TechCompare LogoTechCompare

HDMI 2.1 bandwidth for 8K at 60 Hz is 33.4 Gbps (4:2:0)

8K at 60 Hz with 10-bit 4:2:0 chroma works out to 33.4 Gbps — the uncompressed figure HDMI 2.1 was carefully engineered to support. Jumping from 4:2:0 to full 4:4:4 chroma doubles the required bandwidth, which is why 8K marketing specs quote 4:2:0 unless DSC is on.

Required bandwidth
33.4 Gbps
Uncompressed
With DSC
17.8 Gbps
Visually lossless 3:1
Mode
7680×4320 @ 60 Hz
10-bit 4:2:0

Calculator

Display Bandwidth Calculator

W
H

Required Bandwidth

Uncompressed

33.44 Gbps

With DSC (Display Stream Compression)

17.84 Gbps

Interface Compatibility

HDMI 1.4
✗ Incompatible
HDMI 2.0
✗ Incompatible
HDMI 2.1 (48G)
✓ Native
HDMI 2.2 (96G)
✓ Native
DisplayPort 1.2
✗ Incompatible
DisplayPort 1.4
DSC Required
DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR 10)
✓ Native
DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR 13.5)
✓ Native
DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR 20)
✓ Native

How this is calculated

4:2:0 chroma subsampling halves the colour-difference resolution, which is invisible for video content (movies, streaming) but slightly degrades fine-text edges on a desktop. That's an acceptable trade at 8K because the pixel density is already so extreme that the subsampling effect is below the threshold of perception at normal viewing distances. DSC is the alternative path: it lets HDMI 2.1 carry 8K at 60 Hz with 10-bit 4:4:4 compressed to roughly 8.9 Gbps.

Verdict

8K 60 Hz is the spec HDMI 2.1 was designed for and the one most 8K TVs negotiate at. With DSC in play, there's headroom to go further; without it, 4:2:0 is the pragmatic choice for video playback.

More HDMI 2.1 scenarios

HDMI 2.1 — 4K 60 Hz
HDMI 2.1 (48G)
View details ➜
HDMI 2.1 — 4K 120 Hz HDR
HDMI 2.1 (48G)
View details ➜
HDMI 2.1 — 4K 144 Hz HDR
HDMI 2.1 (48G)
View details ➜

Frequently asked questions

Does HDMI 2.1 support 4K at 144Hz?
Yes. 4K at 144Hz with 10-bit HDR and 4:4:4 chroma needs roughly 40 Gbps of bandwidth, which fits within HDMI 2.1's 48 Gbps ceiling (42.6 Gbps effective data rate). You'll need a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable and a source and display that both advertise HDMI 2.1 FRL signalling.
Can DisplayPort 1.4 handle 4K at 240Hz?
Not uncompressed. 4K at 240Hz with 10-bit 4:4:4 requires about 65-70 Gbps — well over DisplayPort 1.4's 25.92 Gbps effective data rate. With Display Stream Compression (DSC), which is visually lossless, DisplayPort 1.4 can drive 4K at 240Hz comfortably. For uncompressed 4K 240Hz you need DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR 20.
What is Display Stream Compression (DSC) and is it lossy?
DSC is a visually lossless compression format standardised by VESA that cuts bandwidth roughly 3:1. In blind side-by-side testing the compression is indistinguishable from uncompressed output, so most modern high-refresh-rate monitors use it to reach 4K 240Hz or 8K 60Hz over existing cables. It does add a small amount of latency (microseconds) and can prevent some HDR metadata from passing through on older GPUs.
Why do I need more bandwidth for HDR and 10-bit colour?
Each pixel carries more data. 8-bit colour uses 24 bits per pixel (8 bits per channel × 3 channels) whereas 10-bit uses 30 bits per pixel — a 25% increase in required bandwidth. 12-bit adds another 20% on top of that. HDR content typically runs at 10-bit or 12-bit, which is why enabling HDR can push a connection over its limit.
What does 4:2:0 chroma subsampling do to bandwidth?
Chroma subsampling reduces colour resolution to save bandwidth. 4:4:4 carries full colour for every pixel; 4:2:2 halves horizontal colour resolution; 4:2:0 halves both horizontal and vertical colour resolution, cutting bandwidth by roughly 50% compared to 4:4:4. It's fine for video but makes coloured text on coloured backgrounds look fuzzy, so 4:4:4 is preferred for desktop use.
Is HDMI or DisplayPort better for a 4K 240Hz monitor?
Both can do it, but the route differs. HDMI 2.1 handles 4K 240Hz 10-bit natively if the display supports Frame Rate Control; DisplayPort 1.4 needs DSC, and DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR 20) handles it fully uncompressed. For PCs, DisplayPort is typically the default; for consoles and TVs, HDMI 2.1 is the standard.

Related tools

PPI & Retina Calculator

Calculate PPI and Retina distance for your display.

Use tool ➜

Screen Size Comparison

Compare screen sizes side-by-side to visualize physical dimension differences.

Use tool ➜

FPS Visualiser

Visualise the impact of different FPS settings on your game experience.

Use tool ➜

Data Transfer Calculator

Estimate transfer times for files over USB, WiFi, Ethernet, and more.

Use tool ➜