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CableBin

USB-C · Thunderbolt · HDMI · DisplayPort

Which cable do I need?

Every answer here is worked out from the standards themselves: how many gigabits your screen needs, how many the link carries, and which cable is rated for it. The arithmetic is on every page.

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Start with what you're connecting

Laptop or PC → monitorUSB-C, Thunderbolt, DisplayPort or HDMI Console, PC or streamer → TVHDMI, 4K, 120 Hz, soundbars Chargingphones, tablets and laptops over USB-C Drive, SSD or dockexternal storage and USB-C docks

Common questions

Yes, if…Can USB-C do 4K at 120 Hz? YesDo I need a special cable for 240 W charging? It dependsHDMI 2.1 vs DisplayPort 1.4 for 144 Hz gaming NoCan HDMI 2.0 do 4K at 120 Hz? Yes, if…Can DisplayPort 1.4 do 4K at 144 Hz? It dependsIs Thunderbolt 4 the same as USB4?

All 16 questions →

The standards, side by side

Standard	Data	Video	Power
USB 2.0	480 Mbps	No	2.5 W (port); more via USB-C/PD
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)	5 Gbps	No (only via USB-C Alt Mode)	4.5 W (port)
USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)	10 Gbps	No (only via USB-C Alt Mode)	4.5 W (port)
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps)	20 Gbps	No (only via USB-C Alt Mode)	4.5 W (port)
USB4 (20 and 40 Gbps)	20 or 40 Gbps	DisplayPort tunnelled	USB PD required
USB4 Version 2.0 (80 Gbps)	80 Gbps (120 asymmetric)	DisplayPort 2.1 tunnelled	up to 240 W with EPR
Thunderbolt 3	40 Gbps (PCIe 16–32 Gbps)	two 4K 60 Hz	up to 100 W (USB PD)
Thunderbolt 4	40 Gbps (PCIe 32 Gbps)	two 4K 60 Hz or one 8K	up to 100 W (USB PD)
Thunderbolt 5	80 Gbps (120 boost)	multiple 4K 144 Hz / 8K	up to 240 W
USB Power Delivery (60 W, 100 W, 240 W)	—	—	60 W / 100 W / 240 W
HDMI 1.4	10.2 Gbps	4K 30 Hz / 1080p 120 Hz	—
HDMI 2.0	18 Gbps	4K 60 Hz	—
HDMI 2.1	48 Gbps	4K 144 Hz / 8K 60 Hz (DSC)	—
HDMI 2.2	96 Gbps	higher refresh 4K/8K, 16K with DSC	—
DisplayPort 1.2	21.6 Gbps	4K 60 Hz / 1440p 144 Hz	—
DisplayPort 1.4	32.4 Gbps	4K 120 Hz / 4K 240 Hz (DSC)	—
DisplayPort 2.1 (and 2.0)	40 / 54 / 80 Gbps	4K 240 Hz / 8K 60 Hz uncompressed	—
DisplayPort over USB-C (Alt Mode)	USB 2.0 or USB 3 alongside	DP 1.4 (or 2.1) over USB-C	USB PD at the same time
Lightning	480 Mbps (USB 2.0)	via adapter only	about 20–27 W with USB PD

USB data

The USB speed grades, from 480 Mbps to 80 Gbps, and the many names each one has had.

USB 2.0

The baseline every USB port still speaks. Fine for keyboards, mice and charging; slow for files.

data: 480 Mbps
video: No
power: 2.5 W (port); more via USB-C/PD

USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)

The original USB 3.0, renamed twice. Ten times USB 2.0, enough for hard drives and most flash drives.

data: 5 Gbps
video: No (only via USB-C Alt Mode)
power: 4.5 W (port)

USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)

Double the speed and much better coding. The sweet spot for portable SSDs.

data: 10 Gbps
video: No (only via USB-C Alt Mode)
power: 4.5 W (port)

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps)

Two 10 Gbps lanes at once over USB-C. Fast, but host support is patchy.

data: 20 Gbps
video: No (only via USB-C Alt Mode)
power: 4.5 W (port)

USB4 (20 and 40 Gbps)

Thunderbolt 3's protocol, opened up as a USB standard. Tunnels USB, DisplayPort and PCIe over one cable.

data: 20 or 40 Gbps
video: DisplayPort tunnelled
power: USB PD required

USB4 Version 2.0 (80 Gbps)

80 Gbps both ways, or 120 Gbps one way for displays, over the same USB-C plug.

data: 80 Gbps (120 asymmetric)
video: DisplayPort 2.1 tunnelled
power: up to 240 W with EPR

Thunderbolt

Intel's high-end USB-C links for docks, fast storage and multiple displays.

