Learn About Computer Ports

What is it?

There are many types of ports. They are used to connect computer parts together through cables for communication and/or power. All communication ports fundamentally do the exact same thing, transfer data. The main difference between them is how fast can they transfer data. Faster connections enable transferring large data types in a reasonable period of time. For example, to transfer HD video, the connection speed needs to be fast enough to send all the data at a minimum of 24 FPS (frames per second) for the video to not be uncomfortably stuttering. In this case, the faster the connection, the higher the quality and/or FPS of the video. Moreover, many types of data can be transferred simultaneously as long as there is enough bandwidth in the connection. Some faster ports can be compatible with other slower ports. In the case a faster port is compatible with another, it is very important to make sure the entire chain of devices (Sender - Cable - Receiver) all support the fastest connection to avoid bottlenecks. The following are the most used standard ports with their capabilities:

• USB

  It stands for universal serial bus (USB), it is by far the most common port. USB has many versions. Each version can come in many shapes. Make sure you get the correct shape for your devices. Due to the nature of USB, it can be difficult to know what your USB can or cannot do. It is important to make sure that the entire chain are compatible with each other. Learn more

  USB supports power delivery. It can go up to 100W with USB-C. Make sure the entire chain (Power Adapter - Cable - Receiver) can support the needed power.

  USB Speeds

  USB 1.0 = 12Mbps

  USB 2.0 = 480Mbps

  USB 3.0  _{(USB 3.2 Gen 1)}  = 5Gbps

  USB 3.1  _{(USB 3.2 Gen 2)}  = 10Gbps

  USB 3.2  _{(USB 3.2 Gen 2x2)}  = 20Gbps

  USB 4 = 40Gbps

  Thunderbolt 4 = 40Gbps

  USB is mainly used for data transfer between PC accessories.

  USB-C can carry HDMI or DisplayPort, however, it is not a requirement for USB-C to carry these interfaces, so make sure your USB-C has your needed interfaces.

  USB can be used to carry digital audio signals.

• HDMI

  It stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), it is the most used port for video/audio transmission. It comes in 4 shapes, standard (most common), mini, micro, and can be carried inside USB-C. Learn more

  HDMI Speeds

  HDMI 1.0 = 5Gbps

  HDMI 1.2 = 5Gbps

  HDMI 1.3 = 10.2Gbps

  HDMI 1.4 = 10.2Gbps

  HDMI 2.0 = 18Gbps

  HDMI 2.1 = 48Gbps

  DP 2.0 = 80Gbps

  HDMI is mainly used for video output.

  HDMI 1.0 = Up to 1080p 60Hz

  HDMI 1.2 = Up to 1080p 60Hz

  HDMI 1.3 = Up to 1440p 75Hz

  HDMI 1.4 = Up to 1440p 75Hz

  HDMI 2.0 = Up to 4K 60Hz

  HDMI 2.1 = Up to 5K 60Hz

  HDMI can carry digital audio signals.

• DisplayPort

  It is also know as "DP", it is used for video/audio transmission. It is mainly found in high-end PCs. It is very similar to HDMI in it's capabilities, however, most of the DP versions are faster than their HDMI counterparts. The main difference between DP and HDMI is that DP supports daisy chain. This makes DP a much more versatile port while supporting higher resolutions and refresh rates. It comes in 3 shapes, standard, mini, and can be carried inside USB-C. Learn more

  DisplayPort Speeds

  DP 1.0 = 10.8Gbps

  DP 1.1 = 10.8Gbps

  DP 1.2 = 21.6Gbps

  DP 1.3 = 32.4Gbps

  DP 1.4 = 32.4Gbps

  DP 2.0 = 80Gbps

  HDMI 2.1 = 48Gbps

  DP is mainly used for video output.

  DP 1.0 = 1440p 85Hz

  DP 1.1 = 1440p 85Hz

  DP 1.2 = 4K 60Hz

  DP 1.3 = 5K 60Hz

  DP 1.4 = 5K 60Hz

  DP 2.0 = 8K 85Hz

  DP can carry digital audio signals.

  DP supports daisy chain

• Thunderbolt

  It is mainly found in high-end PCs. It comes in many versions. Thunderbolt 1 and 2 are carried through mini-DP, while Thunderbolt 3 and 4 are carried through USB-C. Most of the Thunderbolt versions are faster than their USB counterparts. Thunderbolt used to be the ultimate multi-purpose port, fortunately, now USB can do the same capabilities as Thunderbolt. Like DP, Thunderbolt supports daisy chain. Due to the great bandwidth of Thunderbolt, it is commonly used for multi-port port expansions (docks, hubs) and eGPUs. Learn more

  Thunderbolt Speeds

  Thunderbolt 1 = 10Gbps

  Thunderbolt 2 = 20Gbps

  Thunderbolt 3 = 40Gbps

  Thunderbolt 4 = 40Gbps

  USB 4 = 40Gbps

  Thunderbolt is mainly used for data transfer between high-end PC accessories.

  Thunderbolt carries digital video through DP.

  Thunderbolt carries digital audio through DP.

  Thunderbolt supports daisy chain

• Ethernet

  It is the main port for wired connectivity. Learn more

  Ethernet Speeds

  10Mbps

  100Mbps

  1Gbps

  2.5Gbps

  5Gbps

  10Gbps

  Thunderbolt 1 = 10Gbps

  Ethernet can be used for data transfers between PC accessories.

  Ethernet is used for connectivity.

• Audio Jack

  Also called Aux, 3.5mm audio, headphone jack, audio port. It is mainly used for connecting audio devices. Learn more

  Audio Jack Speed

  ~576Kbps

  USB 1.0 = 12Mbps

  Audio Jack can carry analog audio signals.

How does it work?

Ports work by doing the following (over simplified) steps:

1. Receive data from sender
2. Send data to receiver