Home Office Cables and Adapters

The cables a desk actually needs, in one place: USB-C charge-and-sync cables, USB-C to HDMI and DisplayPort adapters for a laptop and monitor, DisplayPort and HDMI monitor cables, USB 3.0 and 2.0 leads for drives and printers, replacement computer and monitor power cords, and Cat6 patch cables for a wired connection to the router.

Two questions that settle most desks

Laptop to monitor? If the laptop has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode, a USB-C to DisplayPort or USB-C to HDMI cable is the cleanest link; otherwise use the monitor's native DisplayPort or HDMI input from the laptop's video port. Charging and data? A USB-C cable marked 100 W charges any laptop; a 10 Gbps cable keeps an external SSD fast. Every listing states speed, wattage and connectors, so the cable you get does what the box says. See monitor cable types identified and why USB-C cables behave differently.

Start here: our guide to USB-C to HDMI vs USB-C to DisplayPort.

Common questions

Which power cord fits my monitor or desktop? Almost all use a NEMA 5-15P to IEC C13 cord; 18 AWG covers monitors and desktops, 16 or 14 AWG suits workstations and larger power supplies. Laptop bricks use a C5 (three-slot) or C7 (figure-8) cord.

Can I run two monitors from one laptop port? Only with a DisplayPort output that supports MST and monitors with a DP output, or with a dock. A single USB-C to HDMI cable drives one display.