VESA^=
Ò &nbs= p; Multi-Di= splay Interface Standard

Video Electronics Stan= dards Association

860 Hillview Court, Suite 150 &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; Phon= e: (408) 957-9270

Mil= pitas, CA 95035 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Fax: (408) 957-9277

VESA Multi-Display

Interface Standard

Version 1

March 3, 2003

Purpose

To provide a standardized method to connect and support multiple monitors, dig= ital or analog, to a low-profile PCI or AGP graphics card. The intent is that this document becomes an industry-wide standard for all mult= iple monitor graphic card applications, regardless of form factor.=

Summary

Many video adapter cards available today allow a use= r to attach multiple monitors to a single video adapter. The use of more than on= e monitor is beneficial because it can increase the screen real estate available to t= he user for the application. This is easily accommodated in a standard sized A= GP or PCI form factor by using multiple video connectors; however the low-prof= ile PCI form factor does not accommodate multiple connectors.<= o:p>

Preface

Intellectual Property<= /span>

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this standard, the Vi= deo Electronics Standards Association and its contributors assume no responsibi= lity for errors or omissions, and make no warranties, expressed or implied, of functionality or suitability for any purpose.

Trademarks<= span style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt'>

All trademarks used wi= thin this document are the property of their respective owners.

VESA, DDC and P&D-A= are trademarks of the Video Electronics Standard Association.
DMS-59 is a trademark of Molex Inc.
TMDS is a trademark of Silicon Image Inc.

Patents

The Video Electronics Standards Association adopts VESA proposals and standards without regard as= to whether their adoption may involve any patents or articles, materials, or processes. Such adoption does not assume any liability to any patent owner,= nor does it assume any obligation whatsoever to parties adopting the proposals = or standards documents.

The connectors specifi= ed by this standard for the video output connector and the related cable connector are covered by one or more patents held by Molex Incorporated. Molex has provided VESA with a statement regarding their licensing policies for these designs, in keeping with the established VESA policy regarding the use of patented technology in VESA standards. A copy of this statement is available from the VESA office.

Support for this Stand= ard

Clarifications and application notes to support this standard may be written. To obtain the latest standard and any support documentation, contact VESA.

If you have a product, which incorporates VESA Multi-Display Interface Standar= d, you should ask the company that manufactured your product for assistance. If you are a manufacturer, VESA can assist you with any clarification you may require. All comments or reported errors should be submitted in writing to = VESA using one of the following methods.

Fax: (408) 957-92= 70, direct this note to Technical Sup= port at VESA

E-mail: support@vesa.org

Mail: Technical Support<= o:p>

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Video Electronics Standards Association

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; 860 Hillview Court, Suite 150

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Milpitas, CA 95035<= /span>

Acknowledgments:

The VESA Multi-Display Interface Standard is the result of input from many sources. VESA particularly wishes to thank the VE= SA Display Committee and the committee members who contributed their combined industry expertise resulting in this proposal. In particular the following individuals and their companies contributed significant time and effort:

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Revision History

March 3,= 2003

Initial release of the standard

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Table of Contents

Preface..........................................= ...........................................................................= ................................................................... = 2=

Revision History................................................................= ...........................................................................= ........................ 3=

1. OVERVIEW.........= ...........................................................................= ...........................................................................= ............ 5=

1.1 Summary.................................................................= ...........................................................................= ............................. 5

1.2 Goals...............................= ...........................................................................= ..................................................................... 5

1.3 Reference Documents..................= ...........................................................................= ...................................... 5

2. Connectors.........= ...........................................................................= ...........................................................................= ....... 6=

2.1 Low Profile Adapter Constraints..................= ...........................................................................= ................... 6

2.2 Existing Connectors= ..........................................= ...........................................................................= ......................... 7

2.3 Connector Selected..........................................= ...........................................................................= ......................... 8

3. Connector Performance Requirements.................................................................= .............................. 10=

3.1 Mechanical Performance Requirements..................= .......................................................................... = 10

3.2 Electrical Performance Requirements.................................................................= ............................. 11

4. Signal Set.........= ...........................................................................= ...........................................................................= ......... 13=

5. Appendix A – Pos= sible Implementations.................................................................= ................................ 16=

5.1 Adapter Assemblies= ..........................................= ...........................................................................= ......................... 16

Table of Figures =

Figure 2‑1 --- Vertical Space Available for Connector(s) 6

Figure 2‑2 --- Horizontal Space Available for Connector(s)= 6

Figure 2‑3 --- S= pace Required for External Connectors. 7

Figure 2‑4 --- Receptacle Mating Features. 8

Figure 2-5 --- Recomme= nded Panel Cut-out 9

Figure 2-6 --- Referen= ce Hole Pattern (Receptacle) 9

Figure 4‑1 --- S= ignal Requirements. 13

Figure 4‑2 --- D= MS-59<= span style=3D'mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Symbol'>Ô= Pinout for Multi-display Support= 14

Figure 4-3 --- Contact= s used for Analog Signal Set 15

Figure 4‑4 --- Contacts used for Digital Signal Set 15

Figure 4‑5 --- Contacts used for Television Signal Set 15

Figure 5‑1 --- H= ost to 2 DVI-D.. 16

Figure 5‑2 --- H= ost To 2 VGA.. 17

Figure 5‑3 --- H= ost To DVI-I & VGA.. 18

1.&n= bsp; OVERVIEW

1.1

Many video adapters available today allow a user to attach multiple monitors to a single video adapter. The use= of more than one monitor is beneficial because it increases the image size available to the user. For ex= ample, instead of having one screen running at 1280 x 1024 res= olution, the user could stretch their desktop horizontally across two monitors and h= ave an effective resolution of 2560 x 1024 or four monitors for 5120 x 1024.

Supporting multiple monitors with a single video adapter requi= res having multiple monitor connectors on the adapter. This is easily achieved today with= the standard size AGP and PCI adapter form factors. Standard AGP and PCI form factors = have enough space to accommodate 2 VGA-style 15 pin monitor connectors or 2 DVI-I monitor connectors. The low p= rofile PCI form factor, however, does not have enough space to accommodate two mon= itor connectors.

There is no intent to restrict the usage of this specification= to the low-profile adapter. The intent is that this specification becomes an industry-wide standard for all multi-display monitor graphic card applicati= ons, regardless of form factor.

1.2&= nbsp; Goals=

The standardization of the connector interface and defining the sig= nals for each contact for one interface to handle two video interfaces, either digital or analog, on a connector small enough to fit into the parameters s= et by the low-profile PCI form factor.

1.3&= nbsp; Reference Documents

Versions identified here are current, but users of this document are advised to ensu= re they have the latest versions of referenced standards and documents.

Digital Visual Interface (DVI), Revision 1.0, Digital Display Working Group, A= pril 2, 1999
AGP Design Guide, Revision 1.5, Intel Corporation, May 2001
VESA Enhanced Dis= play Data Channel (DDC), Version 1, Sept. 2, 1999
VESA Video Signal Standard, Version 1, Rev 1, March 29, 2000
VESA Enhanced Vid= eo Connector (P&D-A) Pinout & Signal Standard, Version 2, Revision 1, July 13, 1998
PCI Local Bus Spe= cification, Rev 2.2, PCI-SIG, December 18, 1998
Low Profile PCI C= ard, PCI Engineering Change Notice, PCI-SIG, Feb 14, 2000=