![]() You might be surprised to learn, in fact, that different types of USB-C ports can do different things. The answer comes, once again, from manufacturers playing fast and loose with the standard. Now, you may be wondering, if USB-C is supposed to replace everything else, why it’s not even more common. Many hubs also have an HDMI connection for added versatility. Make sure it has a passthrough for the power supply, and ideally an extra USB-C port too. In that case, you may find you’ll need to get a USB-C hub to widen your options. USB-C has one specific disadvantage, and it’s the fact that many laptops have a limited number of USB-C ports. ![]() Connect to an external monitor: How to use USB-C ports This is to ensure that if you’ve managed to lose the picture on both screens, you’re not stuck. There are loads of other settings on this screen, most of which you’ll never need, but feel free to experiment - most operations will ask you to confirm everything is ok, and if you don’t respond within 15 seconds reverts back. That may be what you want, but if you are looking for extra space, you’ll want to press WIN+P and a sidebar will appear offering to display on just the main screen, just the monitor (called ’second screen’), Duplicate, or Extend.Įight tips for reducing screen fatigue while working from home You may well find that Windows has done the rest for you, and your monitor is now duplicating everything on the built-in screen. So you’ve got your cable and you’ve connected it up. Connect to an external monitor: Changing Windows settings If you’re at all unsure, look for cables that are USB-IF certified (though many perfectly good ones don’t carry this certification). In the early days, a number of manufacturers produced cables that didn’t comply with the specifications and caused serious damage to machines. As well as carrying power and connecting accessories, the USB-C standards include both DisplayPort and HDMI, so you’ll want either a USB-C to HDMI/DisplayPort or, if you have a very new monitor, USB-C to USB-C.Ī quick warning: USB-C cables vary dramatically. If your monitor uses DisplayPort, but you only have HDMI on your laptop, that’s no problem, as there’s a cable for that.įinally, USB-C is the newest kid on the block and is designed to replace all the other standards we’ve mentioned. You won’t get better quality from fancy bells and whistles like gold-plated connectors, and buying a cheap one with the right spec (we bought 3x1m cables from Amazon for under £10) will work just as well as an expensive one - although gold-plated connectors may end up lasting longer.ĭisplayPort (we recommend at least 1.2 or higher for best results) is the choice of graphic designers, animators and other creative types. If you have a spare cable lying around, it might not be good enough, unfortunately, as most HDMI cables don’t tell you what version they are.ĭon’t spend ridiculous amounts of money either HDMI cables are digital, and so either they work or they don’t. For the best performance, look for HDMI 2.0 or HDMI 2.1, but anything over 1.4 should function. The HDMI specification has also changed over time, and older cables might not give you HD, or even 4K. In addition, we’d recommend choosing a new HDMI cable unless you’re confident that yours is fairly new. There are micro-HDMI and even mini-HDMI connectors, as well as the standard full size, so make sure you select the right cable. Be aware, however, as there are variants. HDMI is the standard connection used by most televisions and monitors, and should be familiar to most people. DVI cables are similar in appearance to VGA, although the connector heads tend to be larger and are usually white or black in color. Converting from DVI to HDMI will produce better results than VGA, but it’s still not ideal. It’s best to find a more modern alternative, considering that its technical limitations are unsuited to modern connectivity.Īlthough it’s similar to VGA, DVI is capable of far higher resolution. We would recommend avoiding using VGA connections if you can do so. ![]() You could potentially find a VGA to HDMI converter but they’re usually disproportionately costly for the quality of the connection you experience in the end. The main issue with these cables, apart from their age, is that they don't support audio transmissions, so you’ll need to connect a separate audio connector to rig yourself up properly. It also uses a 15-pin connector, with 5 pins across three rows. This once-ubiquitous connector can be identified by its shape - a trapeze with rounded edges, and the cable head, which is typically blue with screw prongs on either side. It’s more likely than not that your device is fairly ancient if you ever find yourself having to use VGA. The cabling that you will need will depend on what ports are available on your machine. ![]()
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