Display bandwidth calculator
Check whether your HDMI or DisplayPort cable and GPU can carry a given resolution, refresh rate, color depth and chroma subsampling.
Required bandwidth
Required bandwidth
-Gbps
- HDMI 1.4 (10.2 Gbps)
- -
- HDMI 2.0 (18 Gbps)
- -
- HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps)
- -
- DisplayPort 1.2 (17.28 Gbps)
- -
- DisplayPort 1.4 (25.92 Gbps)
- -
- DisplayPort 2.0/2.1 (77.37 Gbps)
- -
DSC (Display Stream Compression) must be supported by both your GPU and monitor to reach this configuration on that interface.
Interface specifications
| Interface | Max bandwidth | Max resolution at 60 Hz | Notable features |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI 1.4 | 10.2 Gbps | 4K at 30 Hz | ARC, 3D |
| HDMI 2.0 | 18 Gbps | 4K at 60 Hz | HDR10, HLG |
| HDMI 2.1 | 48 Gbps | 10K at 60 Hz | VRR, DSC, eARC |
| DisplayPort 1.2 | 17.28 Gbps | 4K at 60 Hz | MST, 3D |
| DisplayPort 1.4 | 25.92 Gbps | 8K at 30 Hz | HDR10, DSC |
| DisplayPort 2.0/2.1 | 77.37 Gbps | 16K at 60 Hz | UHBR 20, tunneling |
How it works
Display interface bandwidth is the total data throughput, measured in Gbps, needed to carry uncompressed video at a given resolution, refresh rate, color depth and chroma subsampling over HDMI or DisplayPort. The formula is width times height times refresh times bits per pixel, adjusted for chroma subsampling.
- Pick a resolution
Choose a preset or type a custom width and height.
- Set refresh rate and color
Higher refresh rates and full 4:4:4 chroma need more bandwidth.
- Check the cables
Pass means native support; DSC means compression is required on both ends; a missing row means that interface cannot carry it.
The bandwidth formula
Gbps = (width × height × refresh × bpp) ÷ 1,000,000,000
Bits per pixel (bpp) is color depth times 3 channels times the chroma multiplier: 1 for 4:4:4, about 0.667 for 4:2:2, and 0.5 for 4:2:0. For 2560x1440 at 144 Hz, 10-bit, 4:4:4: bpp is 10 × 3 × 1 = 30, so bandwidth is 2560 × 1440 × 144 × 30 ÷ 1e9, about 15.93 Gbps.
Chroma subsampling
4:4:4 sends full color data for every pixel. 4:2:2 halves horizontal color resolution, cutting bandwidth by about a third. 4:2:0 halves both directions, cutting bandwidth by half. Text and UI edges can visibly soften at 4:2:0, which is why PC monitor users usually prefer 4:4:4 even when it needs a higher-spec cable.
DSC compression
Display Stream Compression (DSC) is a VESA visually lossless standard that typically reaches about a 3 to 1 ratio. It lets a cable carry configurations beyond its raw bandwidth, but only when both the GPU and the monitor support it; the cable alone cannot enable it.
Not every cable with the right connector reaches the rated speed
An HDMI cable with an HDMI 2.1-style connector does not guarantee 48 Gbps; look for "Ultra High Speed HDMI" certification. For DisplayPort, look for VESA certification that matches the bandwidth you need.
Frequently asked questions
Is 4K 144Hz possible over HDMI 2.0?
No, not in full quality. HDMI 2.0 provides 18 Gbps, but 4K (3840x2160) at 144Hz with 8-bit 4:4:4 color needs about 43 Gbps. Even at 4:2:0 chroma and 8-bit, the requirement is about 21.6 Gbps, still over HDMI 2.0's limit. You need HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps) or DisplayPort 1.4 (25.92 Gbps, 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, for a raw link rate of 32.4 Gbps. After 8b/10b line coding overhead (a 20% loss), usable video bandwidth is about 25.92 Gbps. That is enough for 4K at 120Hz with 10-bit 4:4:4 uncompressed, 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 visually lossless compression standard that typically reaches a 3 to 1 ratio. It is block based with adaptive quantization, and under normal viewing conditions artifacts are not detectable in standardized tests. 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 specification defines several cable categories, and only cables certified as "Ultra High Speed HDMI" support 48 Gbps. A budget cable with an HDMI 2.1-style connector may only carry 18 Gbps, capping you at HDMI 2.0 performance.
How does chroma subsampling affect bandwidth and image quality?
Chroma subsampling reduces color resolution relative to brightness. 4:4:4 carries full color data per pixel. 4:2:2 halves horizontal color resolution, cutting bandwidth by about 33%. 4:2:0 halves both horizontal and vertical color resolution, cutting bandwidth by 50%. Text sharpness and UI edges can visibly degrade at 4:2:0, which is why PC monitor users tend to prefer 4:4:4 even when it needs a higher-spec cable.