Up to three DisplayPort video interfaces can be supported with the Type 2 COM Express modules conga-BM45 and conga-BM57 from Congatec. DisplayPort is a digital, packet-based and royalty-free display interface for the transmission of video signals and other data, for example multiple audio channels. It is set to replace existing interfaces such as DVI and VGA, with HDMI remaining the preferred interface for home TV applications. (HDMI licensing costs do not allow it to be a viable option for industrial applications.) DisplayPort provides almost twice the data bandwidth of HDMI, or DVI, making it suitable for use in displays with extremely high resolutions. A maximum of four lanes or differential data pairs, are automatically configured in line with the required data rate to make optimal use of the available transmission capacity. When all four lanes are used, this adds up to approximately 17Gbit/s of available data bandwidth. This is sufficient for resolutions of up to 4096×2560 pixels at 60Hz frame rates and 24bit colour depths. The differential data lines allow cable lengths of up to 15m. However, DisplayPort will eventually replace the LVDS interface in applications that bridge shorter distances within a computer system. According to the COM Express specification, support for DisplayPort is available only with the type 6 pin assignment.
