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DisplayPort Wiring
What Is DisplayPort?
DisplayPort is an interface specification originally designed to carry video signals from a source to a display device, such as between a computer and a monitor or projector. It can also carry other data, for example audio, USB, and custom data formats.
DisplayPort is used extensively by Apple, and carries multiple types of data on its Thunderbolt ports.
DisplayPort Leads
There is a common misconception that there are different versions of DisplayPort leads for compatibility with specification version 1.1 or 1.2. In fact, there is no such thing as a DisplayPort 1.1 or DisplayPort 1.2 cable – a standard DisplayPort cable is quite capable of handling any DisplayPort configuration, including features such as 4k and multi-stream that were introduced with version 1.2. All standard DisplayPort cables can handle RBR, HBR (High Bit Rate) and HBR 2 (High Bit Rate 2), and can support up to four 1080p displays using multi-stream or 4K resolution at 60Hz.
In common with other digital cable formats such as HDMI and DVI, many retailers try to take advantage of customers by selling them more expensive leads on the basis that they will give better results. This is simply untrue! Digital formats transfer data in packets, so those packets either get to the end of the cable or they don’t. As long as the cable meets or exceeds the specification and the packets get to the end of the cable, the results will be pristine, regardless of how much you paid for it.
Obviously, if you purchase a rubbish cable that does not meet the specification then you could suffer data errors or obvious corruption of audio or video data. Avoid anything that is ridiculously cheap, or marked as RBR (Reduced Bit Rate), since these only support up to a single 1080p connection.
As you might expect, Leads Direct sells a range of high quality DisplayPort leads and cables that represent fabulous value for money.
DisplayPort Connectors
Following the release of the DisplayPort 1.2 specification there are now two different types of DisplayPort connector, and a third that is now well overdue:
| Type | Image | Description | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DisplayPort | The standard DisplayPort connector has 20 pins.
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| Mini DisplayPort | Mini DisplayPort has 20 pins in a smaller housing. The connector sizes are as follows:
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| Micro DisplayPort | This even smaller version of the connector was expected to ship in 2014, but at the time of writing has yet to be released. | |||||||||
The DisplayPort standard requires that all connectors are over moulded, that is to say that a moulding machine has to be used to manufacture DisplayPort cables and there are no rewireable connectors generally available to allow the manufacture of individual custom DisplayPort cables in unusual lengths or formats.
Adapting to Other Formats
The DisplayPort format can be converted using cables and adaptors to fit HDMI, DVI, or SVGA legacy formats.
Making Your Own DisplayPort Leads
Because of the requirements of the specification, and the fact that there are no rewireable connectors generally available, making your own DisplayPort leads is not really a practical proposition. The connector parts may be available, but without the over moulding there is no way to provide strain relief or shielding at the point of connection. However, having custom leads made for you is a possibility, as long as you need large quantities.
Custom DisplayPort Leads
Custom DisplayPort leads and cables would have to be made in a specialised factory using very expensive machinery that takes a lot of time and skill to set up for each run, and therefore there is typically a large MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) of between 1,000 and 10,000 pieces to allow for that cost to be spread over the cable run. The alternative is a VERY expensive custom cable! DisplayPort cables are typically manufactured in the Far East, and at the time of writing there are no manufacturing facilities for these cables within the EU, so the lead time for custom cables is typically 8 to 13 weeks.
If you are interested in investigating the possibility of having custom DisplayPort cables made to your own specification, please see our Custom Leads page or contact us for advice and assistance.
DisplayPort Pinout
The cables are normally wired as follows:
| Pin 1 | ML_Lane 0 (p) | Lane 0 (positive) |
|---|---|---|
| Pin 2 | GND | Ground |
| Pin 3 | ML_Lane 0 (n) | Lane 0 (negative) |
| Pin 4 | ML_Lane 1 (p) | Lane 1 (positive) |
| Pin 5 | GND | Ground |
| Pin 6 | ML_Lane 1 (n) | Lane 1 (negative) |
| Pin 7 | ML_Lane 2 (p) | Lane 2 (positive) |
| Pin 8 | GND | Ground |
| Pin 9 | ML_Lane 2 (n) | Lane 2 (negative) |
| Pin 10 | ML_Lane 3 (p) | Lane 3 (positive) |
| Pin 11 | GND | Ground |
| Pin 12 | ML_Lane 3 (n) | Lane 3 (negative) |
| Pin 13 | CONFIG1 | connected to Ground1) |
| Pin 14 | CONFIG2 | connected to Ground1) |
| Pin 15 | AUX CH (p) | Auxiliary Channel (positive) |
| Pin 16 | GND | Ground |
| Pin 17 | AUX CH (n) | Auxiliary Channel (negative) |
| Pin 18 | Hot Plug | Hot Plug Detect |
| Pin 19 | Return | Return for Power |
| Pin 20 | DP_PWR | Power for connector (3.3 V 500 mA) |
Leads Direct makes great efforts to provide accurate and complete information. However, portions of the information contained in this website and any documents viewed on it or downloaded from it may be incorrect or not current. Any errors or omissions should be reported for investigation and correction. The information provided in any documents whether on our website or otherwise is provided "as is." No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given.
