Display port cables

[ladybug]

Hi! So I want to get a Thunderbolt 4 to DP 1.4 cable for my MacBook Air. I saw a few cables but I was wondering. If my MacBook is thunderbolt 4 and I get thunderbolt 3 cable will it work? Also if a cable is thunderbolt  does that have extra benefits over regular usb-c for a display port cable or does that just mean it's compatible with MacBook? does the brand matter? Like if it's an  unknown brand but they claim to have DP1.4 8K60hz cable do I trust them? It's cheaper but I don't know if the cable is good what do you think?

[Eigenvektor]

Cables actually don't have or support specific protocol versions, even though companies like to advertise them as such. However cables do have a maximum supported bandwidth. This limits the maximum resolution/refresh rate that is supported by the cable. If a cable is advertised as DP 1.4 it generally means "supports the maximum bandwidth of DP 1.4".

 

The cable uses USB-C and DisplayPort as its physical connectors and the protocol that is used to drive the monitor is DisplayPort. Whether the port on your Mac also speaks USB 3, 4 and/or Thunderbolt 3 or 4 isn't relevant.

 

The cable being advertised as TB3 or 4 is basically just marketing. As noted above, the maximum bandwidth supported by the cable is the technically relevant information, as well as the maximum DisplayPort version that's supported by the port's alt-mode.

 

If you want to have the best chance of the cable working as advertised you should probably buy a cable that's officially certified. Those are a bit more expensive because certification costs money. Cheaper, uncertified cables may work just as well, but it's a gamble. If possible, try to find a review for the cable or at least have a look at user reviews of those who bought it, if available.

[ladybug]

1 hour ago, Eigenvektor said:

Cables actually don't have or support specific protocol versions, even though companies like to advertise them as such. However cables do have a maximum supported bandwidth. This limits the maximum resolution/refresh rate that is supported by the cable. If a cable is advertised as DP 1.4 it generally means "supports the maximum bandwidth of DP 1.4".

 

The cable uses USB-C and DisplayPort as its physical connectors and the protocol that is used to drive the monitor is DisplayPort. Whether the port on your Mac also speaks USB 3, 4 and/or Thunderbolt 3 or 4 isn't relevant.

 

The cable being advertised as TB3 or 4 is basically just marketing. As noted above, the maximum bandwidth supported by the cable is the technically relevant information, as well as the maximum DisplayPort version that's supported by the port's alt-mode.

 

If you want to have the best chance of the cable working as advertised you should probably buy a cable that's officially certified. Those are a bit more expensive because certification costs money. Cheaper, uncertified cables may work just as well, but it's a gamble. If possible, try to find a review for the cable or at least have a look at user reviews of those who bought it, if available.

Ok thanks! Can you recommend a cable? Do you know any good usb-c to display port cables?

[ladybug]

On 1/3/2023 at 9:17 PM, stefanmz said:

Ok thanks! Can you recommend a cable? Do you know any good usb-c to display port cables?

Nevermind I found some 

[Eigenvektor]

3 minutes ago, stefanmz said:

Nevermind I found some 

Ah, sorry. Don't have any cables to recommend, but glad you found some We just bought some cheap cables at work since we didn't need more than 60 Hz