Mini DisplayPort

Mini-DisplayPort

Mini DisplayPort on a MacBook Pro
Type	Digital and analog computer video connector
Production history
Designer	Apple Inc.
Designed	October 2008
Manufacturer	Apple Inc.
Produced	2008-present
Superseded	Micro-DVI, Mini-DVI, DVI
General specifications
Width	8.3 mm
Height	5.4 mm
Hot pluggable	Yes
External	Yes
Video signal	As DisplayPort
Pins	20
Pin out
Pin 1	GND	Ground
Pin 2	Hot Plug Detect	Hot Plug Detect
Pin 3	ML_Lane 0 (p)	Lane 0 (positive)
Pin 4	CONFIG1	CONFIG1
Pin 5	ML_Lane 0 (n)	Lane 0 (negative)
Pin 6	CONFIG2	CONFIG2
Pin 7	GND	Ground
Pin 8	GND	Ground
Pin 9	ML_Lane 1 (p)	Lane 1 (positive)
Pin 10	ML_Lane 3 (p)	Lane 3 (positive)
Pin 11	ML_Lane 1 (n)	Lane 1 (negative)
Pin 12	ML_Lane 3 (n)	Lane 3 (negative)
Pin 13	GND	Ground
Pin 14	GND	Ground
Pin 15	ML_Lane 2 (p)	Lane 2 (positive)
Pin 16	AUX_CH (p)	Auxiliary Channel (positive)
Pin 17	ML_Lane 2 (n)	Lane 2 (negative)
Pin 18	AUX_CH (n)	Auxiliary Channel (negative)
Pin 19	GND	Ground
Pin 20	DP_PWR	Power for connector
This is the pinout for the source-side connector; the sink-side connector pinout will have lanes 0–3 reversed in order, i.e. lane 3 will be on pin 3 and 5 while lane 0 will be on pin 10 and 12.

The Mini DisplayPort (abbreviated MiniDP or mDP) is a miniaturized version of the DisplayPort digital audio-visual interface. Apple, Inc. announced the development in the fourth quarter of 2008, and now applies it in the LED Cinema Display and in all new Macintosh computers: MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro, and Xserve.^[1] It is also used in new PC notebooks from various manufacturers such as Toshiba, HP and Dell.

Unlike its Mini-DVI and Micro-DVI predecessors, Mini DisplayPort is capable of driving resolutions up to 2560×1600 (WQXGA), commonly used with 30-inch displays. With a suitable adapter, Mini DisplayPort may be used to drive displays with a VGA, DVI or HDMI interface.^[2][3][4]

Shortly after announcing the Mini DisplayPort, Apple announced that it would license the connector technology with no fee.^[5] Apple reserves the right to void the license should the licensee "commence an action for patent infringement against Apple".^[6]

The following year, in early 2009, VESA announced that Mini DisplayPort would be included in the upcoming DisplayPort 1.2 specification.^[7][8]

In the fourth quarter of 2009, VESA officially announced that the Mini DisplayPort has been adopted. All devices using the Mini DisplayPort must comply with the 1.1a standard.^[9]

On 7 January 2010, Toshiba introduced Satellite Pro S500, Tecra M11, A11 and S11 notebooks featuring Mini DisplayPort.^{[10][11][12][13]}

AMD released a special variant of its Radeon HD 5870 graphics card - called the Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition, which features 2GB GDDR5 memory, higher clock speeds than the original card, and six Mini DisplayPort outputs with a maximum resolution of 5760 x 2160 pixels (a 3x2 grid of 1080p displays).

On 13 April 2010, Apple added support for audio out using Mini DisplayPort in their MacBook Pro product line. This added feature allows users to easily connect their Macbook Pros to their HDTVs using a cable adapting Mini DisplayPort to HDMI with full audio and video functionality.^[14]

On 5 May 2010, HP announced Envy 14 and Envy 17 notebooks with Mini DisplayPort.^[15]

On 20 October 2010, Dell announced XPS 14, 15, and 17 notebooks with Mini DisplayPort.^[16]

On 24 February 2011, Apple and Intel announced an enhancement of the Mini DisplayPort specification with Intel's Thunderbolt technology, which had been developed under the name Light Peak.^[17]

On 17 May 2011, Lenovo announced ThinkPad X1 notebook with Mini DisplayPort.

Compatibility

VESA states, "DisplayPort assures that you get the best experience from your LCD, it simplifies display design and connections, enables interoperability with existing display interfaces and provides a technology foundation to deliver new and exciting display capabilities."^[18]

However, the removal of the DVI port from the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in favor of Mini DisplayPort, and the use of Mini DisplayPort as the video connector for the new 24-inch Cinema Display, may complicate compatibility:

• Mini DisplayPort's HDCP extension disables playback of certain DRM-encrypted content on any display not designed for it. This includes some content from the iTunes Store^[19] which has no such restrictions if played on a Mac without Mini DisplayPort.^[20][21]

• Apple's Dual-Link DVI or VGA adapters are relatively large and expensive compared to past adapters, and customers have reported issues with the new adapters, such as being unable to connect to an external display. Monitors connected to a Mini DisplayPort via these adaptors may have resolution issues or not "wake up" from sleep.^[22][23][24] (However, anyone experiencing these problems with Apple's DVI adapters should check the cable used for the DVI connection. It must be a Dual-Link type, not a standard DVI cable.)

