Sep 21, 2023
Hey fellow gamers! 🎮
If you're anything like me, you've probably been glued to your screens, eagerly devouring every tidbit of information about the latest handheld gaming devices. And let's be honest, the buzz right now is all about the Steam Deck and the ROG ALLY. These two powerhouses have been making waves, and it's high time we pit them against each other to see which one truly reigns supreme in the handheld gaming world.
Now, I've been fortunate enough to get my hands on both of these bad boys, and let me tell you, it's been an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. From the sleek design to the mind-blowing graphics, there's so much to unpack.
When it comes to gaming, especially handhelds, design isn't just about aesthetics. It's about how the device feels in your hands during those intense boss battles, or when you're sneaking around in a stealth mission. So, how do the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally stack up in this department?
First things first, size does matter (at least in the world of handheld gaming). The ROG Ally is the sleeker of the two, boasting a more compact design that's perfect for on-the-go gaming. It's lighter, making it a breeze to carry around, and trust me, your wrists will thank you during those extended play sessions. But don't let its size fool you; the Ally feels as premium as any top-tier gaming laptop out there.
Now, the Steam Deck is a bit of a chunky monkey. It's bulkier, but there's a reason for that extra heft. It's packed with features and controls that are designed to give you a more immersive gaming experience. And while it might take a tad more space in your backpack, the robust build ensures it can handle the rough and tumble of daily use.
This is where things get interesting. Both devices come with the familiar Xbox-style controls, but with a twist. The Steam Deck introduces two trackpads, giving you that extra precision, especially handy if you're into strategy games or first-person shooters. It's a unique touch (pun intended) that sets it apart from other handhelds.
On the flip side, the ROG Ally isn't just sitting on its laurels. It comes with a nifty fingerprint sensor, ensuring quick unlocks and added security. Plus, for those of you who can't stand lag (who can?), the Ally boasts faster Wi-Fi capabilities, ensuring smooth multiplayer sessions without those pesky connection drops.
Alright, pixel peepers and frame rate fanatics, this one's for you! 🖥️✨
When it comes to gaming, a top-notch display can make all the difference. It's not just about seeing the enemy before they see you; it's about immersing yourself in vibrant worlds, witnessing epic cutscenes in all their glory, and truly feeling the rush of every in-game moment.
Kicking things off with the basics: resolution. The ROG Ally is the belle of the ball here, flaunting a crisp 1080p display. Every texture, every shadow, every little detail pops, making your games look downright gorgeous. Whether you're exploring mystical realms or bustling city streets, the Ally ensures you won't miss a pixel.
The Steam Deck, on the other hand, sports an 800p display. Now, I know what you're thinking: "Isn't that a step down?" On paper, yes. But in practice, the difference isn't as stark as you might imagine. The screen is smaller, which means pixel density remains high, offering a clear and vibrant visual experience. It might not have the razor-sharp clarity of the Ally, but it's no slouch either.
Now, let's talk smoothness. The ROG Ally pulls ahead with a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate. For the uninitiated, this means gameplay is ultra-fluid, making fast-paced action sequences a joy to experience. Those high-speed chases and intense shootouts? They've never looked better.
The Steam Deck, while sticking to a standard 60Hz, still offers a smooth gaming experience. It might not have that extra oomph in super-fast scenes, but for most games and genres, it does the job admirably. Plus, its touchscreen capabilities add another layer of interactivity, which is a neat bonus.
We've all been there: that heart-sinking moment when a game lags right as you're about to land the final blow, or when the graphics stutter during a crucial cutscene. Performance is the lifeblood of gaming, and today, we're diving deep into the heart of the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally to see which handheld truly packs a punch.
First up, the raw numbers. And let me tell you, they're juicy!
The ROG Ally is a beast on paper. Armed with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, it boasts more cores and higher clock speeds. It's like having a mini gaming PC right in your hands. Every action feels snappy, every environment loads seamlessly, and multitasking? A breeze.
But don't count the Steam Deck out just yet. It comes equipped with a custom APU that, while not as beefy as the Ally's, is tailor-made for the device. It's optimized for handheld gaming, ensuring that every ounce of power is used efficiently.
Numbers are great, but how do these devices fare in the gaming arena?
Surprisingly, the Steam Deck often punches above its weight. Despite the ROG Ally's superior specs on paper, the Deck delivers faster frame rates in many AAA games. It seems Valve really did their homework, optimizing the device for peak performance. Whether you're battling demons or racing supercars, the Deck ensures a smooth and immersive experience.
The ROG Ally, while no slouch, sometimes struggles to keep up, especially at its native 1080p resolution. For the best performance, you might occasionally need to drop to 720p. But when it shines, it truly shines, offering breathtaking visuals and fluid gameplay.
In the world of handheld gaming, storage isn't just a luxury—it's a necessity. So, how do the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally stack up when it comes to holding onto our precious gaming treasures?
Starting with the basics: the built-in storage.
The Steam Deck offers a buffet of choices. Whether you're a casual gamer or a full-blown enthusiast, there's an option for you. With 64GB, 256GB, and a whopping 512GB variants, it caters to all. And the best part? The higher-tier models come with faster NVMe SSDs, ensuring lightning-quick load times.
Now, the ROG Ally doesn't play around. It goes all out with a solid 512GB SSD right off the bat. And it's not just any SSD—it's equipped with the latest PCIe 4.0 interface. Translation? Blazing fast speeds and near-instant game launches. It's like having a turbo boost for your games!
But what if you're one of those gamers with an ever-growing library? Fear not, expandability is here!
Both devices come equipped with a microSD card slot, but they're not created equal. The ROG Ally boasts a UHS-II interface, which, in non-techy terms, means faster data transfers. So, if you're looking to offload some games or save files, the Ally ensures it's done in a jiffy.
The Steam Deck, while offering a standard microSD slot, provides a more budget-friendly solution. It might not be as fast as the Ally's, but it's perfect for storing those less frequently played titles or game archives.
Beyond the flashy hardware and sleek designs, there's a world that truly defines our gaming experience: the realm of operating systems and software. It's the unsung hero that can make or break our handheld adventures. So, how do the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally fare in this digital domain?
