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Display Bandwidth Calculator

Calculate display bandwidth and check HDMI and DisplayPort compatibility, including DSC.

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CVT-RB v2 fits most PC monitors. Pick CTA-861 for TV formats like 4K 60 Hz over HDMI.

Timing details

CVT-RB v2 timing: 3920 x 2314 with blanking, 1306.206 MHz pixel clock.

Required Bandwidth

Uncompressed

39.19 Gbps

With DSC (Display Stream Compression)

10.45 Gbps

Interface Compatibility

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

Assumes one display with no USB or PCIe data sharing. USB-C uses all four DisplayPort lanes. USB4 and Thunderbolt use the DisplayPort profile listed. The 120 Gbps modes add bandwidth for multiple streams, while one DP 2.1 UHBR 20 stream stays at 77.37 Gbps. Compare checks each display separately.

USB-C
USB-C (DP 1.2)✗ Incompatible
USB-C (DP 1.4)DSC Required
USB-C (DP 2.1b UHBR 10)DSC Required
USB-C (DP 2.1b UHBR 13.5)✓ Native
USB-C (DP 2.1b UHBR 20)✓ Native
Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt 3 (40G, DP 1.2)✗ Incompatible
Thunderbolt 3 (40G, DP 1.4)DSC Required
Thunderbolt 4 (40G, DP 1.4)DSC Required
Thunderbolt 5 (80G / 120G Boost)✓ Native
USB4
USB4 20G (DP 1.4, HBR2)DSC Required
USB4 40G (DP 1.4)DSC Required
USB4 v2 (80G / 120G, DP 2.1)✓ Native

How to use this tool

  1. Enter the resolution

    Pick your display resolution from the presets (1080p, 1440p, 4K, 8K) or type a custom width × height in pixels. The calculator multiplies width × height to get the per-frame pixel count.

  2. Set the refresh rate

    Enter the target frame rate in Hz (60, 120, 144, 240, or any value). The calculator adds the blanking from the timing standard you pick (CVT-RB v2 for most monitors, CTA-861 for TV formats) and multiplies the full frame by the refresh rate to get the pixel clock.

  3. Choose color depth and chroma subsampling

    Pick 8-bit, 10-bit, or 12-bit color, then choose 4:4:4, 4:2:2, or 4:2:0 chroma. Higher bit depth and 4:4:4 increase the bandwidth; 4:2:0 cuts it roughly in half. Set 4:4:4 for desktop use and 4:2:0 for video.

  4. Read the bandwidth and interface compatibility

    Read the uncompressed and DSC bandwidth figures, then check the HDMI and DisplayPort results. Open Timing details if you need the full frame dimensions with blanking and the pixel clock used in the calculation. Open Other connections for USB-C, Thunderbolt, and USB4 profiles. Those optional profiles assume display traffic only.

About this tool

The Display Bandwidth Calculator estimates how much video data a display mode needs from its resolution, refresh rate, color depth, and chroma subsampling. It compares the result with HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode, Thunderbolt, and USB4 connections. It returns the uncompressed bandwidth and the bandwidth with Display Stream Compression (DSC).

Use it before choosing a monitor, cable, or GPU. The tool includes HDMI 1.4 through HDMI 2.2 (96G), DisplayPort 1.2 through DisplayPort 2.1b UHBR 20, four-lane USB-C display connections, Thunderbolt 3 through 5, and USB4 20G, 40G, and v2 80G / 120G profiles. It assumes display traffic only. Compare mode checks two display configurations independently.

USB-C, Thunderbolt, and USB4 assumptions

USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode uses all four high-speed lanes for video in this calculator. USB4 and Thunderbolt rows name a DisplayPort profile and use that profile's single-stream video limit, without reserving bandwidth for USB or PCIe traffic. A 120 Gbps link can transport multiple streams, but doesn't turn one DP 2.1 UHBR 20 stream into a 120 Gbps video connection. Check the DisplayPort profile supported by both ends. VESA's DisplayPort guidance, Intel's Thunderbolt overview, and USB-IF's USB4 overview explain the connection types.

