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Outputs for 4k displays

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iostream

n00b
Joined
Jan 2, 2013
Messages
29
Hi guys! I know that currently, 4k monitors consist of two panels stitched together, so to get 60Hz output, you need to use either dual-link HDMI or DP1.2 with MST. This makes scaling impossible. So what happens when native 4k displays are introduced? Specifically:

1) Does DP1.2 support 60Hz 4k output using SST? Or will newer hardware be necessary?

2) Same question as #1, but with Thunderbolt 2. I know Thunderbolt 2 acts "like a DP1.2 port" in certain usage scenarios, but I'm not sure if it has more/less capability as far as 4k output is concerned: will it be able to support native 4k displays at 60Hz, or will I need some new hardware?

3) Does anyone have any idea when graphics cards supporting HDMI 2.0 might come out? Is it known if Maxwell supports it?
 
From what I've heard, the whole 30Hz limit for SST is based on the chips inside of the monitors and is not a limit of DP 1.2 itself. More or less, the chips don't have the power for 60Hz in SST mode.
 
Right now almost nothing supports HDMI 2.0, although some of that will change in the next 2-3 months. Several of the major A/V manufacturers have their 2014 TV's and A/V receivers on the way that will support it. A few others are even claiming that older hardware can support it with a firmware upgrade, although I assume that will be only the most basic compatibility.
We're stuck in 4K/HDMI 2 limbo right now.
 
I think I've figured question #1 out, and the answer is yes. VESA's own website has the following slides detailing the capabilities of DP1.2: www.vesa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/DisplayPort-DevCon-Presentation-DP-1.2-Dec-2010-rev-2b.pdf

Slide 11 says that 4k displays have "full support" in DP v1.2, which I assume means 60Hz (and it even indicates 30 bits per pixel!), and slide 12 explicitly says that at 60Hz, DP1.2 has the bandwidth for 4 1080p monitors at 60Hz, which is the same as 4k at 60Hz.

As for Thunderbolt 2, even though mini-DP1.2 is known to be limited to WQXGA, it seems like it should support 4k at 60Hz a) because the 20 Gbps bandwidth is even larger than DP1.2, and b) Apple would not be marketing the Mac Pro for driving multiple 4K displays if they didn't believe it could achieve the standard 60Hz refresh rate.
 
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