The age-old question: "But can it run my favorite games?"
The ROG Ally comes loaded with Windows 11, a familiar face for many PC gamers. This means you get access to a vast ocean of games, from the latest AAA titles to those nostalgic indie gems. Whether you're a Steam loyalist, an Epic Games enthusiast, or a fan of other launchers, the Ally has got you covered. It's like having your entire PC library in the palm of your hand.
The Steam Deck, on the other hand, introduces us to the Linux-based SteamOS. Now, I know some of you might be raising an eyebrow, but hear me out. This OS is snappy, tailored for the device, and offers a seamless integration with your Steam library. However, there's a catch: not all PC games are Linux-friendly. But fret not! With Proton, a compatibility layer, many of your favorite titles will run smoothly. And for the tech-savvy, there's always the option to install Windows and expand your horizons.
It's not just about playing games; it's about the journey.
Navigating the ROG Ally feels like cruising through familiar territory. Windows 11 offers a refined, user-friendly experience, ensuring everything from game launches to software tweaks feels intuitive. Plus, with access to a plethora of apps and tools, customization is just a few clicks away.
The Steam Deck's SteamOS, however, offers a more curated experience. It's designed for gaming on the go, ensuring that everything from game selection to settings adjustments is streamlined. The interface is clean, the transitions are smooth, and for those who live and breathe Steam, it feels like home.
First up, the raw numbers. How long can these devices keep the gaming magic alive?
The Steam Deck is a true marathon runner in this race. Depending on the game's demands, you can expect anywhere from 5 to 8 hours of uninterrupted gameplay. That's right, folks! Whether you're grinding levels, exploring vast open worlds, or indulging in indie delights, the Steam Deck ensures you're powered up for the long haul.
The ROG Ally, while packing a punch in many departments, is a bit more of a sprinter when it comes to battery life. On average, you're looking at around 3 to 5 hours of playtime. It's decent, especially when you consider the device's powerful specs and high-resolution display. But if you're planning an all-nighter, you might want to keep that charger handy.
It's not just about how long the battery lasts, but how efficiently it's used.
The Steam Deck, with its custom APU and optimized SteamOS, does a commendable job of balancing performance with power consumption. Whether you're playing less demanding titles or diving into graphics-intensive games, the device manages its energy resources like a pro.
The ROG Ally, with its beefier hardware and Windows 11 OS, tends to consume power at a faster rate. But here's a pro tip: the device comes with different power profiles. So, if you're looking to squeeze out some extra playtime, switching to the 'Silent' or 'Battery Saver' mode might just do the trick.
First and foremost, let's address the sticker price.
The Steam Deck, coming from the gaming giant Valve, offers a tiered pricing model based on storage options. Starting at a more budget-friendly price for the 64GB model, it scales up for the 256GB and 512GB variants. It's a flexible approach, catering to both casual gamers and hardcore enthusiasts.
The ROG Ally, on the other hand, is a product of Asus's premium ROG (Republic of Gamers) line. With its top-tier specs, sleek design, and brand reputation, it commands a heftier price. But remember, you're getting a device that's packed with features, high-end components, and that signature ROG flair.
But price isn't just about the initial outlay; it's about the value you get over time.
The Steam Deck, with its robust build and Valve's backing, promises consistent software updates, a vast game library via Steam, and potential hardware add-ons in the future. It's a device that's built to evolve, ensuring you get value for years to come.
The ROG Ally, being a Windows-based device, offers versatility beyond gaming. Think of it as a mini gaming PC. You can run various applications, multitask, and even dabble in content creation. Plus, with Asus's track record of quality and durability, it's a device that's built to last.
In the end, the choice boils down to what you value most. If you're looking for a dedicated gaming handheld with a flexible price range, the Steam Deck is a solid pick. But if you're after a premium, versatile device that can handle both gaming and more, the ROG Ally might just be your perfect match.
Well, fellow gamers, we've journeyed through the ins and outs, the highs and lows, and the pixels and performance of two of the most talked-about handheld gaming devices of our time: the Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally. 🎮🏆
From design aesthetics to battery life, from storage solutions to price points, these two powerhouses have shown that the future of handheld gaming is not just bright—it's dazzling! But as with all epic battles, there can't be two winners. Or can there?
The Steam Deck, with its flexible pricing, tailored OS, and Valve's gaming legacy, is a dream come true for those who've always wanted their Steam library on the go. It's a device that promises evolution, adaptability, and hours of immersive gaming.
The ROG Ally, on the other hand, is the Swiss Army knife of handheld gaming. With its premium build, Windows versatility, and top-tier specs, it's for those who want more than just gaming from their device. It's a testament to Asus's commitment to pushing boundaries and setting new standards.
So, where does that leave us? Honestly, in a fantastic spot! Whether you're team Steam Deck or team ROG Ally, one thing's clear: handheld gaming has never been this exciting. It's a golden era, and we're all lucky to be part of it.
AUG 21, 2023
Over the past decades, handheld gaming devices have morphed from the pixelated screens of the Gameboy to the stunning visuals of the Nintendo Switch OLED and the power-packed performance of the ROG Ally. Each iteration aimed at giving us gamers the most immersive experience while on the go. And now, with the Steam Deck and others entering the arena, there's a whirlwind of questions. Who exactly is the Steam Deck for? How does its dedicated SteamOS change the game (pun intended)? And most crucially, can it truly rival other gaming juggernauts like the Switch OLED or the iPad Air in this saturated market?
Valve, the mastermind behind gaming legends like "Half-Life" and the colossal game distribution platform, Steam, has never been one to shy away from innovation. With the Steam Deck, they're not just introducing a new handheld device; they're making a bold statement. This isn't just about playing games on the go; it's about bringing the full-fledged PC gaming experience right into our palms. Imagine having the power of your gaming rig, with the vast library of Steam, all wrapped up in a sleek, portable design. That's the dream Valve is selling with the Steam Deck.
