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posted by CoolHand on Wednesday November 29 2017, @08:48PM   Printer-friendly
from the top-interfacers dept.

The High-Definition Multimedia Interface 2.1 specification has been released. The total transmission bandwidth has been increased to 48 Gb/s from the 18 Gb/s of HDMI 2.0 (or a maximum data rate of 42.6̅ Gb/s from 14.4 Gb/s). The new data rate is effectively tripled to 128 Gb/s when using Display Stream Compression (DSC).

Using DSC, HDMI 2.1 cables can transmit 4K (3840×2160) @ 240 Hz, and 8K (7680×4320) as well as UW10K (10240×4320) at 120 Hz. Without DSC, you will be able to transmit 4K @ 120 Hz, 5K (5120×2880) @ 120 Hz, 8K @ 60 Hz, and UW10K @ 30 Hz. Keep in mind that color depth and chroma subsampling also affect the necessary data rate.

The specification also adds new features such as dynamic high-dynamic-range support (you read that right - the first "dynamic" refers to "dynamic metadata that allows for changes on a scene-by-scene or frame-by-frame basis"), Variable Refresh Rate, Quick Frame Transport, Quick Media Switching, and Auto Low-Latency Mode:

This new version of the HDMI specification also introduces an enhanced refresh rate that gamers will appreciate. VRR, or Variable Refresh Rate, reduces, or in some cases eliminates, lag for smoother gameplay, while Quick Frame Transport (QFT) reduces latency. Quick Media Switching, or QMS, reduces the amount of blank-screen wait time while switching media. HDMI 2.1 also includes Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which automatically sets the ideal latency for the smoothest viewing experience.

Also at the HDMI Forum, AnandTech, Tom's Hardware, and The Verge.

Previously: HDMI 2.1 Announced


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  • (Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday November 30 2017, @03:42AM (1 child)

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Thursday November 30 2017, @03:42AM (#603282) Journal

    UHD or UHD BD = 3840x2160.

    This cable can deliver on 8K. 8K at 60 Hz without DSC, or 8K at 120 Hz with DSC.

    Previous 18 Gbps HDMI cable ("Premium") could deliver 2160p60@8bit formatted as RGB. 10-bit color adoption is still ongoing and I haven't seen much 12-bit since HDR is still very new. Even if chroma subsampling was needed on the TV, it was probably good enough.

    Samsung added a superMHL [wikipedia.org] connector to some of its 8K TVs [valleyhometheater.com].

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  • (Score: 2) by jmorris on Thursday November 30 2017, @04:50AM

    by jmorris (4844) on Thursday November 30 2017, @04:50AM (#603320)

    This cable can deliver on 8K. 8K at 60 Hz without DSC, or 8K at 120 Hz with DSC.

    Nope, read it again. 4:2:0 is utterly unsuitable for PC work, only TV. Horrible color fringes, especially with text, unless you strictly stick to black and white. So the other choice is compressed, which may or may not be suitable for PC work, we will need to wait until this stuff moves from theory to product we can look at. And to achieve 120hz you need to both butcher the color and compress what is left. Again, you might be able to play movies on that but forget a desktop for content creation. HDMI 2.1 finally gets us to the all of the promised UHD modes but will need another spec bump to go beyond. Even 5K requires compression or dropping 120Hz or HDR. It is a crapload of bits to move at consumer electronics hardware quality.