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Does DisplayPort 2.1 support 1440p 480Hz? Bandwidth and DSC limits

By TechCompare · Updated · How we check

Yes, on DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR 20. The mode needs 70.3 Gbps uncompressed against a 77.37 Gbps effective rate, so no DSC is needed.

Interface Bandwidth Analysis

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

Uncompressed Signal70.3 Gbps
With Display Stream Compression (DSC)18.7 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: 2560 × 1440 @ 480 Hz
Color depth: 10-bit 4:4:4
This exact 2560×1440 @ 480 Hz signal, pre-loaded. Swap the resolution, refresh, or chroma, or compare two modes.
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1440p (2560×1440) at 480 Hz with 10-bit 4:4:4 HDR needs 70.3 Gbps. That's 91% of DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR 20's 77.37 Gbps effective rate, so the mode runs with no DSC. At 500 Hz the mode needs 74.1 Gbps, which UHBR 20 still carries.

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

This page targets UHBR 20, the top DisplayPort 2.1 tier in the calculator, with a 77.37 Gbps effective rate for one stream. The cable and both ports need to support UHBR 20 to use that rate. UHBR 13.5 (52.22 Gbps) needs DSC at both 10-bit and 8-bit 4:4:4, since the 8-bit mode still needs 56.2 Gbps. Dropping to 10-bit 4:2:2 (46.9 Gbps) fits UHBR 13.5 without DSC. DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 both need DSC here, which brings the mode to about 18.7 Gbps. A 96 Gbps HDMI 2.2 port also carries it uncompressed, but it needs an Ultra96 HDMI Cable.

Verdict

Use a DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR 20 link for uncompressed 1440p at 480 Hz, and treat UHBR 13.5 as a DSC link at 10-bit. The mode uses 91% of the link's effective rate, leaving 9% unused. Uncompressed, the link carries this mode up to 516 Hz, so the 500 Hz version fits as well.

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

DSC explained
What DSC does, how much it compresses and which modes need it.
View guide
360 Hz vs 500 Hz
Frame times at 360 Hz and 500 Hz, the two refresh rates around 480 Hz.
View guide
360 Hz vs 480 Hz
Frame times at 360 Hz and 480 Hz, the refresh rate this page covers.
View guide
DP 2.1: 4K 240 Hz HDR
The 4K 240 Hz mode on DisplayPort 2.1, for comparison.
View guide

Frequently asked questions

Does DisplayPort 2.1 support 1440p 480Hz without DSC?
Yes, on UHBR 20. Uncompressed 10-bit 4:4:4 needs 70.3 Gbps, against a 77.37 Gbps effective rate, so the mode runs with no DSC. The last answer covers DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1.
Can 1440p go past 480Hz on DisplayPort 2.1?
Yes. Uncompressed at 10-bit 4:4:4, UHBR 20 carries this mode up to 516 Hz. At 500 Hz the mode needs 74.1 Gbps, which still fits the 77.37 Gbps effective rate.
Can DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 run 1440p 480Hz?
Only with DSC. The uncompressed mode needs 70.3 Gbps, and DisplayPort 1.4 (25.92 Gbps effective) and HDMI 2.1 (42.6 Gbps effective) both fall short of that. With DSC the mode drops to about 18.7 Gbps, which both links can carry.

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