIA DSR and DLDSR decision upscaling applied sciences that may assist enhance picture element in video games. This isn’t at all times the case because it’s linked to the one show head restrict of the earlier gen NVIDIA graphics playing cards, not particularly to using DSC. For a lot of of those excessive finish displays a number of show heads had been mixed to energy the configuration and that resulted within the lack of varied options.
It does fluctuate generally between totally different displays, however more often than not what we’ve seen from our testing is that these options should not obtainable when utilizing DP 1.4 and DSC, and it’s an affordable rule of thumb to make use of for ease right here. For instance above is the MSI MPG 321URXW (the mannequin with DP 1.4 solely) the place these options should not obtainable.
Disabling DSC from the on display menu provides you entry to them, however solely at a considerably decrease decision and refresh charge mixture and decreased color ranges sadly which hardly appears price it. On this occasion you possibly can solely run at 120Hz most refresh charge and with 4:2:2 chroma so it’s a significant drop within the spec.
If you happen to purchase a DP 2.1 monitor however nonetheless have a DP 1.4 graphics card, nothing adjustments. The graphics card output continues to be your bottleneck there. Right here we’ve related the MSI MPG 322URX (with DP 2.1) to a DP 1.4 GPU however nonetheless don’t have entry to these options.
Getting and uncompressed end-to-end sign
If then again you will have a DP 2.1 finish to finish connection (MSI MPG 322URX + MSI RTX 5090 GPU), with the mandatory UHBR bandwidth, it would let you energy these fashionable specs with out DSC being wanted in any respect which might keep away from any compression altogether and supply an uncompressed video sign. That offers you full entry to customized resolutions and options like DSR and DLDSR.
Methods to get lacking options in your DP 1.4 monitor
Apparently and fairly surprisingly you possibly can really open up entry to those options on an older DP 1.4 monitor, the place beforehand they weren’t accessible.
If you happen to improve your GPU to a GeForce RTX 50 collection then these options grow to be obtainable even on these older connection displays. NVIDIA have doubled the utmost pixel charge of the show head so now many extra monitor configurations can match inside a single show head, which in flip permits assist for these beforehand lacking options.
As an illustration right here on the MPG 321URXW which solely has a DP 1.4 connection, you possibly can see that when it’s related to a brand new RTX 50 with DP 2.1, these options are actually obtainable! We checked this on varied top-end spec displays with DP 1.4 connections and located the identical factor on all of them. The entire RTX 50 playing cards provide this as properly, you don’t should have an RTX 5090 for this – we additionally examined it on an RTX 5070 as an illustration.
You don’t should have a DP 2.1 monitor to get entry to those options, they’re obtainable because of the additional energy of the RTX 50 playing cards.
Gradual Alt+ tabbing
One criticism typically made about displays which use DP 1.4 and DSC is that it may be sluggish to Alt + tab out of video games when operating in unique full display mode, typically resulting in a black display for a number of seconds or generally longer. This may additionally affect issues like enabling HDR or altering some monitor settings like turning VRR on and off as an illustration too.
This concern does appear to affect NVIDIA playing cards greater than AMD, and like the provision of DSR and DLDSR options it’s not particularly associated to using DSC per se, it’s associated to the one head restrict of the GPU and the way top-end monitor specs are dealt with.
We gathered a lot of suggestions from Reddit to grasp the most recent on this case, thanks to everybody who offered enter there. Right here’s a abstract what we discovered:
- The problem appears to solely apply to NVIDIA GPU’s, with suggestions for AMD GPU’s excellent
- The problems appear to be fairly blended, particularly on older DP 1.4 graphics playing cards and displays
- A Home windows 11 24H2 replace final yr was designed to assist repair the problem and appears to have helped in some conditions though opinions are different. Ensuring you’re on the most recent Home windows 11 construct is actually worthwhile although
- Many customers report that after they upgraded their GPU to a brand new RTX 50 collection card, their points improved or went away.
- If in case you have a DP 2.1 monitor and graphics card and might run with a DSC-free picture utterly, there appears to be no points in any respect. That is another excuse to think about a full DP 2.1 system maybe.
- For lots of people who nonetheless have issues, together with these on DP1.4 methods, enjoying in windowed borderless mode appears to largely repair the problem too as a substitute of operating in full display unique mode.
A Home windows 11 replace final yr aimed to assist tackle this concern.
This one is a bit tough to present a definitive view on as there’s loads of totally different system mixtures and loads of totally different video games and purposes to think about, however it does appear from consumer suggestions that upgrading to an RTX 50 can enhance issues, even on DP 1.4 displays. Bypassing DSC utterly by utilizing a DP 2.1 monitor and graphics card additionally appears to generally repair the problem so both method there’s a superb purpose to undertake DP 2.1 when you discover this problematic.
Abstract
So to summarise, if in case you have a top-end DP 1.4 monitor and an NVIDIA DP 1.4 graphics card the place DSC is required, you might be usually going to be lacking some common NVIDIA options and should expertise bugs like sluggish alt + tabbing or lengthy black screens when popping out of video games or altering settings.
If you happen to preserve the identical DP 1.4 monitor however replace to a brand new NVIDIA RTX 50 graphics card you possibly can open up entry to these options and enhance consumer expertise despite the fact that DSC continues to be getting used in order that’s an amazing profit right away while not having to interchange your monitor.
If you would like a totally uncompressed video sign and wish to keep away from DSC utilization altogether now you can purchase loads of DP 2.1 graphics playing cards and displays to permit that. Simply be sure to pay attention to the UHBR speeds, look out for producers like MSI who’re clear in regards to the specs used and supply top-end UHBR assist, and make sure you purchase your self a brand new DP 2.1 licensed cable like the brand new 2m cables supplied from Silkland linked under.
You possibly can examine pricing and purchase the varied displays, GPU’s and cables used on this article right here:
We might earn a fee if you are going to buy from our affiliate hyperlinks on this article- TFTCentral is a participant within the Amazon Companies LLC Associates Programme, an affiliate promoting programme designed to supply a method for websites to earn promoting charges by promoting and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.ca and different Amazon shops worldwide. We additionally take part in the same scheme for Overclockers.co.uk, Newegg, Bestbuy , B&H and a few producers.
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