DisplayPort extenders and switches are rapidly becoming the industry standard for extension of audio and video production as well as in personal computing graphics. The most current evolution of this cutting-edge technology is marked by recent advances in DisplayPort technology that give all DisplayPort extenders the highest bandwidth on the market of any available audio/video repeater- whether DVI, or HDMI extender technology.
DisplayPort extenders are poised to take audio and video signal data further, faster, at a higher resolution, and with less signal loss than ever before! This means that DVI and HDMI extenders are possibly reaching the end of their product life-cycles.
DisplayPort Achieves 70% Greater Bandwidth over HDMI Switch/HDMI Extender Options
DisplayPort extenders are capable of carrying more bandwidth than any other legacy DVI or HDMI extender options available, up to 17.28 gigabits per second (gb/s) in the current generation, 70% greater bandwidth than the highest generation HDMI switch specifications. DVI components face the limitation. Even the value-oriented first generation DisplayPort standard is capable of delivering speeds up to 8.64 gb/s.
DVI and HDMI Extenders Have Lower Bandwidth
By comparison, the final generation HDMI extender has a maximum throughput of 10.2 gb/s, and the value-oriented first generation HDMI extender specification tops out at just 4.95 gb/s. Value-oriented first generation single link DVI cable is also limited to only 4.95 gb/s. The most expensive dual link DVI extenders are capable of data transfer at maximum speeds of 9.9 gb/s, whereas single link DVI cable is even slower. Value-oriented single link DVI cable is limited to only 4.95 gb/s. DVI and HDMI switch speeds are identical.
DisplayPort: Most Recently Updated, Here to Stay
Second generation DisplayPort 1.1a was released in November 11, 2009. Second generation HDMI was released on June 22, 2006. The HDMI switch is unlikely to receive any major upgrades in the near future due to initial bandwidth and technical design parameters. The same goes for HDMI extender technology.
Perhaps most unfortunately for DVI technology die-hards, the consortium of tech companies that first came together to establish the DVI standard has since disbanded. There will be no future updates to DVI.
DisplayPort Primary Features
DisplayPort 1.1a has all the great technical specifications of DisplayPort 1.0, but with perhaps the greatest advantage over legacy HDMI switch and DVI switch support- DisplayPort is designed to carry audio and video signal over fiber optic. A DisplayPort fiber optic switch should outperform a typical DVI or HDMI switch.
What this means is that for the first time ever, production companies and techno geeks alike are now able to enjoy sending audio and video signals over long distances with minimal signal degradation. While typical HDMI switch and HDMI extender brands pay a royalty fee to the licensor, DisplayPort is an open license technology, (with the exception of HDCP digital rights management), and is royalty free.
DisplayPort Becomes New Graphic Standard
Graphics standards in video cards and monitor displays are migrating rapidly towards DisplayPort due to its billing as the highest bandwidth and most current technology. By 2013, many of the world’s primary computer vendors and display makers including AMD, Dell, Intel, Lenovo, LG, and Samsung will feature DisplayPort as their primary audio and video display technology, with HDMI offered as a legacy carryover. This may buy time for HDMI extender and HDMI switch makers, but DVI vendors will be out of luck.
Many other industry heavyweights including computer vendors- Apple, Acer, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba; and graphics and display makers- Asus, ATI, Matrox, NEC, NVidia, Pioneer, Philips, RealTek, and Viewsonic have already started retailing dozens of new products utilizing the new DisplayPort standard.