But as with any new tech, questions arise. How does the Steam Deck fit into our current gaming ecosystem? Is it a Nintendo Switch competitor, or is it carving out its own niche? And with its dedicated SteamOS, how does it change the dynamics of game accessibility and playability?
Ah, nostalgia! Who among us doesn't remember the sheer joy of unwrapping our very first handheld gaming device? Whether it was the iconic Gameboy with its monochrome charm or the more recent Nintendo Switch, offering console-quality gaming on the go, handhelds have always held a special place in our gamer hearts.
Let's take a stroll down memory lane, shall we? The late '80s saw the birth of the Gameboy – a chunky device with pixelated graphics that nonetheless stole our hearts. Tetris, anyone? Fast forward a bit, and we were introduced to the Gameboy Color, bringing our favorite games to life in vibrant hues. The 2000s were dominated by the Nintendo DS and PSP, devices that not only upped the ante in terms of graphics but also gameplay complexity.
But Nintendo wasn't done surprising us. Enter the Nintendo Switch. A hybrid beast that could seamlessly transition from a home console to a portable gaming device. The Switch, with its detachable Joy-Cons and vast game library, truly blurred the lines between home and handheld gaming.
Now, while these handhelds were revolutionizing on-the-go gaming, there was a silent yearning among a segment of gamers. PC gamers, to be precise. They longed for the depth, graphics, and sheer variety that PC gaming offered but in a more portable format. Laptops were an option, sure, but they lacked the true essence of 'pick-up-and-play' that handhelds offered.
This latent need was a gap in the market. A space that devices like the GPD Win tried to fill, but it wasn't until Valve's announcement of the Steam Deck that the gaming community truly sat up and took notice. A device promising the power of PC gaming with the convenience of a handheld? It sounded almost too good to be true.
Alright, fellow gamers, let's get down to brass tacks. Who exactly is the Steam Deck's siren call intended for? At a glance, it might seem like Valve is gunning for the same audience as the Nintendo Switch. But dig a little deeper, and you'll find that the Steam Deck is courting a slightly different crowd.
Enter the PC gamer. You know the type – the ones who swear by their custom rigs, relish in tweaking game settings to perfection, and have a Steam library bursting at the seams. The Steam Deck is a love letter to them. It promises the depth and breadth of PC gaming but without the confines of a stationary setup. For those who've dreamt of taking their favorite AAA titles or indie gems on the go, the Steam Deck is a dream come true.
In the vast ocean of gaming devices, where does the Steam Deck anchor itself? It's not just another handheld in the traditional sense. It's a hybrid, a bridge between the worlds of PC and portable gaming. While devices like the Nintendo Switch offer a curated gaming experience, the Steam Deck is like a wild, open frontier. With its PC roots, it offers gamers the freedom to mod, customize, and even venture outside the Steam ecosystem.
But it's not just about gaming. With its open-ended Linux-based SteamOS, the device can double up as a mini-PC. Browsing, streaming, productivity – the Steam Deck wears many hats, making it a versatile addition to any tech arsenal.
So, what sets the Steam Deck apart in this crowded marketplace? First and foremost, it's the sheer power under the hood. We're talking a custom APU developed by AMD, ensuring games run smoothly and look stunning. Then there's the control layout – a blend of traditional gamepad buttons, trackpads, and a touchscreen, offering a range of input methods to suit any game.
But the real game-changer? The SteamOS. It's not just a platform; it's a statement. A declaration of freedom, allowing users to install third-party software, access other game stores, and truly make the device their own.
Alright, game enthusiasts, let's dive into the heart of the Steam Deck: the SteamOS. Now, for those uninitiated, SteamOS isn't just any operating system; it's Valve's custom Linux-based OS, tailor-made for the Steam Deck.
SteamOS is a game-changer (pun totally intended) when it comes to game accessibility. With its Linux backbone, it opens doors to a plethora of games that were previously restricted to PC setups. Think about it: your entire Steam library, from indie darlings to graphic-intensive AAA titles, all playable on a handheld device. And the best part? No need for repurchases or waiting for 'handheld versions' of your favorite games. If it's on Steam, it's on your Steam Deck.
Now, while the idea of a dedicated OS sounds fantastic, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons in our ever-diversifying gaming market.
Pros:
🎮 Flexibility: Unlike other closed ecosystems, SteamOS gives you the freedom to tweak, mod, and customize to your heart's content.
🎮 Open-Ended: Want to venture outside the Steam ecosystem? No problem. Install third-party apps, access other game stores, or even switch to a different OS. The world is your oyster!
🎮 Regular Updates: Being a Valve product, you can expect regular updates, optimizations, and improvements tailored for the Steam Deck.
Cons:
🕹️ Learning Curve: For those used to more mainstream OSs, there might be a slight learning curve to navigate the Linux-based SteamOS.
🕹️ Compatibility Issues: While Valve is working hard to ensure a vast majority of games run smoothly, there might be occasional hiccups with certain titles due to the Linux foundation.
As we wrap up our deep dive into the Steam Deck's position in the modern gaming world, it's time to take a step back and gaze into the crystal ball. The initial buzz around the Steam Deck has been nothing short of electric. Gamers, developers, and tech enthusiasts alike have all been abuzz with discussions, reviews, and speculations. But the million-dollar question remains: Does the Steam Deck have the stamina for the long haul?
The initial impact is undeniable. Valve has managed to carve out a niche in a saturated market, targeting the PC gaming community's latent needs. The promise of a portable PC gaming experience, complete with the vast Steam library, is a tantalizing proposition. But as with any tech product, it's the long-term viability that truly determines success.
Looking ahead, several factors will influence the Steam Deck's trajectory. The continuous support and updates from Valve, the device's adaptability to future gaming trends, and the ever-evolving gaming ecosystem's demands will all play crucial roles.
Prospects:
🎮 Developer Support: With Valve at the helm, the Steam Deck is poised to enjoy robust developer support, ensuring a steady stream of optimized games and applications.
🎮 Community Engagement: The gaming community's enthusiasm and feedback will be pivotal. Modding, community-driven enhancements, and user-generated content could propel the Steam Deck to new heights.
