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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 4K 144Hz possible over HDMI 2.0?
No, not in full quality. HDMI 2.0 provides 18 Gbps of bandwidth, but 4K (3840×2160) at 144Hz with 8-bit 4:4:4 color requires approximately 43 Gbps. Even with 4:2:0 chroma subsampling at 8-bit, the requirement drops to roughly 21.6 Gbps — still over HDMI 2.0’s limit. You need HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps) or DisplayPort 1.4 (25.92 Gbps effective with DSC) for 4K 144Hz.
What is the actual video bandwidth of DisplayPort 1.4?
DisplayPort 1.4 uses four lanes at 8.1 Gbps each, giving a raw link rate of 32.4 Gbps. After 8b/10b line coding overhead (20% loss), the usable video bandwidth is approximately 25.92 Gbps. This is sufficient for 4K at 120Hz with 10-bit 4:4:4 without compression, and for 4K at 144Hz with Display Stream Compression (DSC) enabled.
What is DSC and does it reduce image quality?
Display Stream Compression (DSC) is a VESA-defined visually lossless compression standard that typically achieves a 3:1 ratio. It is block-based with adaptive quantization, and under normal viewing conditions artifacts are not detectable. ‘Visually lossless’ is a technical classification meaning differences cannot be identified in a standardized viewing test. However, DSC requires hardware support in both the GPU and the monitor — a cable alone cannot enable it.
Why does my HDMI 2.1 cable not work at 48 Gbps?
Not all HDMI 2.1 cables are rated for the full 48 Gbps. The HDMI 2.1 specification defines cable categories: Standard, High Speed, Premium High Speed (18 Gbps), and Ultra High Speed (48 Gbps). Only cables certified as ‘Ultra High Speed HDMI’ support 48 Gbps. Budget cables with HDMI 2.1-style connectors may only carry 18 Gbps, capping you at HDMI 2.0 performance.
How does chroma subsampling affect bandwidth and image quality?
Chroma subsampling reduces the color resolution relative to luma. 4:4:4 carries full color data per pixel. 4:2:2 halves horizontal color resolution, reducing bandwidth by about 33%. 4:2:0 halves both horizontal and vertical color resolution, reducing bandwidth by 50%. Text sharpness and UI elements can visibly degrade with 4:2:0, which is why PC monitor users prefer 4:4:4 even when it requires a higher-spec cable.