Cables and adapters for laptops: everything you need to know

Whether in the office, at home or on the go - cables and adapters are essential accessories for every laptop user. They expand the functionality and connection options and thus exploit the full potential of the device. In this article, we will show you the different laptop adapters and cables available for notebooks and desktop PCs and how to choose the right products for your requirements.

Why are adapters and cables for laptops so important?

Cables and adapters are the key to the smooth operation of a notebook or desktop PC. They enable the power supply for laptops, data transfer and the connection to peripheral devices. With increasingly slim laptops - such as ultrabooks - there is sometimes less space available for dedicated connections. Even high-end ultrabooks such as those in the XMG EVO series, which come with plenty of external ports by design, benefit from flexible solutions for connecting different devices and technologies.

Adapters for laptops: What options are available?

Adapters for laptops and desktop PCs are electronic devices that are used to establish a connection between the laptop and an external device. There are different types of adapters depending on the intended use. We present the most important ones here.

Signal adapters, USB hubs, memory card adapters

Signal adapters make the connections on your laptop or desktop PC suitable for various other connections on an external device. Some examples are:

• Video adapters for USB-C and Thunderbolt allow the laptop to be connected to an external monitor, even if no other dedicated graphics interfaces are available. This usually works via USB-C to DisplayPort, but also via USB-C to HDMI.
• Video adapters for dedicated graphics interfaces can convert the output signal. Such adapters convert a signal from DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort to HDMI, for example. However, they also enable the connection of older devices such as video projectors or displays that still have a DVI or VGA connection.
• USB adapters expand the connection options, e.g. by connecting USB-C to USB-A.
• Network adapters for USB can be used to connect a network cable if the laptop itself does not have an integrated Ethernet port (USB-C to LAN).

Other laptop adapters such as USB hubs and card readers ensure that you can connect multiple USB devices to the laptop via a USB-A or USB-C port or allow you to connect memory cards such as SD cards if your laptop does not come with an integrated card reader.

Travel and power adapters for laptops (charging adapters)

You can charge your laptop while travelling using a practical, small USB-C power adapter. However, make sure that the USB-C or Thunderbolt port supports this feature (PowerDelivery). Depending on the connection, it is typically possible to charge the laptop with 65, 100 or up to 140 watts: pay attention to the power supply compatibility. The standard external power supply units for gaming laptops are significantly more powerful. However, a small travel power supply is sufficient to recharge your high-end notebook under low load, for example when surfing the internet or watching videos.

Additional universal adapters (travel adapters) for travelling with a laptop enable you to connect your laptop power supply or USB-C power supply to sockets in other countries. This means you don't have to replace your entire laptop charger.

Docking stations are multifunctional adapters for laptops

Docking stations are the all-rounders among laptop adapters. Connected via a single USB-C or Thunderbolt port, they combine a whole range of functions. A modern docking station not only offers you several USB-A or USB-C ports, but also allows you to connect external monitors via DisplayPort and HDMI or integrates a network cable connection.

Cables for laptops and desktop PCs: The most important connectors

Laptop cables and cables for desktop PCs are physical wires that connect the laptop or PC to other devices. There are different cables for each port and, of course, cables for communication between two devices with different ports. The most important cables for portable and stationary computers are as follows:

• Video cables or graphics cables are used to transmit video and sometimes audio signals from a laptop to an external monitor. The most common connections are DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, Mini HDMI or Micro HDMI. Older devices also rarely still use DVI or VGA.
• Special adapter cables for video signals have different plugs at both ends. For example, you can connect a laptop with Mini DisplayPort output to a monitor with DisplayPort input.
• Data cables for USB-C and Thunderbolt enable fast data transfer between your notebook and external storage devices such as external SSDs.
• Network cables (Ethernet) are used to connect laptops or desktop PCs to a wired network.
• Charging cables for laptop power supplies or PC power supplies connect your device to an external power source and are included in the standard scope of delivery.

What should you look out for when buying cables?

Before buying a cable for your laptop or desktop PC, make sure it is compatible with the port:

• For a current device with DisplayPort 2.0 or 2.1 and HDMI 2.1, the cable should also comply with this specification.
• This also applies to USB-C, USB-A, Thunderbolt and Ethernet cables, which should be compatible with the generation and version of the connection.
• This is the only way to achieve maximum data transfer speed and the highest bandwidth when transferring video signals or in the network.

Cable connections are more reliable and less susceptible to interference than wireless connections. Nevertheless, you should use high-quality cables with the best possible material quality, as these guarantee you optimum performance with a long lifetime and are simply more reliable.

Maintenance and avoiding common problems

To prolong the lifetime of your cables and adapters and get the best performance in the long term, you should never kink, overstretch or pull hard on cables to avoid damaging them. You should also check them regularly for any damage and replace defective products.

Buy cables and adapters for laptops at bestware

When it comes to adapters and cables for laptops and desktop PCs, you can buy the ideal solution as laptop accessories on bestware.com: whether it's cables and adapters for data transfer, the best HDMI cables for laptops and monitors, docking stations or any other type.