Can You Use DisplayPort 1.4 on 1.2?

DisplayPort is a useful video connection, and it’s common in many PCs and monitors.

However, DisplayPort continually comes out with new versions of its video ports and video cables to compete with other video connections.

This means that you probably have different DisplayPort versions across your devices and cables, depending on when you bought them. 

But what do you do if you have to connect two DisplayPort components that aren’t the same version? Is it alright to use DisplayPort 1.4 on 1.2, or any other version?

We have found that it is alright to use DisplayPort 1.4 on 1.2 because DisplayPort is fully backward compatible. This means that any version can be used with any other version, no matter if the components are video ports or cables. But to get the highest video quality, we recommend using 1.4 for the cable.

Can You Use DisplayPort 1.4 on 1.2?

In short: yes you can!

For example, you can connect a DisplayPort 1.4 video port to a DisplayPort 1.2 video port. 

Or if you have two DisplayPort 1.2 video ports, you can use a DisplayPort 1.4 video cable.  

You can also use a DisplayPort 1.2 video cable  to connect two DisplayPort 1.4 video ports, however, the video resolution and FPS will be limited by the video cable’s specifications.

Is DisplayPort Backwards Compatible?

Yes!

It’s not just DisplayPort 1.4 and 1.2 that are compatible – it’s all DisplayPort versions!

DisplayPort is fully backwards compatible, which means you can connect any version to any other version, whether video port or cable.

However, just like with DisplayPort 1.2 and 1.4, the video resolution will be limited by the DisplayPort version of the cable. 

The port version doesn’t matter as much since the video signal sent is generated by your graphics card, but the cable’s hardware might not be able to transmit it with the same quality.

DisplayPort 1.4 vs 1.2: What’s the Difference?

You may be wondering, what’s the difference between DisplayPort 1.2 and 1.4? After all, they’re only 2 versions apart, so surely their specifications can’t be that different, right?

To answer all your questions about the two DisplayPort versions, let’s dive into what they each offer!

What Can DisplayPort 1.2 Do?

Released in 2010, DisplayPort 1.2 has many features, including:

• Adaptive synchronization
• Panel-self-refresh
• A four-lane structure
• 21.6 Gbps maximum total bandwidth
• 17.28 Gbps maximum total data rate

And when it comes to resolutions and FPS, DisplayPort 1.2 is capable of:

• 1080 pixel resolution at 240 hertz
• 4K resolution at 75 hertz
• 5K resolution at 30 hertz

What Can DisplayPort 1.4 Do?

Meanwhile, DisplayPort 1.4 has these features:

• Adaptive synchronization
• Panel-self-refresh
• A four-lane structure
• 32.40 Gbps maximum total bandwidth
• 25.92 Gbps maximum total data rate

It also adds an extra feature: Display Stream Connection (DSC), which is lossless and allows more resolutions and refresh rates.

When it comes to resolutions and FPS, DisplayPort 1.4 is capable of:

• 1440 pixel resolution at a maximum of 240 hertz
• 4K resolution at a maximum of 120 hertz (or 60 hertz with 30 bits per pixel color and High Definition Resolution, if DSC is enabled)
• 5K resolution at a maximum of 60 hertz
• 8K resolution at a maximum of 30 hertz (or 60 hertz, if DSC is enabled)

Which DisplayPort Version is Better?

In terms of maximum total bandwidth, maximum total data rate, resolutions, and FPS, DisplayPort 1.4 is the winner.

And if you have to choose between the two versions for your video cable, we recommend using a DisplayPort 1.4 cable – especially if your ports are 1.4 as well.

DisplayPort 1.2 should be alright for most uses, but if you’re looking for a high resolution video for shows or games, it might lower the quality of your viewing experience.

Which is Better: DisplayPort or HDMI?

When it comes to high quality videos for PCs, the two main competitors are DisplayPort and HDMI. But which is truly better?

Let’s take a look at HDMI’s specifications for versions 2.0 and 2.1.

HDMI 2.0  can support:

• 1080p resolution at a maximum of 240 hertz
• 4K resolution at a maximum of 60 hertz
• 8K resolution at a maximum of 30 hertz

HDMI 2.1 can support:

• 4K resolution at a maximum of 144 hertz (or 240 hertz, if DSC is enabled)
• 8K resolution at a maximum of 30 hertz (or 120 hertz, if DSC is enabled)

Thus, we can conclude that HDMI 2.1 is better than DisplayPort 1.4.

However, this is only if you have HDMI 2.1 ports, typically limited to TVs as of 2021. If you don’t, then DisplayPort 1.4 will be your best bet for high quality video connections.

How Do You Use DisplayPort 1.4 on 1.2?

To use DisplayPort 1.4 on 1.2, follow these steps:

• Take the DisplayPort video cable with the highest version.
• Plug one end into the video port on your PC.
• Plug the other end into the video port on your display.
• Connect your display to a power source and turn it on.
• Turn on your PC. You should now see its video on your display.

Conclusion

You can use DisplayPort 1.4 on 1.2 because DisplayPort is backwards compatible, so you can use any version on any other version.

However, if you use a DisplayPort video cable that’s an older version than your video ports, the video transmitted may be of lower resolution.

There are five main differences between DisplayPort 1.4 and 1.2. DisplayPort 1.4 has a higher maximum total bandwidth, data rate, resolution, and FPS, and it comes with Display Stream Connection.

Between DisplayPort 1.4 and 1.2, 1.4 is definitely better for a high-quality video connection.

Between DisplayPort and HDMI, HDMI 2.1 is better than DisplayPort 1.4, but only if you have an HDMI 2.1 port.

To use DisplayPort 1.4 on 1.2, simply use the video cable with the highest version and connect the ports.

We hope this article helped you!