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Why can a coaxial cable carry hundreds of HD TV channels but a PC display cable can barely handle high resolutions?

Sarah Jenkins
Sarah Jenkins
Lead Content Curator · Feb 26, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

Your DisplayPort cable actually has more total bandwidth, as much as 17 GHz. The difference is that this data is sent relatively *uncompressed,* that is, close to every pixel of every frame is transmitted. By contrast, cable TV is sent highly compressed, avoiding sending redundant data but requir…

56
Words

1 min
Read Time

#297
of 500 in Technology

-25%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

Your DisplayPort cable actually has more total bandwidth, as much as 17 GHz. The difference is that this data is sent relatively *uncompressed,* that is, close to every pixel of every frame is transmitted. By contrast, cable TV is sent highly compressed, avoiding sending redundant data but requiring more compute power and high-speed memory on each end.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Cable, data, sent

This explanation focuses on cable, data, sent and spans 56 words across 3 sentences. At 25% below the average Technology explanation (75 words), the answer takes a direct, no-frills approach — sometimes the simplest explanation is the most effective.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “Your DisplayPort cable actually has more total bandwidth, as much as 17 GHz.” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 3 connected points.

How This Compares in Technology

Ranked #297 of 500 Technology questions by answer depth (top 60%). This is in the concise tier — a focused explanation that prioritizes clarity over exhaustiveness. Many readers prefer this level of directness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why a coaxial cable carry hundreds of hd tv channels but a pc display cable can barely handle high resolutions?

Your DisplayPort cable actually has more total bandwidth, as much as 17 GHz. The difference is that this data is sent relatively *uncompressed,* that is, close to every pixel of every frame is transmitted. By contrast, cable TV is sent highly…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Technology questions?

This is a focused answer at 56 words, ranked #297 of 500 Technology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are cable, data, sent.

What approach does this answer take to explain a coaxial cable carry hundreds of hd tv channels but a pc di?

The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 56 words. It is categorized under Technology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.