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Does 5K2K at 165Hz need DisplayPort 2.1? Bandwidth and DSC guide

By TechCompare · Updated · How we check

Yes, on DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR 20 the mode runs uncompressed at 60.2 Gbps. On UHBR 13.5 the answer depends on bit depth: 8-bit fits, 10-bit needs DSC.

Interface Bandwidth Analysis

See how much uncompressed and compressed bandwidth this resolution and refresh rate mode demands, compared to HDMI and DisplayPort connections.

Uncompressed Signal60.2 Gbps
With Display Stream Compression (DSC)16.0 Gbps

DSC uses visually lossless 3-to-1 compression, shrinking the required bandwidth so it fits through older cables.

Display Connection Reference
HDMI 2.0
14.4 Gbps
Not supported
HDMI 2.1 48G
42.6 Gbps
DSC required
HDMI 2.2 96G
85.3 Gbps
Native support
DP 1.4
25.9 Gbps
DSC required
DP 2.1b UHBR 20
77.4 Gbps
Native support
Other connections

Assumes display traffic only and four DisplayPort lanes for USB-C. USB4 and Thunderbolt figures are for one DisplayPort stream.

USB-C DP 1.4
25.9 Gbps
DSC required
Thunderbolt 5
77.4 Gbps
Native support
USB4 v2 80G / 120G
77.4 Gbps
Native support
Display Mode: 5120 × 2160 @ 165 Hz
Color depth: 10-bit 4:4:4
This exact 5120×2160 @ 165 Hz signal, pre-loaded. Swap the resolution, refresh, or chroma, or compare two modes.
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5K2K is the name for 5120×2160. At 165 Hz with 10-bit 4:4:4 HDR, the mode needs 60.2 Gbps. That's 78% of DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR 20's 77.37 Gbps effective rate, so UHBR 20 runs it uncompressed. On UHBR 13.5 the answer changes with bit depth, as covered below.

Cables for your display settings

HDMI and DisplayPort cable options for these settings. Choose the connectors your devices support.

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Both device ports must support the required display mode. A cable won't upgrade a port. Options marked DSC require compression support on both devices.

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How this is calculated

On UHBR 20 the mode runs uncompressed with 17.2 Gbps to spare. Uncompressed, this link carries the mode up to 207 Hz. The cable and both ports need to support UHBR 20 to use that rate. UHBR 13.5 (52.22 Gbps) is the in-between tier. At 10-bit 4:4:4 the mode needs DSC, but at 8-bit 4:4:4 it needs 48.1 Gbps and fits uncompressed. Bit depth is the setting that decides it. HDMI 2.1 (42.6 Gbps) and DisplayPort 1.4 (25.92 Gbps) both need DSC at 10-bit, which compresses the mode to about 16.0 Gbps. A 96 Gbps HDMI 2.2 port also carries the 10-bit mode uncompressed, with an Ultra96 HDMI Cable.

Verdict

Choose a DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR 20 link, with a cable that supports that tier, if you want 10-bit 4:4:4 without compression. UHBR 13.5 is a reasonable step down only if 8-bit color is acceptable for your use, since its 10-bit mode needs compression. HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 both need DSC at 10-bit, so they're the weaker picks for this mode.

More DisplayPort 2.1 scenarios

HDMI 2.1: 4K 60 Hz
4K at 60 Hz with 8-bit 4:4:4 color needs 14.3 Gbps of uncompressed bandwidth.
View details
HDMI 2.1: 4K 120 Hz HDR
4K 120 Hz with 10-bit 4:4:4 color HDR needs 35.6 Gbps, a mode HDMI 2.1 can carry without compression.
View details
HDMI 2.1: 4K 144 Hz HDR
4K 144 Hz with 10-bit 4:4:4 HDR needs 39.2 Gbps, within 8% of the calculator's effective 42.6 Gbps HDMI 2.1 model.
View details

Related guides

4K vs 5K2K
The 5120×2160 panel against 3840×2160, and what the extra width costs in bandwidth.
View guide
34" 5K2K ultrawide PPI
The pixel density of this grid on a 34-inch screen.
View guide
34" 21:9 ultrawide screen size
A 21:9 ultrawide panel, close in shape to 5120×2160.
View guide
34" ultrawide 1440p PPI
Pixel density of a 34-inch ultrawide at 1440p, for comparison.
View guide
49" 32:9 super ultrawide screen size
A 32:9 super ultrawide, for comparison with 5120×2160.
View guide

Frequently asked questions

Does 5K2K at 165Hz need DisplayPort 2.1?
Not always. For uncompressed 10-bit 4:4:4 you need UHBR 20 or a 96 Gbps HDMI 2.2 port. The mode needs 60.2 Gbps, which UHBR 20 (77.37 Gbps effective) carries natively. UHBR 13.5 (52.22 Gbps) can't carry the 10-bit mode uncompressed.
Can 5K2K 165Hz work over DisplayPort 1.4?
Only with DSC. DisplayPort 1.4 has 25.92 Gbps of effective data rate, which is well short of the 60.2 Gbps uncompressed mode. With DSC the mode needs about 16.0 Gbps and fits, but the GPU and the display must both support DSC.
Is 8-bit color enough for 5K2K 165Hz on UHBR 13.5?
8-bit 4:4:4 is the setting that makes UHBR 13.5 work without DSC: 48.1 Gbps fits its 52.22 Gbps effective rate. Whether that's enough depends on your content, since 8-bit has fewer steps per color channel than 10-bit, and HDR formats such as HDR10 use 10-bit. If you need 10-bit, use DSC or UHBR 20.

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