China’s tech industry has introduced a new media transmission standard that could significantly streamline high-bandwidth video and power delivery setups. The General Purpose Media Interface (GPMI), developed by the Shenzhen 8K UHD Video Industry Cooperation Alliance—a consortium of over 50 companies—is positioned as a direct alternative to HDMI, DisplayPort, and even Thunderbolt.
GPMI is designed with modern high-resolution displays in mind, particularly the growing demand for 8K content delivery. The new standard features two connector types: Type-B and Type-C. Type-B uses a proprietary connector and offers a maximum bandwidth of 192 Gbps along with up to 480 watts of power delivery. Type-C, meanwhile, is compatible with the USB-C standard and provides 96 Gbps of bandwidth and 240 watts of power. This effectively doubles the data capacity of USB4 and Thunderbolt 4, while matching or exceeding their power delivery capabilities.
For comparison, HDMI 2.1 (FRL) tops out at 48 Gbps with no integrated power delivery, and DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR20) reaches 80 Gbps—again, without carrying power. USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 are limited to 40 Gbps, with USB4 maxing out at 240W. GPMI Type-C’s numbers already place it ahead of these in terms of raw data throughput and power efficiency, but the Type-B variant is in a league of its own.
Beyond raw specs, GPMI also integrates support for a universal control protocol similar to HDMI-CEC. This means users can control all connected devices via a single remote, simplifying home theater and professional AV setups.
These features point to a practical goal: reducing cable clutter by combining high-speed data and substantial power delivery in a single connection. For example, a gaming laptop equipped with GPMI could drive an 8K external display while drawing enough power to function at full performance—all over a single cable. While it might not yet be sufficient to power a high-end desktop GPU directly, 480W is more than enough for most laptops and even