• Mini DisplayPort adapters do not exist for the older component video, S-Video, or composite video connectors.

• While the DisplayPort specification is capable of supporting digital audio, the older 2009 line of MacBooks and MacBook Pros are unable to provide an audio signal through the Mini DisplayPort, and only do so over USB, Firewire, or the audio line out port instead (the April 2010 line of MacBook Pro, and late-2009 iMac and later, however, supports this^[14]). This can present a problem to users who intend to connect their computers to HDTVs using a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter. To work around this issue, some third-party manufacturers have created dual or triple headed adapters that get power for the adapter from a USB port, video from the Mini DisplayPort, and audio from either the USB port or the optical out port. Either option terminates with a single female HDMI connector, thus allowing both video and audio to be channeled over the one HDMI cable.^[25]

See also

Mini DisplayPort on Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter.

• List of video connectors

References

1. ^ "New MacBook Family Redefines Notebook Design". Apple.com. 2008-10-14. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/10/14macbook.html. Retrieved 2008-10-24. 
2. ^ "Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter". Apple Store. 2008-10-14. http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB570?mco=MTkzODk0NQ. Retrieved 2008-10-24. 
3. ^ "Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter". Apple Store. 2008-10-14. http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB571. Retrieved 2008-10-24. 
4. ^ "Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter". Apple Store. 2008-10-14. http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB572?mco=MTkzODk0Nw. Retrieved 2008-10-24. 
5. ^ "Mini DisplayPort Connector Licensing & Trademark Agreements". Apple Developer Connection. 2008-11-27. http://developer.apple.com/softwarelicensing/agreements/minidisplayport.html. Retrieved 2008-11-27. 
6. ^ "Apple Mini DisplayPort Connector Implementation License Checklist" (PDF). Apple. http://developer.apple.com/softwarelicensing/agreements/pdf/MiniDisplayPortImpLicense.pdf. Retrieved 2008-12-04. 
7. ^ "DisplayPort specification to add Apple's mini connector". MacWorld. 2009-01-14. http://www.macworld.com/article/138201/2009/01/displayport12.html. Retrieved 2009-01-14. 
8. ^ "Apple's mini connector set to be part of DisplayPort standard". AppleInsider. 2009-01-13. http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/01/13/apples_mini_connector_set_to_be_part_of_displayport_standard.html. Retrieved 2009-01-14. 
9. ^ "Apple's mini connector set to be part of DisplayPort standard". AppleInsider. 2009-10-13. http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11/10/apples_mini_displayport_officially_adopted_by_vesa.html. Retrieved 2009-10-13. 
10. ^ "Toshiba - Leading Innovation - Press Releases". Laptops.toshiba.com. 2010-01-07. http://laptops.toshiba.com/pressrelease/464486?fromPage=editorials. Retrieved 2010-04-30. 
11. ^ http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/tecra/M11
12. ^ "Toshiba Tecra® A11 Laptop Computers". Laptops.toshiba.com. http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/tecra/A11. Retrieved 2010-04-30. 
13. ^ "Toshiba: Leading Innovation". Laptops.toshiba.com. http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/tecra/S11. Retrieved 2010-04-30. 
14. ^ ^{a b} Chris Foresman (April 13, 2010). "New MacBook Pros support audio over Mini DisplayPort". Ars Technica. http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/04/new-macbook-pros-support-audio-over-mini-displayport.ars. Retrieved April 13, 2010. 
15. ^ "HP Envy 14 and 17 officially official, Envy 13 slowly waves goodbye". Engadget. 2010-05-05. http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/hp-envy-14-and-17-officially-official-envy-13-slowly-waves-good/. Retrieved 2010-05-06. 
16. ^ "Dell XPS Series Revamped". infosync. 2010-10-22. http://www.infosyncworld.com/reviews/laptops/dell-xps-series/11479.html. Retrieved 2010-12-05. 
17. ^ "Thunderbolt Technology: The Fastest Data Connection to Your PC Just Arrived" (Press release). Intel. Feb 24, 2011. http://newsroom.intel.com/community/intel_newsroom/blog/2011/02/24/thunderbolt-technology-the-fastest-data-connection-to-your-pc-just-arrived. Retrieved 2011-02-24. 
18. ^ "we believe in a better way". displayport.org. http://www.displayport.org/. Retrieved 2009-02-09. 
19. ^ David Chartier (November 17, 2008). "Apple brings HDCP to a new aluminum MacBook near you". Ars Technica. http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2008/11/apple-brings-hdcp-to-a-new-aluminum-macbook-near-you.ars. 
20. ^ "Apple Mini DisplayPort DRM sparks controversy". November 26, 2008. http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/11/26/displayport.drm.conflict/. 
21. ^ "EFF: Apple DisplayPort DRM will lead to more piracy". November 26, 2008. http://www.macworld.com/article/137148/2008/11/hdcp.html. 
22. ^ "Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter". Apple. http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB571. Retrieved 2008-12-23. 
23. ^ "Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter". Apple. http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB570. Retrieved 2009-02-18. 
24. ^ "Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter". Apple. http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB572. Retrieved 2009-02-18. 
25. ^ Chris Foresman (July 22, 2009). "Mini DisplayPort no longer a hassle with cables and adapters". Ars Technica. http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/07/mini-displayport-no-longer-a-hassle-with-cables-and-adapters.ars.