DisplayPort is certainly not a new interface, but the visual interface that is suppose to compete with DVI and HDMI, is still far from common. The DisplayPort specification has matured and the first monitors are already here. The next piece of the puzzle has now appeared as AMD has designed the first graphics cards with a DisplayPort connector. At HotHardware they’ve gotten their hands on this RV635 XT-based graphics card, which will be a part of the Radeon 3600 series. The most interesting bits are the really small and convenient connectors, and of course the high bandwidth. This should open up new possibilities for those using, or wanting to use, multiple monitors.
“On the board you’ll note that the surrounding circuitry for each DisplayPort connection is minimal and devoid of those all-too familiar Silicon Image TMDS chips that add cost to any dual link DVI-D connection. Since each DisplayPort cable can run multiple monitors in a daisy-chain configuration, imagine a four panel setup from a single graphics card and even possibly a single cable connection.”
They are currently testing the card with a state of the art LCD monitor, which of course supports DisplayPort. Exactly which monitor remains a mystery though.