Challenges:
🕹️ Stiff Competition: The gaming world is dynamic. New devices, platforms, and technologies are always on the horizon. The Steam Deck will need to continuously innovate to stay ahead of the curve.
🕹️ Hardware Limitations: As games become more graphically intensive and demanding, will the Steam Deck's hardware stand the test of time?
In conclusion, the Steam Deck, with its unique proposition and Valve's backing, has made a splash in the gaming pond. Its long-term success, however, hinges on its adaptability, community engagement, and Valve's commitment to continuous improvement. Only time will tell if it becomes a staple in every gamer's collection or a fond memory of innovation. But one thing's for sure: the Steam Deck has added a thrilling chapter to the annals of gaming history.
AUG 7, 2023
Mastering The Game: An Introduction to The Steam Deck and Tips for An Enhanced Gaming Experience
The gaming world was set ablaze when Valve Corporation, the masterminds behind the Steam platform, unveiled their latest creation - the Steam Deck. This isn't just another handheld console; it's a full-fledged portable PC gaming device. Imagine having the power of a gaming PC right in the palm of your hands, with the freedom to play your favorite Steam games wherever you go. No more being tethered to your desktop or waiting for that game to be ported to other consoles. The Steam Deck promises to revolutionize the way we think about portable gaming.
So, whether you're a die-hard PC gamer looking to take your games on the road, or you're just dipping your toes into the vast ocean of Steam's game library, this post is for you. Stick around as we unpack everything you need to know about the Steam Deck and share some pro tips to get the most out of your gaming sessions.
First off, can we just take a moment to appreciate the sleek design of the Steam Deck? It's like Valve took all our gaming dreams and packed them into this compact, ergonomic beauty. With a 7-inch touchscreen display, best-in-class thumbsticks, and a trackpad that feels just right, it's evident that every inch of the Steam Deck was designed with gamers in mind.
But it's not just about the looks. Under the hood, the Steam Deck is an absolute beast. Powered by a custom AMD APU, it promises to deliver a gaming experience that rivals many desktop PCs. And with a fully-fledged Linux-based SteamOS, you're not just limited to gaming. Want to watch movies, browse the web, or even get some work done on the go? The Steam Deck has got you covered.
Now, here's where things get interesting. Valve didn't just stop at creating one version of the Steam Deck. Oh no, they went all out and gave us three different models to choose from:
• 64GB eMMC Model: The perfect entry point for gamers on a budget. It comes with a carrying case and offers a smooth gaming experience without breaking the bank.
• 256GB NVMe SSD Model: Looking for something faster? This model not only offers quicker storage but also throws in an exclusive Steam Community profile bundle. Talk about leveling up!
• 512GB NVMe SSD Model: For the gaming elites out there, this is the crème de la crème. With the fastest storage, premium anti-glare etched glass, and a bunch of exclusive goodies, it's the ultimate portable gaming machine.
Let's rewind a bit. Remember the days when "portable gaming" meant compromising on graphics, gameplay, or both? Those pixelated screens and limited controls? Well, those days are long gone. The Steam Deck is here to redefine what portable PC gaming means. Imagine playing your favorite AAA titles, with all the graphics settings turned up, right in the palm of your hand. Mind-blowing, right?
The Steam Deck isn't just another handheld console—it's a revolution. By merging the power of PC gaming with the convenience of portability, Valve has created a device that's set to change the way we game. No more being tied to a desk or waiting for console ports of your favorite PC games. With the Steam Deck, the world is your gaming arena.
And it's not just about the games. The Steam Deck's open-ended Linux-based SteamOS means you can customize, tweak, and mod to your heart's content. Want to install third-party launchers? Go for it! The power truly is in your hands.
So, fellow gamers, are you ready to embrace the future of gaming? The age of being tethered to one spot is over. With the Steam Deck, every spot is the perfect spot for an epic gaming session.
The Steam Deck is a treasure trove, capable of holding a vast collection of games. But with great power comes great responsibility:
• Organize Your Library: Use categories or shelves to keep your games sorted. Whether it's by genre, mood, or playtime, a well-organized library means quicker access to your favorites.
• Prioritize Storage: Not all games are created equal. Keep your most-played titles on the device, and consider using external storage for the rest. Remember, the faster the storage, the smoother the gameplay.
The Steam Deck is versatile, but when you're on the go, a few tweaks can make all the difference:
• Adjust Brightness: Save battery by dimming the screen when you're in well-lit areas. Plus, it's easier on the eyes!
• Use Power Saving Modes: The Steam Deck offers various power profiles. When you're looking to maximize battery life, opt for a power-saving mode. It might tone down performance a bit, but it'll keep you gaming for longer.
While the Steam Deck is a powerhouse on its own, the right accessories can elevate your experience:
• Get a Quality Headset: Immerse yourself fully with a noise-cancelling headset. Every footstep, every soundtrack, every in-game whisper becomes crystal clear.
• Protective Case: Keep your Steam Deck safe from bumps and scratches with a sturdy case. Plus, it's great for carrying a few extra accessories!
• Dock It Up: From enhanced connectivity to rapid charging, a proper Dock for Steam Deck is a must-have for any serious gamer.
Just as any seasoned gamer knows, a device is only as good as the accessories that complement it. And that's where the magic of docking stations comes into play. Enter the iVANKY Docking Station for Steam Deck. This isn't just any dock; it's tailor-made to elevate the Steam Deck experience to stratospheric levels. We're talking 4K output, lightning-fast charging, and a suite of connectivity options that'll make your gaming sessions smoother than ever.
In the ever-evolving world of gaming, there's one thing that often stands between a good gaming session and a great one: connectivity. We've all been there—lost connections, laggy gameplay, and peripherals that just won't sync. But what if I told you that the key to unlocking seamless gaming lies in one word: connectivity? Let's dive into the heart of the matter and see how the right connections can elevate your gaming adventures.
Visuals, visuals, visuals! In today's gaming landscape, it's all about immersion. And nothing breaks immersion faster than grainy graphics or stuttering frames. Enter HDMI 2.0 4K@60Hz output. With this feature, games come alive in stunning clarity, making every pixel pop. Whether you're exploring vast open worlds or indulging in fast-paced action sequences, the iVANKY Gaming Dock ensures your games look their absolute best. It's like having a front-row seat to your own personal gaming cinema!
