This October Intel will be providing a driver update for Ivy Bridge that will enable 4K x 2K resolution support as well as hardware accelerated 4K video decode. You'll need to use two DP outputs to drive a 4K panel from an Ivy Bridge system, which unfortunately makes it so most existing Ivy Bridge systems won't be able to drive the higher resolution panels. 

 

Haswell will support driving a 4K display off of a single DP output or HDMI.

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  • umrdyldo - Tuesday, September 11, 2012 - link

    This totally explains the other 4"x4" article. That article said their new form factor had two HDMI ports and I wondered why. So you can buy a $400 mini computer to drive your 4k display cheap and awesome.
  • Death666Angel - Tuesday, September 11, 2012 - link

    One HDMI port is enough to drive a 4k display. At least if all available participants support the full 1.4 spec: http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/4K.aspx
  • Penti - Tuesday, September 11, 2012 - link

    3GHz HDMI 1.4a support both in the graphics card and display is needed so it's virtually none-existent today. It also means a much slower refresh rate then over DP 1.2. Display controllers with 300MHz/3GHz HDMI 1.4a support aren't around much so even 4k displays will not support it usually. Older 4k panels don't even do 4k over a single DP cable. nVidia Kepler and AMD SI/GCN supports 3 GHz HDMI 1.4a now though. If we go back 11 years or so you needed four cables for high res screens so it's better then nothing though. DP 1.2 HBR2 compatible displays will show up, Ivy should be able to do it with one cable here too. So just wait for the controller suppliers and display manufacturers to catch up if that is important.
  • Penti - Tuesday, September 11, 2012 - link

    Just to note it's the Eizo screen which limits us here and force the use of two displayport or two DL DVI-D connections here. Specs and reality need time to catch up, especially when it comes to none essential things. They are getting there and support is already rolled out in the graphics side, it's time for the displays to get a bit more commoditized and updated chipsets. Problem there is that the panels only has special use so it's not a priority or needed for any of the sub =<2560x1600 displays for that matter. Intel, AMD and Nvidia should be ready already with their latest tech, not that everything contains it today though last gen is still around much.

    As far as consumers are concerned it's pretty much out of the question to drive more then 1920x1200 on HDMI today and the situation there is way worse then for DP.
  • B3an - Tuesday, September 11, 2012 - link

    What i would REALLY like is to see some 120hz 2560x1600 monitors. I'm pretty sure that DP 1.2 or 3GHz HDMI 1.4a could both handle that over a single cable.
  • c4keislie - Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - link

    *nonessential
  • c4keislie - Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - link

    *nonexistent
  • DanNeely - Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - link

    Only at 24hz; to do 4k @ 60hz you need either 2x HDMI 1.4 or 1x displayport 1.2.
  • repoman27 - Tuesday, September 11, 2012 - link

    ...because there are no DisplayPort panels that support HBR2 available yet.
  • Galatian - Tuesday, September 11, 2012 - link

    Might this actually be a hint for an iMac refresh this October as has been rumored with "retina" Display?

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