Cable standards
19 standards, each with what it carries, which cable it needs and the traps people fall into.
USB data
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
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
HDMI
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
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