Ah, the dreaded lag monster! We've all faced it, especially during those crucial online matches. But with the Gigabit Ethernet port on the iVANKY dock, lag becomes a thing of the past. This feature guarantees a stable, high-speed internet connection, ensuring that your online gaming sessions are smooth and interruption-free. So, whether you're teaming up with friends or facing off against rivals from around the world, you can game on with confidence.
Let's talk peripherals. From gaming mice and keyboards to headsets and controllers, the right peripherals can make or break your gaming experience. And with the iVANKY dock's three USB-A 3.0 ports, you can connect all your favorite gadgets with ease. The best part? Lightning-fast data transfer speeds ensure that every command, every click, and every movement is registered instantly. It's all about giving you that competitive edge.
When we're deep into a gaming session, lost in the world of epic quests and fierce battles, there's one thing we dread more than a final boss: that low battery warning. Power management is the unsung hero of gaming, and with the 100W Charging USB-C Port on the iVANKY Steam Deck Dock, it charges your Steam Deck at full speed, keeping you in the game for longer. No more mid-game power outages or prolonged charging breaks. With the iVANKY dock for Steam Deck, it's all about uninterrupted, high-octane gaming.
Now, you might wonder, "Why all this fuss about fast charging?" Well, fellow gamers, imagine being on the cusp of a game-changing victory, only to be halted by a dying battery. Frustrating, right? Fast charging ensures that your gaming sessions are longer, and your device is always ready for action. Whether you're on a marathon gaming spree or just squeezing in a quick session during a break, the iVANKY dock's fast charging capabilities have got your back.
Moreover, efficient power management means less heat, ensuring that your Steam Deck runs cooler, even during the most intense gaming sessions. It's all about optimizing performance while keeping things cool and smooth.
So, fellow gamers, are you ready to unlock the full potential of your Steam Deck? With the right dock by your side, the sky's the limit.
JUL 14, 2023
The ASUS ROG Ally is not just another handheld gaming device. It's a powerhouse that brings AAA gaming right into the palm of your hand. With its AMD Z1 Extreme APU, Zen 4 architecture, and RDNA™ 3 graphics, the ROG Ally is a beast that's ready to redefine your gaming experience. But what if I told you there's a way to unlock even more potential from this already impressive device? Enter the iVANKY ROG Ally Dock.
So, buckle up, gamers! We're about to embark on a journey exploring the synergy between the ASUS ROG Ally and the iVANKY ROG Ally Dock, and how this dynamic duo can elevate your gaming experience to new dimensions. Let's dive in!
If you're a gaming enthusiast like me, you know that the heart of any gaming device is its processor. The ASUS ROG Ally is no exception. This handheld gaming device is powered by the AMD Z1 Extreme APU, a powerhouse that combines the Zen 4 architecture and RDNA™ 3 graphics. This potent combination is built on a cutting-edge 4nm process, ensuring that your games run smoothly and look stunning.
But what does this mean for you, the gamer? It means that the ROG Ally is capable of delivering AAA gaming experiences right in the palm of your hand. Whether you're exploring vast open worlds or battling it out in high-octane action sequences, the ROG Ally has got you covered.
Now, let's talk about power modes. The ROG Ally offers three different operating modes to balance performance and power usage. You have the Silent Mode, which operates at 10W, the Performance Mode at 15W, and the Turbo Mode at 25W (or 30W when connected to AC power). This means you can choose the mode that best suits your gaming needs, whether you're looking for quiet operation, balanced performance, or all-out power.
As gamers, we know that a great gaming experience isn't just about power and performance. It's also about immersive visuals that draw us into the game world. That's where the ASUS ROG Ally truly shines.
The ROG Ally boasts a 7-inch FHD 120Hz display, a feature that's sure to make any gamer's heart race. This high refresh rate ensures smooth and responsive gameplay, making every movement, every action, every moment feel incredibly lifelike. Whether you're navigating through intricate landscapes or engaging in fast-paced combat, the ROG Ally's 120Hz display keeps everything fluid and seamless.
But the visual magic of the ROG Ally doesn't stop there. The device also features upscaling technologies like FidelityFX™ Super Resolution and Radeon™ Super Resolution. These advanced technologies boost framerates while maintaining excellent image quality, giving you a gaming experience that's not just smooth, but also stunningly beautiful.
Imagine playing your favorite AAA games with visuals so crisp and smooth, it feels like you're right there in the game world. That's the kind of immersive gaming experience the ROG Ally offers.
We know that there's no such thing as too many games. But with great game collections come great storage needs. That's where the ASUS ROG Ally steps up to the plate.
The ROG Ally is equipped with a dedicated UHS-II microSD card slot, allowing you to expand your storage and carry an extensive game library wherever you go. Whether you're a fan of sprawling RPGs, action-packed shooters, or intricate puzzle games, the ROG Ally has got the space to store them all.
But the storage capabilities of the ROG Ally don't stop at expandable memory. The device also features up to 512GB of PCIe Gen 4 storage courtesy of an M.2 2230 SSD. This means lightning-fast load times and smooth performance, even for the most demanding games.
And let's not forget about memory. The ROG Ally uses LPDDR5-6400 memory to keep the Ryzen™ processor fed with data at a moment’s notice. This ensures smooth and responsive gameplay, even when you're in the heat of the action.
In the world of handheld gaming, power management is king. After all, what good is a powerful gaming device if it can't keep up with your gaming sessions? That's why the ASUS ROG Ally is designed with advanced charging and power management features that ensure you can game on without interruption.
One of the standout features of the ROG Ally is its fast charging capability. This device can charge from 0-50% in just 30 minutes, meaning you can get back to your game in no time. Whether you're at home, on a break, or on a long journey, the ROG Ally ensures that your gaming sessions are never cut short due to low battery.
