Bandwidth Calculator
Check if your HDMI or DisplayPort cable supports your desired resolution and refresh rate
| Interface | Max Bandwidth | Max Resolution @60Hz | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI 1.4 | 10.2 Gbps | 4K @30Hz | ARC, 3D |
| HDMI 2.0 | 18 Gbps | 4K @60Hz | HDR10, HLG |
| HDMI 2.1 | 48 Gbps | 10K @60Hz | VRR, DSC, eARC |
| DP 1.2 | 17.28 Gbps | 4K @60Hz | MST, 3D |
| DP 1.4 | 25.92 Gbps | 8K @30Hz | HDR10, DSC |
| DP 2.0 | 77.37 Gbps | 16K @60Hz | UHBR 20 |
| DP 2.1 | 77.37 Gbps | 16K @60Hz | UHBR 20, tunneling |
Select Resolution
Choose a preset resolution from the dropdown or enter custom dimensions. Common options include 1080p (1920×1080), 1440p (2560×1440), 4K (3840×2160), and ultrawide formats like 3440×1440. The preset will automatically fill in the width and height fields.
Set Refresh Rate
Select your target refresh rate. Higher refresh rates require more bandwidth. 60Hz is standard for general use, 144Hz is popular for gaming, and 240Hz+ is for competitive esports. Remember: your cable must support the full bandwidth.
Choose Color Settings
Color Depth: 8-bit for SDR content, 10-bit for HDR (recommended), 12-bit for professional work. Chroma Subsampling: 4:4:4 provides full color accuracy, while 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 reduce bandwidth at the cost of color precision.
Check Cable Compatibility
Review the results to see which HDMI and DisplayPort versions support your configuration. OK means native support, DSC means Display Stream Compression is required (both GPU and monitor must support it), and NO means that cable version cannot handle the bandwidth.
Understand the Results
The required bandwidth is shown in Gbps (gigabits per second). Compare this to the maximum bandwidth of your cable. If your configuration requires DSC, make sure your hardware supports it. For the best experience, choose a cable with headroom above your required bandwidth.
Pro Tip: When buying cables, always check the actual specification, not just the connector type. An HDMI cable with an HDMI 2.1 connector doesn’t guarantee 48 Gbps support—look for “Ultra High Speed HDMI” certification. For DisplayPort, check for VESA certification matching your required bandwidth.
Bandwidth Formula
Required bandwidth is calculated as: Width × Height × Refresh × BPP. BPP (bits per pixel) = color depth × channels, adjusted for chroma subsampling.
Chroma Subsampling
4:4:4 sends full color data. 4:2:2 reduces chroma by 33%, and 4:2:0 by 50%. Lower subsampling saves bandwidth but may affect color accuracy.
DSC Compression
Display Stream Compression (DSC) uses visually lossless compression at ~3:1 ratio. Enables high refresh rates over limited bandwidth but requires hardware support on both ends.
HDMI vs DisplayPort
HDMI dominates TVs and consoles with ARC/eARC audio support. DisplayPort leads in PC monitors with daisy-chaining (MST) and generally higher bandwidth.