DisplayPort is still in its womb and hopefully it will take over the aging digital video interface DVI. The DisplayPort connector in its regular suit is (a lot) smaller than DVI, and supports higher bandwidths. VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) has now approved a new specification for Mini-DisplayPort. The new and smaller connector has the same capacity as the regular interface … but use smaller connectors.
The standard is abbreviated mDP and has used by Apple for some time with both notebooks and monitors. Earlier this year Apple agreed to license its mDP interface to VESA to be included in the DisplayPort specification, which it now is.
AMD will use the more convenient mDP interface with its special version of Radeon HD 5870, supporting up to 6 screens through Eyefinity.
Mini DisplayPort vs. DisplayPort vs. HDMI vs. DVI (Picture courtesy of PCPOP)
At the same time VESA has announced that it is currently working on the DisplayPort 1.2 specification that will bring some nice features:
VESA is finalizing DisplayPort 1.2, which incorporates mDP and doubles available bandwidth to 21.6 Gb/second. The increased bandwidth enables new capabilities such as multi-monitor support via a single output connector, higher resolutions, refresh rates and color depths, along with high performance 3D displays.
