How to achieve a Laptop connected to a monitor

Have you ever stood in front of your desk with a new monitor in hand, only to wonder: “Which cable should I use? Why does my laptop port look different from the monitor port?” This moment can feel confusing, especially when you see many shapes and sizes of connectors. But don’t worry—understanding the types of ports is the first big step to having a laptop connected to a monitor. Think of ports as “doors” that let your laptop talk to your monitor. Modern laptops often use different ports, each with its own job. Next are some of the most common laptop and monitor ports:

HDMI.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a port that connects a laptop to a monitor or TV. With high-quality digital video and audio signals becoming increasingly popular, HDMI allows for simultaneous output of high-quality video and audio over a single cable. Furthermore, according to research data, HDMI supports viewing various video formats at distances up to 15 meters, Sufficient to handle a 1080p video and an 8-channel audio signal (a 1080p video and an 8-channel audio signal requires less than 4GB/s) with a large margin, a significant benefit for users who enjoy home theaters and gaming consoles.

Beyond simply mirroring your laptop screen, HDMI ports can also, with the right setup, transmit audio and video to a TV or entertainment system. Last week, we spoke with a user from South Korea, he says, “With a dual-monitor workspace, multitasking is much easier and I can watch content on a larger screen.” HDMI’s support for 5Gbps data rates and its ability to handle a variety of video formats within a range of approximately 15 meters make it an ideal choice for both work and entertainment.

USB Connector.

USB-C is basically the “star port” these days. It’s that small oval shape you see on most new laptops and phones. One little port can charge your laptop, transfer files, and sometimes even send video. But here’s the thing—it comes in a few flavors:

• USB Type-A: The standard rectangular USB port found on most computers and devices.
• USB Type-C: A newer, smaller, and more versatile port that can handle data, video, and power. In addition, USB-C ports have three data transmission standard levels, USB 3.0/3.1/3.2, typically blue.

You can learn more about USB port types on our USB connector blog. With the development of smart electronic devices, USB ports have become increasingly common in our daily lives. USB ports can now be used to connect a variety of devices, such as keyboards and mice. Some wireless mice can even be charged through their USB ports. Some Android smartphones also support USB charging. Some users have reported that some data cables charge too slowly. Therefore, USB 3.0 (up to 5 Gbps) was introduced to provide higher power transmission for users of high-power devices.

Thunderbolt.

If USB-C is the all-rounder, Thunderbolt is the “turbo mode.” Many new laptops—especially MacBooks—rely on it. It handles video, audio, data, and power at high speeds. Furthermore, the latest version, Thunderbolt 3/4/5, also uses a USB-C connector. Click to learn about the differences between Thunderbolt and USB-C.
Stats show that Thunderbolt 3 and 4 can reach speeds up to 40 Gbps—that’s about eight times faster than normal USB. (For example, when USB 3.0 came out in 2008, it was a big jump to 5 Gbps.) The latest Thunderbolt 5 even offers bidirectional data transfer rates of up to 80 Gbps, and peak rates of up to 120 Gbps in certain modes, such as bandwidth enhancement video streaming or demanding applications. Thunderbolt can also give power to devices you plug in and even support an external GPU to make your computer stronger.
So here’s the question: with power like that, how many monitors can Thunderbolt connect? One cool feature is daisy-chaining, which means you can hook up many devices—like hard drives, monitors, or audio tools—using just one port. A user in Korea even said, “Finally, I have a free and clean desk!” That’s why Thunderbolt is now the top choice for power users and pros who want better productivity.

DisplayPort.

DisplayPort is more like the “power user” choice. The standard DisplayPort looks similar to HDMI, while the Alt Mode DisplayPort cable resembles USB-C. A digital audio/video interface cable used to connect video sources such as computers and graphics cards to display devices such as monitors and TVs. It can transmit high-definition video and audio and supports USB and other data. Suitable for modern multi-monitor setups, high refresh rate, and high bandwidth applications, primarily used in desktop computers and high-end monitors. It is a modern standard that replaces the traditional VGA/DVI interface.

For gamers who prioritize latency, DisplayPort provides high-bandwidth forward transmission and supports a bidirectional auxiliary channel up to 1 Mbps, ensuring smooth gaming data transmission. Are multimedia classrooms still struggling with a lack of suitable ports? DisplayPort solves that problem. It can transmit 1080p images at 50/60Hz via four channels and even supports cables up to 15 meters long. It’s also HDMI-compatible, making mixing devices a breeze.

VGA.

VGA (Video Graphics Array) is an older analog video standard. It can only transmit video, not sound. It’s being phased out in favor of digital standards like HDMI and DisplayPort. Most modern laptops don’t have this port, but some desktops still include one.
Even though many old devices are gone now, some of them are still hanging on. VGA is one of those connections that helps link older monitors that don’t have digital inputs. You can still find it in some schools or offices where older hardware is being used. And if no other ports are available, VGA can still work to set up multiple monitors.

How do you quickly locate the ports on your laptop or monitor? Most devices have small labels near the ports, such as HDMI or USB-C. Some user manuals even list all port types with simple images. Here, we can choose to view the computer’s system information, which will provide detailed information about supported connections. Knowing this information will help us choose the correct cable or adapter. Once we have a general understanding of the location of these ports, pairing the laptop with the monitor is simple. This step is fundamental to proper setup.