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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0 Spec Released: Defining Alt Mode for USB4 [anandtech.com]

As the tech industry gears up for the launch of the new USB4 standard, a few more parts first need to fall into place. Along with the core specification itself, there is the matter of alternate modes, which add further functionality to USB Type-C host ports by allowing the data pins to be used to carry other types of signals. Keeping pace with the updates to USB4, some of the alt modes are being updated as well, and this process is starting with the granddaddy of them all: DisplayPort Alt Mode.

The very first USB-C alt mode, DisplayPort Alt Mode was introduced in 2014 [anandtech.com]. By remapping the USB-C high speed data pins from USB data to DisplayPort data, it became possible to use a USB-C port as a DisplayPort video output, and in some cases even mix the two to get both USB 3.x signaling and DisplayPort signaling over the same cable. As a result of DisplayPort Alt Mode's release, the number of devices with video output has exploded, and in laptops especially, this has become the preferred mode for driving video outputs when a laptop doesn't include a dedicated HDMI port.

If you're willing to accept Display Stream Compression... New DisplayPort spec enables 16K video over USB-C [theverge.com]

VESA press release [vesa.org].

Previously: Forget USB 3.2: Thunderbolt 3 Will Become the Basis of USB 4 [soylentnews.org]
DisplayPort 2.0 Announced, Triples Bandwidth to ~77.4 Gbps for 8K Displays [soylentnews.org]
Speed-Doubling USB4 is Ready -- Now We Just Have to Wait for Devices [soylentnews.org]

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