HomeDisplay Stream Compression (DSC)
Display Stream Compression (DSC)
Display Stream Compression (DSC) is VESA's low-latency, visually lossless codec for display links. Its lowest rate is 8 bits per pixel for 4:4:4 color, against 24 for uncompressed 8-bit and 30 for 10-bit, and VESA describes ratios of up to 3:1.
DSC is carried by HDMI 2.1 (40 Gbps FRL), HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps FRL), DisplayPort 1.4, DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR10, DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR13.5, DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR20, USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode, 2 lanes with USB data), USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode, 4 lanes), USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.x, 2 lanes with USB data), USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.x, 4 lanes), Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40 Gbps and Thunderbolt 5 / USB4 v2. It isn't carried by HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2 or Thunderbolt 3.
Compression each mode needs
| Mode | DisplayPort 1.4 | HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps FRL) |
|---|---|---|
| 4K 60Hz | Pass, 15.68 Gbps | Pass, 15.68 Gbps |
| 4K 120Hz | Needs DSC, about 1.3:1 | Pass, 32.27 Gbps |
| 4K 144Hz | Needs DSC, about 1.6:1 | Pass, 39.19 Gbps |
| 4K 160Hz | Needs DSC, about 1.8:1 | Needs DSC, about 1.1:1 |
| 4K 165Hz | Needs DSC, about 1.8:1 | Needs DSC, about 1.1:1 |
| 4K 240Hz | Needs DSC, about 2.8:1 | Needs DSC, about 1.7:1 |
| 1440p 144Hz | Pass, 17.60 Gbps | Pass, 17.60 Gbps |
| 1440p 165Hz | Pass, 20.37 Gbps | Pass, 20.37 Gbps |
| 1440p 240Hz | Needs DSC, about 1.3:1 | Pass, 30.77 Gbps |
| 1440p 360Hz | Needs DSC, about 2:1 | Needs DSC, about 1.2:1 |
| 1080p 360Hz | Needs DSC, about 1.2:1 | Pass, 27.97 Gbps |
| 8K 60Hz | Needs DSC, about 2.5:1 | Needs DSC, about 1.5:1 |
| 8K 120Hz | Fail, even with DSC (needs about 5.1:1) | Needs DSC, about 3:1 |
Results use PC monitor timings (VESA CVT reduced blanking v2 as the headline), not the TV and console timings in CTA-861, so a TV or console may need more bandwidth than shown. RGB/4:4:4 color. At 10-bit. DSC verdicts are at maximum compression (8 bpp), the lowest rate VESA's DSC standard allows for 4:4:4, and show the compression each mode needs.
Sources
- HDMI 2.1 FRL article (Allion Labs), retrieved 27 October 2026
- New HDMI 2.1 Technology, part 1 of 2 (Black Box, 2021), retrieved 27 October 2026
- VESA publishes DisplayPort Standard Version 1.4 (1 Mar 2016), retrieved 27 October 2026
- VESA publishes DisplayPort 2.0 video standard (26 Jun 2019), retrieved 27 October 2026
- VESA rolls out early certification program for HBR3 products (4 Jan 2017), retrieved 27 October 2026
- VESA readies DisplayPort UHBR device certification and begins certification of UHBR cables, retrieved 27 October 2026
- HDMI Cable and Connector introduction (Granite River Labs, 2019), retrieved 27 October 2026
- Hardent IP portfolio supports new features of HDMI 2.1 (2018 release), retrieved 27 October 2026
- Premium HDMI Cable Certification Program (hdmi.org), retrieved 27 October 2026
- Ultra High Speed and Ultra96 HDMI Cables (hdmi.org), retrieved 27 October 2026
- Thunderbolt 5 Technology Brief (Intel, Sept 2023), retrieved 27 October 2026
- VESA CVT Standard, Version 2.1, retrieved 27 October 2026
- VESA CVT v2.1 Generator Version 1 (spreadsheet; sheets CVTv2.1 and CVTv1.2a), retrieved 27 October 2026
- VESA Display Stream Compression (DSC) Standard, Version 1.2b (12 Aug 2021), retrieved 27 October 2026
- VESA DSC Source Device Guidelines r1.0, retrieved 27 October 2026
Data verified 27 October 2026 against these sources. See the methodology for how disagreements are resolved.