Thunderbolt 3

The first Thunderbolt on USB-C. 40 Gbps, but with optional minimums that make ports differ.

data: 40 Gbps (PCIe 16–32 Gbps)
video: two 4K 60 Hz
power: up to 100 W (USB PD)

Thunderbolt 4

The same 40 Gbps as Thunderbolt 3, with the minimums raised so every port behaves the same.

data: 40 Gbps (PCIe 32 Gbps)
video: two 4K 60 Hz or one 8K
power: up to 100 W (USB PD)

Thunderbolt 5

80 Gbps both ways, 120 Gbps towards displays. Intel's certified USB4 Version 2.0.

data: 80 Gbps (120 boost)
video: multiple 4K 144 Hz / 8K
power: up to 240 W

Charging

USB Power Delivery, the negotiation that decides how many watts a USB-C cable carries.

USB Power Delivery (60 W, 100 W, 240 W)

The charger and device agree a voltage; the cable decides whether 3 A or 5 A is safe.

power: 60 W / 100 W / 240 W

HDMI

The TV and console link. The version is a feature list; the cable has its own name.

HDMI 1.4

1080p at any common refresh rate, 4K only at 24–30 Hz. Introduced ARC.

data: 10.2 Gbps
video: 4K 30 Hz / 1080p 120 Hz

HDMI 2.0

The 4K 60 Hz standard. 18 Gbps, HDR from 2.0a, but not enough for 4K 120.

data: 18 Gbps
video: 4K 60 Hz

HDMI 2.1

48 Gbps, 4K 120 Hz, 8K, VRR and eARC. The console and gaming-TV standard.

data: 48 Gbps
video: 4K 144 Hz / 8K 60 Hz (DSC)

HDMI 2.2

Announced in 2025. Doubles HDMI to 96 Gbps with a new Ultra96 cable. Devices are only starting to appear.

data: 96 Gbps
video: higher refresh 4K/8K, 16K with DSC

DisplayPort

The monitor link, including DisplayPort over USB-C.

DisplayPort 1.2

4K at 60 Hz since 2010, plus daisy-chaining (MST).

data: 21.6 Gbps
video: 4K 60 Hz / 1440p 144 Hz

DisplayPort 1.4

The current workhorse. 4K 120 Hz uncompressed, 4K 240 Hz and 8K with DSC.

data: 32.4 Gbps
video: 4K 120 Hz / 4K 240 Hz (DSC)

DisplayPort 2.1 (and 2.0)

Up to 80 Gbps with UHBR20. 4K 240 Hz uncompressed and 8K without compression.

data: 40 / 54 / 80 Gbps
video: 4K 240 Hz / 8K 60 Hz uncompressed

DisplayPort over USB-C (Alt Mode)

How most USB-C ports send video. The USB-C pairs are handed over to DisplayPort.

data: USB 2.0 or USB 3 alongside
video: DP 1.4 (or 2.1) over USB-C
power: USB PD at the same time

Lightning

Apple's 2012–2023 phone connector.

Lightning

Apple's reversible 8-pin connector, 2012–2023. USB 2.0 speed on almost every device.

data: 480 Mbps (USB 2.0)
video: via adapter only
power: about 20–27 W with USB PD

“USB 3.1 Gen 2” means what?

The same 10 Gbps has been sold under five names. The USB names decoder lines them all up.

How many Gbps does my screen need?

4K at 60 Hz needs 12.54 Gbps; 4K at 144 Hz in 10-bit needs 39.19. Work out any resolution and see which links carry it.