But it's not just about charging fast. The ROG Ally also offers impressive battery life, providing up to 2 hours of gaming or up to 6.8 hours of video playback. This means you can enjoy extended gaming sessions or binge-watch your favorite shows without worrying about running out of power.
And let's not forget about the ROG Ally's power modes. With Silent Mode, Performance Mode, and Turbo Mode, you can choose the perfect balance between performance and power consumption to suit your gaming needs.
Now that we've explored the impressive features of the ASUS ROG Ally, it's time to introduce the other half of this dynamic duo: the iVANKY ROG Ally Dock. This compact yet powerful device is the perfect companion for your ROG Ally, designed to take your gaming experience to new heights.
In the world of gaming, connectivity is key. The ability to connect to a variety of devices and networks can significantly enhance your gaming experience. That's where the iVANKY ROG Ally Dock comes into play, unlocking the full potential of your ASUS ROG Ally.
The iVANKY ROG Ally Dock is equipped with an array of ports that offer unparalleled connectivity. With an HDMI 4K@60Hz output, you can connect your ROG Ally to a larger screen for an immersive gaming experience. Imagine playing your favorite games on a big screen, with every detail rendered in stunning 4K resolution. It's a game-changer, literally.
But the connectivity options don't stop there. The iVANKY ROG Ally Dock also features a Gigabit Ethernet input, allowing you to connect to a high-speed internet connection for smooth, lag-free gaming. Whether you're battling it out in an online multiplayer game or streaming your gameplay, the iVANKY ROG Ally Dock ensures a stable and fast internet connection.
And let's not forget about the three USB 3.0 ports and a USB-C port for charging. These ports allow you to connect a variety of peripherals, from controllers to headsets, enhancing your gaming experience. Plus, with the USB-C port, you can keep your ROG Ally charged and ready for action.
In short, the iVANKY ROG Ally Dock is not just a docking station—it's a connectivity hub that unleashes the full potential of your ASUS ROG Ally. It enhances the ROG Ally's capabilities, providing a more versatile and immersive gaming experience.
You may know that with these graphics cards, you can basically take full advantage of the most cutting-edge 8K and high frame rate 4K technology available today to achieve an upgrade to your gaming or audio/video experience. But do you know how to bring out its full potential? Before you get these new cutting-edge graphics cards, you should get to know these.
iVANKY has matching HDMI and DisplayLink video cables for you to explore their capabilities.
The new generation RTX 40 series graphics cards feature the new Ada Lovelace architecture. The new architecture is based on TSMC's custom 4nm process with higher transistor integration density and greater scale, meaning significantly higher performance, and efficiency. In addition to substantial performance improvements, the RTX40 series also brings new third-generation RT Core and fourth-generation Tensor Core cores and new DLSS3 technology, etc., and of course, the price is not cheap.
Based on the data of the two graphics cards themselves and a large number of real-world gaming tests, our team agreed that:
a) If you are an Esports pro, a high-end gamer or gaming YouTuber with a very extreme pursuit of game effects and frame rates, or need to do professional creations such as 3D rendering frequently: buy the RTX 4090.
In these cases, you’d want to enjoy the most cutting-edge technology. When gaming, you can run 4K@144Hz effortlessly, and if you need to do rendering or have frequent access to high-end audio and video, its support for 8K will let you enjoy top efficiency both for work and entertainment.
b) If you are more in pursuit of cost-effectiveness and want to drive some popular PC games, or enjoy some 4K movies and videos as a visual treat: just buy the RTX 3090.
It supports you to edit some everyday videos, drives most of the popular games and 4K video resources, if you are just casual entertaining or vlogging as a hobby rather than a professional creative worker.
At present, 8K resources are still far from being called universal, and it can be easily surmised that 8K TVs and displays are not the kind of consumer electronics that everyone can afford. (In a nutshell: they're expensive and just not necessary for most people.)
As you know, the RTX 3090 and 4090 are both very powerful graphics cards. If you buy them as an upgrade to your recent graphics card and want to run them with your current PC, chances are you'll need to upgrade your case configuration along with them, and maybe even replace it with a larger case - because the RTX 4090 is so big that a small case may not have enough room reserved for it to be mounted.
So which accessories are most urgently in need of upgrading? We think they are the CPU, power supply, and video cables.
a) CPU and Motherboard: get the most suitable ones to boost the performance of your new graphics card
If you expect to get your hands on RTX 3090 or 4090 series graphics card, we presume you won't skimp on your budget when choosing a CPU.
You can use the upcoming 13th generation Intel Core with it, and the recommended one will be Intel Core i7-13700K/KF.
This generation of i7-13700KF already runs at a frequency beyond the i9-12900K/KF, with the same number of cores and extra cache, and can even be seen as an i9-12900KS PLUS. But of course, i9-12900K is a middle-high range choice that can’t go wrong.
Gaming won't rely on a particularly large number of threads, so even the lower-priced i5-12600KF with six high-performance cores (+4 E cores), runs the RTX 4090 without significant bottlenecks. But if you have both professional graphics rendering and online gaming needs, you still need to spend a bit more money to upgrade a higher-end CPU.
b) Power Supply: the essential for large energy consumption high-end graphics cards and accessories
The most popular RTX 4090 has a peak power consumption of 600W. The i9-12900K has a full load power consumption of nearly 260W. The maximum power consumption of the graphics card and CPU is 860W. Considering the redundancy and instant power consumption, we recommend using a power supply with a rated power of 1250W to ensure a stable power supply for the platform in one step.
If you use RTX 3090 and a CPU with slightly lower power consumption than 12900K, we still recommend using a power supply with 1000W or more, regardless of the impact of changes in other accessories.
In addition, with such a bunch of large power consumption stuffed into your computer case, heat is a factor that should not be ignored. The easiest solution is to pair a top-notch water cooling.
c) A Legit Video Cable: ditch your old DisplayPort 1.2 cable
The cable is the most overlooked issue and most likely to affect your gaming audio and video experience.
You may find that you already have good graphics card and CPU, other configurations are fine, but the refresh rate just won't go up.
