Displayport-in on Z170X Designare- What is it for?

[amantes]

Hi. My motherboard comes with a mini-displayport-in port by specification. The overview tried to demonstrate some kind of weird external gpu connection, but I'm still lost on its purpose and functionality. Can I theoretically plug in a separate video device, like a game console into it? Thanks.

 

[Paul NZ]

Read the manual, that'll tell you

 

[amantes]

I tried. That just made it more confusing.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

The IO panel on the Z170X-Designare carries four USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, mini DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort in (for ThunderBolt), PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse, USB 3.1/Thunderbolt 3 Type-C connector, DisplayPort, HDMI, 2x RJ-45 Intel LAN, and 7.1 gold plated audio outputs with S/PDIF.

Read more: http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/7836/gigabyte-z170x-designare-motherboard-review/index2.html​

 

[mcnumpty23]

its so you can out put from a graphics card over thunderbolt

 

[mcnumpty23]

ie your graphics card outputs over a displayport to mini display port cable into the motherboard

the thunderbolt connector can then send that signal back out over a thunderbolt cable

 

[amantes]

Yes but is that the whole purpose? To output my gpu through the mobo? Can I not use the in port to get video on my computer?

 

[Paul NZ]

I think it means plugging into the displayport. I dont think it means it's an input

 

[mcnumpty23]

video on your computer from where?

i assume the thinking is thunderbolt is far faster so maybe its aimed at 4k+ resolutions or 4k to multiple monitors or something

must admit its first time i have seen a board with it so just saying what it says its for according to gigabyte

 

[amantes]

@Paul
Yes, it's an input. There is a separate displayport for output.

@Mcnumpty
I know it's a long shot but I got the idea that maybe I can plug my xbox into it and get a picture in Windows. I'm probably asking too much from the mobo.

 

[Paul NZ]

Try it find out. It'll work or it wont. But I doubt it

 

[mcnumpty23]

i am going from here--definitely shows the graphics card inputting to it and thunderbolt outputting

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5811#ov

 

[mcnumpty23]

says can feed 12 x 4k devices doing it this way so my earlier guess might be spot on the mark

 

[amantes]

Well I wouldn't expect plugging my xbox into it to do anything right away, it would probably require some software setup. The question is whether the input can work like the one on a capture card at all or it's limited to the purpose of rerouting gpu output.

 

[mcnumpty23]

far as i can see its just to reroute the gpu output

if video input from other devices was possible would have thought

1.they would have made a big point of it

2.the software needed would come with the motherboard if it could do that

 

[amantes]

Yeah, it would have been a big selling point. Was worth a shot I guess. Thanks, everyone!