The simplicity of connecting a USB-C cable to a monitor can be frustrating if you encounter unknown technical glitches. An incompatible monitor or a faulty USB port could be the culprit. As simple as it sounds, the actual issue may not be so and will need quick troubleshooting. Once you set it up correctly, the connection is automatic and won’t bother you more.
Just because your monitor has a USB-C port doesn’t mean any USB-C cable will work. While, eventually, all USB-C cables will be interchangeable, a monitor that’s designed to use USB-C for video and for power as well will need a USB-C cable that allows enough power to be delivered to the device.
Even if all these reasons are favorable, your monitor may remain unresponsive. What could bring your monitor to life could be something trivial. It is the key to a world of options to enjoy high-speed connectivity and productivity seamlessly. Let’s analyze and understand the reasons.
Why isn’t Your Monitor Working with a USB-C Cable?
This requires more technical analysis of the devices to determine the cause of the conflict. So here are some of the prominent reasons that are causing problems connecting with your monitor:
Incompatible Accessory
If your PC has incompatible accessories, like an old graphics card with less memory, it is unlikely that a USB-C cable can connect to your monitor. Check the configuration of your graphics card and upgrade it, if possible.
Outdated Device Driver
Device drivers need to be updated as and when available to perform optimally. You can either do it manually or use driver updater software like DriverFix that checks the version on your PC and updates it automatically.
USB Not Recognized
Some PCs may not be compatible with the USB-C cable. It may not recognize the external device and will disallow the connection, resulting in your monitor not working. The port should be USB-C compatible to enable connectivity.
Limited Display Connection
Alternate Mode is a new feature of USB Type-C that allows you to play audio and video on non-USB devices that support this mode. The display connection will be limited for PCs that do not support DisplayPort, MHL, and HDMI modes.
Faulty USB Port
If the USB port is damaged or has any unwanted particles like dust preventing the connection, then the monitor will not display. Clean the port with compressed air and retry the calibration.
Unsupported Adapter
The latest PCs support the USB-C digital audio adapter. However, if you have an analog audio adapter, it will not work. Replace it with a digital audio adapter to resolve this problem.
Are All USB-C Cables the Same?
Although the shape and type of connector in a USB-C cable are the same, their purpose and performance are varied. Therefore, every category of Type-C cable has different technical specifications.
Hence, their protocols and transfer speed will vary depending on their class. For example, a device with a transfer rate of 40Gbps requires a Thunderbolt 3 cable (on Amazon).
But if you use any other compatible Type-C cable with a lower transfer rate, its performance will be slower. And it might adversely affect the device because of inadequate power.
Do All USB-C Cables in the Same Category Perform Identically?
Well, there is a catch there, and you might need to set your priorities according to your budget. Like in any other product, there are cheaper and expensive ones, so it is for USB-C cables too.
The beauty of a USB-C cable is that it is compact and can be connected in any direction, unlike earlier versions of a USB. Both may appear similar, but the cheaper one, like the Amazon Basics USB-C cable (on Amazon), will be slightly thinner.
Technically, there will be some variations in their performance depending on their respective capabilities and features.
But both can charge your gaming laptop or other mobile devices almost at the same rate of 60 watts. So, paying more for the expensive ones (approx. $19) to get the same charging performance may not be wise.
Are Cheaper Cables Better?
What steals the show is the stark difference in their data transfer rate. The cheaper ones are painfully slower, giving a throughput reading speed of 480mbps, like a USB 2.0. In this test, the expensive one is the clear winner.
Moreover, you can get Thunderbolt support in some brands, like the Amazon Basic 6-foot USB-C USB 3.1 Charging Cable (on Amazon).
So, if you only need to charge your tablet or phone, the cheaper one may be the ideal choice. But if your requirement is for high-speed data transfer, you know which one to pick.
Choosing the Right USB-C Cable for Your Monitor
Did you know the USB port enables your PC to act as a USB hub? It extends your PC’s connectivity. It provides expandability to your visual workspace without needing additional graphics cards or other hardware setups.
Consequently, this results in less complex infrastructure and lower maintenance costs.
It takes less space and is more power efficient than other connection methods. Moreover, it can connect with other devices with its plug-and-play simplicity, rendering a seamless transmission of superior quality videos, audio, and images.
All it needs is the appropriate cable to connect both devices. But you will not get the desired output if you try to connect with an incompatible or inferior quality cable.
So, choosing the right USB-C cable for your monitor is very important. Picking the right one will also depend on your purpose of what you want to play or watch on your monitor.
Can a USB-C Cable Connect to Older Monitors?
The challenge is that not all monitors come with a USB-C cable. Moreover, the older ones have VGA cable that transmits analog instead of digital signals. So, picking just any USB-C cable will not work.
Do a quick check on these configurations:
- Does your monitor come with a USB-C cable?
- What is the resolution and refresh rate for video support?
- Does it transmit video and audio signals separately?
- What is the power consumption for charging your laptop over this connection?
This valuable information will help you select the correct cable. For example, you would need a USB-C to DisplayPort cable to match the older monitor’s connection to connect with older monitors.
Is a No-Brand USB-C Cable Good Enough?
USB-C cable is considered the current industry standard. It is the ideal connector widely used in all the latest electronic devices and gadgets. Its 24-pin structure can transmit both data at high speed and power.
Several brands (and no-brand) sell the USB-C cable you are looking for. Cheap or expensive, reputed or lesser-known brands, your buying decision depends on your need and budget.
Your USB-C cable should essentially have two aspects to serve—power and high-speed audio/video data transfer. Therefore, you should be prudent while selecting the right cable that covers these aspects.
An unbranded cable, like this one (on eBay), might serve your purpose if the usage is limited to basic charging. It would be adequate if there were sufficient positive reviews (at least 1000) for such products in the marketplace, although that is not a guarantee.