Where might the problem lie? The problem may be the cables that you don't pay much attention to. Maybe you want to output 4K@144Hz, but with a DP 1.2 cable that only supports up to 4K@60Hz. If you want to get enough video signals out in time, then the bridge for them to walk must be wide enough.
iVANKY provides a full set of solutions. Whether you want an HDMI or a DisplayPort cable for your new cards, iVANKY has gotten the matching DP 1.4 cable and HDMI 2.1 cable with the official certifications.
General Mid-end Build with RTX 3090:
In text:
Type | Item | Price |
---|---|---|
CPU | Intel Core i7-12700K 3.6 GHz 12-Core Processor | $331.49 @ GameStop |
CPU Cooler | Asus ROG STRIX LC II ARGB 80.95 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler | $229.99 @ B&H |
Motherboard | Asus ROG STRIX Z690-A GAMING WIFI D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard | $308.95 @ Amazon |
Memory | Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory | $94.99 @ Amazon |
Storage | Western Digital Blue SN570 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive | $69.98 @ Amazon |
Video Card | Zotac GAMING Trinity OC GeForce RTX 3090 24 GB Video Card | $1543.29 @ MemoryC |
Case | Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic ATX Full Tower Case | $149.99 @ B&H |
Power Supply | Corsair RM1000x (2021) 1000 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply | $189.95 @ B&H |
Operating System | Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM - DVD 64-bit | $107.99 @ Other World Computing |
Monitor | LG 27GN950-B 27.0" 3840 x 2160 144 Hz Monitor | $546.00 @ Adorama |
Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts | ||
Total | $3572.62 | |
Generated by PCPartPicker 2022-11-30 03:54 EST-0500 |
High-Performance Work & Play Edition with RTX 4090:
In text:
Type | Item | Price |
---|---|---|
CPU | Intel Core i9-13900K 3 GHz 24-Core Processor | $659.99 @ B&H |
CPU Cooler | Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX 75 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler | $169.99 @ Amazon |
Motherboard | Asus ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO ATX LGA1700 Motherboard | $629.99 @ Newegg |
Memory | Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-5600 CL36 Memory | $149.99 @ Amazon |
Storage | Western Digital Black SN850X 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive | $229.99 @ Western Digital |
Video Card | Asus ROG STRIX GAMING OC GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB Video Card | $1999.99 @ ASUS |
Case | Asus ROG Strix Helios ATX Full Tower Case | $249.99 @ Amazon |
Power Supply | EVGA SuperNOVA 1300 G+ 1300 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply | $249.00 @ Amazon |
Monitor | Dell UP3218K 32.0" 7680 x 4320 60 Hz Monitor | $3799.00 @ Amazon |
Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts | ||
Total | $8137.93 | |
Generated by PCPartPicker 2022-11-30 03:55 EST-0500 |
All White Exquisite Looking Version:
In text:
Type | Item | Price |
---|---|---|
CPU | Intel Core i7-12700KF 3.6 GHz 12-Core Processor | $339.00 @ B&H |
CPU Cooler | Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX 75 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler | $184.99 @ Amazon |
Motherboard | Asus ROG STRIX Z690-A GAMING WIFI D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard | $308.95 @ Amazon |
Memory | Acer Predator Talos 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory | |
Storage | Western Digital Blue SN570 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive | $69.98 @ Amazon |
Video Card | Asus ROG STRIX WHITE OC GeForce RTX 3090 24 GB Video Card | $2199.98 @ Amazon |
Case | Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO ATX Mid Tower Case | |
Power Supply | Corsair RM1000x (2021) 1000 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply | $189.95 @ B&H |
Case Fan | Lian Li UNI SL120 58.54 CFM 120 mm Fans 3-Pack | |
Monitor | LG 27GN950-B 27.0" 3840 x 2160 144 Hz Monitor | $546.00 @ Adorama |
Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts | ||
Total | $3838.85 | |
Generated by PCPartPicker 2022-11-30 03:55 EST-0500 |
A beautiful white look is good, but you still have to live within your means. Every hardware has white hardware at every price point, and if you give up performance for looks, it's not necessary. It's better to stay within your budget and protect the performance of the host before considering the appearance.
]]>As laptops become thinner and thinner, and full USB-C ports become ubiquitous and popular, the number and variety of ports for laptops have eventually has dwindled. While USB-C ports are undoubtedly powerful, two or three of them simply aren't enough to satisfy the need to connect to more external devices anymore.
A docking station is the most perfect solution to solve this problem. Although it seems to have not many technologies involved, due to the number and types of interfaces, there is still a lot of information asymmetry, which makes it difficult for consumers to make their choices. For instance:
We sincerely hope that this article can help you purchase your docking station so that you can avoid spending money on unnecessary features. These specific steps are not difficult and can be concluded by the following three steps:
Of course, the first step in the shopping process is to be clear about your needs and requirements. What devices do I need to connect to? To what extent do these devices need to operate? The number of peripheral devices determines the number of ports required, and the performance requirements of running peripheral devices determines the performance of the ports required.
Common external devices are as follows:
A. The Display
External displays are a great solution to the problem when the display area of the laptop screen is too small. Hence, using external displays is very common nowadays. However, people's needs vary as follows:
Based on the above requirements, the interface types available are HDMI, DP, and USB-C.
HDMI:
HDMI is currently the most mainstream video transmission interface, has relatively high popularity, and can easily be found on almost all display devices. HDMI also has many versions, so when choosing an HDMI interface, you should choose the HDMI version according to your requirements for display performance. The details can be seen in the following table:
As you can see, the HDMI interface for 1080P display support is amazing, the main difference being the highest refresh rate under 4K resolution. Trust me on this one, the human eye will be able to perceive the difference between 30Hz and 60Hz. A 30Hz display will feel strangely clunky. If you upgrade to 4K, you can simply skip the 4K@30Hz HDMI 1.4 port when shopping.
If you want to learn more about HDMI versions, check HERE.
DP (DisplayPort)
DP ports, while not as common as HDMI, can transmit video and audio signals and perform even better, especially for high-refresh monitors. It also comes in various versions:
The lower DP 1.2 version is sufficient for 4K@60Hz. Of course, the premise is that the monitor is also equipped with the corresponding version of the DP interface. Click HERE to learn more about DisplayPort.