Formula

Required bandwidth is pixel clock × bits per pixel. The pixel clock is the full frame, including the horizontal and vertical blanking intervals, × refresh rate. The blanking comes from a timing standard: CVT-RB v2 by default, the older CVT-RB v1, or CTA-861 for TV formats like 4K 60 Hz over HDMI (594 MHz). Bits per pixel depends on chroma subsampling: 4:4:4 uses the full bit depth × 3, 4:2:2 uses × 2, and 4:2:0 uses × 1.5. Dividing the total by 1 billion gives the figure in Gbps. DSC reduces the effective bits per pixel to 8 for a roughly 3:1 saving. Some monitors use their own custom timings, so their exact figure can differ a little.

When to use it

Reach for it when picking a cable for a new monitor, planning a 4K 120Hz console setup, deciding whether your laptop's USB-C port can drive an external 5K display, or diagnosing why a mode isn't listed in your display settings. It pairs with the PPI Calculator (to check whether the resolution actually delivers the density you want) and the FPS Visualizer (to feel what those refresh rates translate to in motion).

Popular bandwidth scenarios

Pre-computed Gbps values for the cable + resolution + refresh-rate combinations visitors ask about most.

HDMI 2.1 - 4K 120 Hz HDR
35.6 Gbps, the signature HDMI 2.1 mode
View details ➜
HDMI 2.1 - 4K 144 Hz HDR
39.2 Gbps, right at HDMI 2.1's ceiling
View details ➜
DisplayPort 1.4 - 1440p 144 Hz
Native at 10-bit 4:4:4 without DSC
View details ➜

Cable and Wi-Fi comparisons

Side-by-side breakdowns of the interface choices this calculator quantifies, such as HDMI vs DisplayPort, USB vs Thunderbolt, and Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 7.

USB 3 (3.0 / 3.2 Gen 1) vs Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4
The external port decision that shapes how fast you can back up.
Read comparison ➜
USB4 vs Thunderbolt 4
Same 40 Gbps connector, very different guarantees.
Read comparison ➜
Thunderbolt 4 vs Thunderbolt 5
Double the bandwidth, plus a 120 Gbps burst mode for displays.
Read comparison ➜

Frequently asked questions

Can USB-C, Thunderbolt, and USB4 carry my display mode?
Yes, when the connection supports the DisplayPort profile shown in the calculator. USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode uses all four display lanes here. Thunderbolt and USB4 are checked as a single DisplayPort stream with no USB or PCIe traffic sharing the link. For example, the DP 1.4 profile has a 25.92 Gbps video limit even when the cable advertises a 40 Gbps link.
Does a 120 Gbps Thunderbolt 5 or USB4 link give one display 120 Gbps?
No. The 120 Gbps asymmetric mode provides aggregate link bandwidth for multiple streams. This calculator checks one display stream at a time, with up to 77.37 Gbps of effective video payload for the DP 2.1 UHBR 20 profile. Compare mode checks Display A and Display B independently, rather than adding them as two monitors on one shared cable.
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 signaling.
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 standardized 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 color?
Each pixel carries more data. 8-bit color 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. When you know the link speed, you can calculate transfer time for the files that move across it.
What does 4:2:0 chroma subsampling do to bandwidth?
Chroma subsampling reduces color resolution to save bandwidth. 4:4:4 carries full color for every pixel. 4:2:2 halves horizontal color resolution. 4:2:0 halves both horizontal and vertical color resolution, cutting bandwidth by roughly 50% compared to 4:4:4. It is fine for video but makes colored text on colored backgrounds look fuzzy, so 4:4:4 is preferred for desktop use.
Is HDMI or DisplayPort better for a 4K 240Hz monitor?
Both can drive a compatible display, but HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 need DSC at 4K 240Hz with full 4:4:4 color. The calculator puts 10-bit at about 68.6 Gbps and even 8-bit at about 54.8 Gbps, above HDMI 2.1's 42.6 Gbps effective limit. DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR 20 carries 10-bit 4:4:4 fully uncompressed. Frame Rate Control changes how a panel simulates color depth and doesn't increase link bandwidth.

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