China's General Purpose Media Interface 'GPMI': up to 192Gbps of bandwidth and 480W power

GPMI is here as a Chinese alternative to HDMI, with a consortium of over 50 companies in China -- including Chinese tech giants like Huawei, Hisense, and TCL -- introducing General Purpose Media Interface (GPMI) which offers up to 192Gbps of bandwidth, and up to 480W of Power Delivery.

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The new GMPI standard is available in two varieties: a smaller Type-C model with 96Gbps of bandwidth and up to 240W of power, while a larger Type-B model offers the full 192Gbps of bandwidth and 480W of power.

GPMI has been developed as a third-generation audio and video interface, leaping over the limitations of older standards like DVI and VGA, and blowing away HDMI 2.1 and its 48Gbps of bandwidth, and DisplayPort 2.1 with 80Gbps of bandwidth with its blistering 192Gbps of bandwidth... enough for any display in the forseeable future.

The architecture features a primary data link that can be split into various configurations, including 6+2 or 1+7 channels, adapting to different use cases. Not only does it feature super-high bandwidth data channels, but GPMI uses auxiliary links for device management, cable information, and a limited USB 2.0 connection.

GPMI in its Type-C variant -- which has received the appropriate approval from the USB Association, ensures compatibility with the entire USB-C ecosystem, meaning it'll have easy integration into smart TVs and other USB-C devices. GPMI has been developed primarily for the domestic market in China, with aims to reduce China's dependence on Western-controlled standards and licensing regimes.

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This is an issue as traditional HDMI licensing requires companies to become official HDMI adopters, which has an annual fee of $10,000 for high-volume manufacturers, or $5000 plus a $1 per unit administration fee for low-volume users. Not only that, but traditional HDMI licensing also involves per-unit royalties of $0.15, that can decrease down to as low as $0.04 when the HDMI logo and HDCP are used, providing access to the latest specifications, compliance testing, and promotional benefits.

Chinese tech companies like Huawei, Hisense, TCL, and others will benefit greatly with GPMI in their domestic China market, without having to pay the annual HDMI licensing fees, or the royalties per cable sold. We should expect commercialization within China and Chinese export targets in the months ahead.

Interesting to see, isn't it? A new standard out of nowhere that blows away HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 in one fell swoop with an insane 192Gbps of bandwidth... easily able to handle 8K 120Hz and 8K 240Hz monitors of the future. However... this is China and the claims here are pretty wild. Huge amounts of bandwidth, and a huge amount of power -- 480W -- flowing through a single cable. Press X for doubt.