AMD has the product pages for the three “Big Navi” graphics cards Radeon RX 6900 XT, Radeon RX 6800 XT and Radeon RX 6800 updated. If it initially only read “HDMI 4K: Yes”, AMD has now specified the specification with HDMI 2.1 including variable refresh rates (VRR) and fixed rate link (FRL). FRL means that the graphics cards should support the maximum transfer rate of 48 GBit / s – HDMI 2.1 uses all four cables for this for data transfers instead of one for clock signals.

For users this means the bottom line: Smart TVs connected via HDMI 2.1 can be used with Ultra HD -Resolution (3840 × 2160 pixels) at 120 operate Hertz and HDR transmission. In addition, 8K (7680 × 4320 pixels) works with 60 Hertz. With VRR, the refresh rate of the GPU can be controlled dynamically.

The first monitors with HDMI 2.1 should appear by the end of the year, but DisplayPort is more common in the PC environment. DP 1.4 can be used with Display Stream Compression (DSC) Ultra HD with 60 or 144 Hertz and HDR signal transmitted.

HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, USB Type C AMD’s own models of the Radeon RX 6900 XT, Radeon RX 6800 XT and Radeon RX 6800 provide an HDMI 2.1 connection, two DisplayPorts 1.4 and a USB C. The latter transmits USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 GBit / s), masters Power Delivery (charging with probably a maximum of 27 Watt) and DisplayPort 1.4 as Alt-Mode.

The USB-C port may be familiar to some of the GeForce RTX 2000 series, the Nvidia installed as VirtualLink. AMD, Nvidia and manufacturers of VR glasses agreed 2000 on the connection standard in order to be able to operate corresponding headsets with just one cable. However, VirtualLink died before the standard really took off: VR glasses never appeared with them, Nvidia no longer installs them.

AMD is now late with the connection and does not even mention it VirtualLink. Nice side effect: Smartphones can be conveniently charged or external SSDs connected via the USB-C port.

(mma)