This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:11:21
The video thoroughly investigates the performance and reliability of various DisplayPort cables from well-known brands, including AmazonBasics, Monoprice, and Best Buy. Leveraging a Total Phase Cable Tester, the presenter evaluates these cables at their rated specifications and beyond, to understand their durability under stress. The analysis identifies DisplayPort versions 1.2, 1.4, and the upcoming 2.0, with significant differences in bandwidth capabilities, impacting resolution, refresh rate, and color depth.
Key insights include DisplayPort's superior signal integrity compared to HDMI, attributable to its design with an extra conductor and shielded pairs. Notably, inexpensive cables often match the performance of more costly options. Specific tests reveal issues with longer cables, such as link training downshifts and continuity failures, impacting consistent performance. Examples include the failure of Monoprice's 25-foot cable and Samsung's bundled cables, highlighting the importance of quality for future device compatibility, particularly with Intel’s Arc Alchemist GPUs. The video concludes with a brief promotion of Samsung’s Freestyle projector, emphasizing its versatile features and current discounts.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the presenter discusses the testing of a large batch of DisplayPort cables from various popular brands like AmazonBasics, Monoprice, and Best Buy. They bought multiple cables at different lengths to gather comprehensive data and used a Total Phase Cable Tester for the evaluation. While most cables are initially tested at their rated speeds, the team also pushed these cables beyond their specifications to check performance under stress.
The reason for testing DisplayPort cables stems from prior issues and requests from the audience, following a similar test on HDMI cables. Observations include problems with DisplayPort cables over the years, such as intermittent signaling issues and dead cables. The video highlights that the majority of DisplayPort cables tested fall under the versions 1.2, 1.4, and the upcoming 2.0 specs, with the main differences being their maximum bandwidth capabilities. The presenter explains that this bandwidth can be utilized through various combinations of resolution, refresh rate, and color depth adjustments.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the presenter discusses the testing of various DisplayPort cables and their performance. They mention the necessity of display stream compression for higher resolutions. The tests are divided into three groups: popular cables tested in triplicate, top Amazon cables, and office-sampled cables. Surprisingly, all cables in the first group passed their rated specifications. The presenter compares DisplayPort to HDMI, noting that DisplayPort has an extra conductor and uses all shielded pairs for data transmission, which contributes to its superior signal integrity. It is noted that unused power connections in DisplayPort cables can cause issues. The segment concludes that DisplayPort cables generally show better performance consistency, suggesting that buying inexpensive cables could be a smart choice.
00:06:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the cost efficiency of cables and dives into the intricacies of DisplayPort standards. They explain that DisplayPort 1.4 supports transmission modes like RBR, HBR, HBR2, and HBR3, with a peak bandwidth of 32.4 gigabits per second over four lanes, which is less than HDMI 2.1’s 48 gigabits per second. They also mention that Apple and Thunderbolt use custom and extended lane configurations to enhance data transmission. The future improvement lies in DisplayPort 2.0, which introduces three new modes.
The segment then shifts to testing Amazon’s best-selling cables, which surprisingly all pass current and next-gen UHBR10 specifications. The discussion further details a common issue with DisplayPort cables: they can downshift transmission speeds during link training if the cable quality is subpar, making performance troubleshooting challenging. This problem was encountered with some longer DisplayPort cables examined in a subsequent tab.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses various issues faced with 25-foot Monoprice cables, specifically mentioning a failure in continuity and signal. They also experienced problems with a Samsung bundled cable which failed the continuity check, indicating poor conducting quality. The speaker advises that while Samsung’s bundled cables may not be the best, most reputable brand cables should suffice, especially for future-proofing with Intel’s upcoming Arc Alchemist GPUs. The segment transitions to a sponsored message highlighting Samsung’s new product, The Freestyle projector, detailing its features such as a 180-degree adjustable stand, auto-correction for image focus, 360-degree speaker, and Smart TV functionalities. It offers full HD resolution and versatility in projection size. Pre-order incentives, including a free carrying case, were also mentioned. The speaker closes by referencing another video that provides deeper insights into HDMI cable testing and eye diagrams.