The Future We Want: One Cable For All

This 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 specifications say that 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?

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.