

It also sends DisplayPort signals out via its "alt mode," and it can even operate as a Thunderbolt port. It can accept USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) so you can charge your laptop with it. Type-C can transfer files at either USB 3.1 gen 1 (5 Gbps) or USB 3.1 gen 2 (10 Gbps) speeds. For better or worse, USB Type-C ports can support a number of different standards, but not all of them offer the same functionality. It's also reversible, so you never have to worry about putting your plug in upside down. Because it's much thinner than its predecessors, Type-C can fit on extremely svelte laptops like the MacBook 12-inch and Asus ZenBook 3. £6.49 (opens in new tab) at Amazon (opens in new tab)Īlso Known As: USB-C Description: This slim USB port is the connector of the future, already available on a number of devices and likely to replace USB Type-A, USB Type-B and microUSB on all new systems in the near future. USB docking stations that output to dual DVI monitors start at under $100. Though going from DVI-out to VGA (opens in new tab) requires a $5 adapter, it's extremely costly and difficult to convert from VGA-out on your computer to DVI-in on the monitor. Adapters Needed: You can get an HDMI-to-DVI cable (opens in new tab) for under $10 and a DisplayPort-to-DVI (opens in new tab) cable for under $15. Most mainstream USB docking stations feature at least one DVI-out port. DVI can output at up to UXGA 1920 x 1200 at 60 Hz, the standard refresh rate, but requires a second connection (aka, dual-link DVI) to power a 2K or 4K monitor. Fortunately, you can easily get an adapter to go from your computer's HDMI or DisplayPort to DVI. Often, DVI will be your best input option as many budget and mainstream displays have only DVI and VGA connectors. Unpowered DisplayPort-to-HDMI cables won't work.Īlso Known As: DVI-D, DVI-I, Dual-Link DVI Description: While you'll never see a laptop with DVI (digital visual interface)-out, almost every monitor with a full-HD resolution or below has one, and so do many desktops. If you want to go from an HDMI port on your computer to a DisplayPort on your monitor, you'll need a rather-pricey active converter that requires its own power connection and that costs over $30.


For around $25, you can get an adapter that goes from USB Type-C to HDMI (opens in new tab), provided that your Type-C supports video. Adapters Needed: If you need to connect to DVI, an HDMI-to-DVI plug (opens in new tab) costs under $10. These are a bit smaller, and it's more difficult to find adapters for them. While most laptops that have HDMI use the full-size port, there are a few superslim devices that employ mini HDMI connectors. If your computer has HDMI-out and your external display has DVI, you can convert from one to the other with an adapter that costs less than $10.
#Another name for a mininote book computer tv#
HDMI sends audio along with its video, so if your monitor or TV has speakers, you'll get sound. However, you cannot output to dual displays from a single port. Depending on your laptop's or desktop's graphics card, the machine's HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) port may be able to output at up to 4K resolution. £86 (opens in new tab) at Amazon (opens in new tab)ĭescription: This popular port is the most common one for connecting to TVs and also appears on many external monitors and projectors.
