Signal
HDMI / DisplayPort Signal Booster
Re-driver / re-timer ICs that restore signal quality on long display cables.
What is it?
HDMI and DisplayPort signals degrade with cable length and connector hops. A signal booster (also called re-driver or re-timer) restores the signal — re-drivers amplify and equalise; re-timers go further and re-clock the data to fully reconstruct the signal. Used in TVs, monitors, KVM switches, and any system where the display path passes through long cables or multiple connectors.
When do you need it?
- Long HDMI cable runs (>5 m at 4K, >10 m at 1080p).
- Daisy-chained DisplayPort monitors (MST hub output).
- TV mainboard with HDMI input on one side of the PCB and SoC on the other.
- KVM switches that need to handle multiple display inputs.
- Active HDMI cables — the booster is what makes them 'active'.
How to pick the right one
- Standard support
- HDMI 1.4 / 2.0 / 2.1 (up to 48 Gbps for 8K). DisplayPort 1.2 / 1.4 / 2.0 (up to 80 Gbps).
- Number of lanes
- HDMI has 3 data lanes + clock. DP has 1, 2, or 4 lanes.
- Equalization range
- How much cable loss the booster can compensate for. 10-25 dB typical.
- Programmability
- I²C-configurable EQ vs pin-strap fixed. I²C lets you tune in production.
- Power
- Booster ICs consume 200-500 mW typical — not free.
What Magnias offers
Magnias HDMI / DisplayPort signal-booster ICs target TV and monitor mainboard layouts and KVM applications. Selection depends on the standard version and lane count — consult your FAE.
Common questions
Re-driver or re-timer?
Re-driver is simpler / cheaper and works for moderate loss. Re-timer re-generates the clock and data, can handle much higher loss, but adds latency and power.
Does adding a booster help with HDCP?
Boosters are HDCP-transparent — they don't decrypt the stream, just clean it up. HDCP keys are exchanged between source and sink directly.
How much does a booster help with cable length?
A re-driver can add 5-10 m to a 5 m budget. A re-timer can extend further, up to 30 m at 4K60.