The Future We Want: One Cable for All

This article is about the DisplayPort cable. But since DisplayPort is neatly integrated with USB Type C, it is also about that. The latest update in DisplayPort is the DisplayPort Alt mode 2.0. The new standard has interoperability with the USB4 specification by the USB Implementers Forum.

According to VESA, the update in the specs are: the USB-C connector can transmit up to 80 Gigabits per second (Gbps) of DisplayPort video data utilizing all four high-speed lanes in the cable, or up to 40 Gbps with simultaneous SuperSpeed USB data delivery.

USB C has truly become the port to have on all devices and day by day, it keeps getting more powers. When devices start getting the new DisplayPort standard, a specced out USB C port or cable would have Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0, and Power Delivery.

Now that’s the kind of cable we can call ‘one cable for all’. If you were to have devices that supported this specification and the cable, what are the things you could do?

Let’s explore:

Single wire setup:

• Remember the back of your computer desk a few years ago? You either lived in a mess or knew what cable management was. But now if you want to have a clean powerful setup, you only need to have two cables. The laptop charger and the USB C cable to plug in and power an external monitor.
• This gives you flexibility without compromise. You want a portable computer? Well, you can carry your laptop around. You want a big, advanced display for your workflow? You can choose an external monitor that you like.
• Because of the speed with which this cable passes data, you are bound to experience no lag, and you won’t need to use a special charger for the display.
• Another advantage of this cable is that, provided your actual laptop can power it, you can connect two 4K external displays. If you edit video, this can really elevate your setup and allow you to do it justice.
• The portability of a laptop cannot be appreciated more, but once you get used to a high resolution, large screen display, there is no going back.

While such a speed, and reliability requirement is for professional use, soon enough more devices, even consumer facing ones, will update to use the best and latest specifications.

If you look at someone who is working on film making or video creation, they need a setup that allows them a big enough surface area as well as plenty of ports that they can plug various things like headphones, speakers, color grading equipment, etc. In such cases, the faster, more reliable the cable they use, the better, more accurate results they will get.

Connectivity standards change quite often, if not drastically, then definitely in versions. A landscape that used to be dominated by DVI ports or VGA ports for quite a while, is now willing to use just this one USB C port. While this port has variants in the specifications that it comes with, the physical space it takes up is the same, and the basic functionality of data transfer comes built into all of them.

USB Type C becomes the obvious choice for device manufacturers going forward because they are trying to eliminate the less compatible, bigger sized ports. Devices are thinner and we are in a time when they have to do more than they used to have to.

The traditional DisplayPort cable will, in no way, be enough right now, because that means you’ll have to carry around as many cables as the tasks you need to accomplish.

The USB C implementation and devices going wireless has eliminated the need for many individual cables like HDMI, printer cables, DB cables, micro USB, proprietary charging cords, etc.

It has also made possible fast charging technology. Different OEMs have different fast charging technologies called Warp Charge etc.; all of them promise to charge your devices for about 2-3 hours of use in 10 to 20 minutes.

You can’t deny that it is highly convenient. And when that same charger can power up your laptop, phone, and headphones, it becomes even more convenient while providing a number of other possibilities with it. Charging is the most mundane thing that the USB Type C cord does.

If you are looking for your cabling needs, or to upgrade your devices, make sure you keep in mind the DisplayPort standards and to get anything with a newer USB C port. At SF Cable, you will get the cable variant you need. We stock old and new ones. Browse our store and if you have questions, please reach us here.