USB-C
As we mentioned in our previous article, USB-C has grown in functionality over time, including video transmission. The high-performance Thunderbolt, in particular, retains all the features of USB-C thanks to its USB-C connector. However, be sure to note that there are many versions of the USB-C interface, and not all of them support video transmission!
In general, only the USB-C port with Alt Mode and the high-performance Thunderbolt port, which already supports video transmission, can support external monitors. Alt Mode can be simply interpreted as using USB-C ports as HDMI or DP interfaces for video transmission. Therefore, the maximum resolution and refresh rate supported by Alt Mode varies with supported versions. It is best to check the specific supported specifications on the details page before purchasing.
The Thunderbolt interface is also a great choice for high-end monitors because it uses the DP video transfer protocol:
Thunderbolt is highly targeted and expensive, but it has strong performance and is compatible with all versions of the USB protocol. It also has the most extensive features. Therefore, if you have Thunderbolt on your device and you have certain performance requirements, you are advised to invest and make use of it.
B. Mobile storage
For common storage devices such as USB flash drives and portable hard drives, the most popular USB port is undoubtedly a must! When we have to make our choices, the main concern is the transmission speed. Therefore, when selecting a USB interface, we should consider the following two points: the interface type and the interface protocol.
The interface types
Although there are various types of USB ports, the most common ones are USB Type-A and USB Type-C. The most obvious difference between them is in shape:
Interface protocols
In addition to different shapes, different USB ports can also carry different versions of USB protocols. The functions and performance of different USB interfaces are distinct, too. We might often look at USB 3.0, USB 3.1, and other names, and yet with the appearance of new versions of the protocol, the standards we know so far have received new names - hence we might be unable to distinguish them when trying to make a purchase. The following table summarizes the common names and official names of various versions of the USB protocol, but they are actually the same thing.
When selecting a docking station, you need to match the interface protocol based on the transfer speed of the storage device. If you have a USB 3.0 portable hard drive, choose a dock with USB 3.0 ports to ensure the full performance of the storage device. Additionally, the new version is backward compatible with the old version, so it is perfectly acceptable to get a port newer than USB 3.0.
A storage card is also a form of mobile storage. It is very common in digital cameras, video cameras, and other shooting equipment. Similar to USB ports, memory cards come in different interface shapes and standards. Here are two common memory card sizes and standards:
The larger one on the left is an SD card, and the smaller one on the right is a Micro-SD card, also known as a TF card. When choosing, you only need to choose the size of the storage card used by your external device.
In addition to size, you also need to pay attention to the standard of the memory card. At present, mainstream memory cards are mainly divided into UHS-I and UHS-II standards, which are also convenient to distinguish. As you can see in the image above, the memory card on the right has two rows of pins. This is the UHS-II standard memory card. With only one row of pins, the natural counterpart is the UHS-I standard memory card.
The UHS-I has a theoretical transfer speed of 104MB/s, while the more powerful UHS-II has a theoretical transfer speed of 312MB/s. The UHS-II is also backward compatible with UHS-I. Before selecting a memory card, you should determine the size and standard of the card you want to use, then select the docking station that equips the corresponding card slot.
C. Mouse and Keyboard
While there are already plenty of wirelessly connected Bluetooth mouse and keyboards on the market, if you're still using a wired mouse or a high-end mechanical keyboard that requires a wired connection, it's important to make sure the docking dock has the right port.
The keyboard and mouse usually use USB-A port, and the performance requirements of the keyboard and mouse are relatively low. Therefore, you only need to pay attention to the number of ports available, without worrying about the version and performance.
D. Ethernet cable
Although wireless networks are utilised widespread, some users will still need a wired connection. The choice on the expansion dock is basically one kind -- the RJ45 gigabit network port, with a transmission rate of 1Gbps, a theoretical download speed of 125MB/s, and theoretically enough to meet the network needs of most users.
E. Audio
Most phones on the market no longer support a 3.5mm headphone jack, and people are embracing the convenience of wireless headphones. However, it is common to use a headset or microphone for meetings at home, live broadcasts, games, and entertainment.
If you need a 3.5mm audio interface, you are advised to check whether the interface supports both input and output. If the interface does not support both input and output, the sound cannot be collected and the headset and microphone cannot work properly.
F. The power supply
We need to pay attention to two parts: the first part is the power to charge the laptop, the second part is the power to charge some other devices (such as mobile phones, tablets, etc.).
Whether you choose a portable docking station that allows you to work on the go or a base station that sits on your desk, charging your laptop is a basic requirement. If the maximum power supply of the expansion dock is lower than the operating power of the notebook, it may be very slow to charge, or even unable to charge.
Take the 2020 M1 MacBook Pro as an example; we learned on the official website that its charging power is 61W. Therefore, when buying a docking station, it is necessary to ensure that the power supply of the docking station to the laptop can be higher than 61W, in order to ensure the normal performance of the laptop.
If you need to charge your mobile phone, headset, or other devices, you can use the USB-A or USB-C port installed on the docking station. The charging speed of the USB-A port is relatively slow, If you want faster charging, you need to pay attention to whether the USB-C port of the docking station supports PD fast charging.
Theoretically, PD quick charging can support 18W-100W charging power, but since the docking station also needs to power the laptop and various external devices also need a certain degree of power supply, the charging power left for the USB interface may not be very high. When purchasing, please pay attention to whether the charging power of the interface meets the needs of the device. If not, it is recommended to buy additional PD fast chargers.
Currently, most of the mainstream laptops on the market are equipped with USB-C ports. However, USB-C ports can carry a variety of protocols, so the functions of USB-C ports on different devices are also mixed, which means that not all USB-C ports can support the use of a docking station. Some USB-C ports can only charge but not transmit data, while others can transmit data but not video. Thus, in addition to understanding our functional requirements, we also need to make sure that the USB-C port on the laptop is compatible with those capabilities.
If we want to successfully use the docking station that supports external monitors, we need to make sure that the USB-C port supports video transfer. That requires either a full-featured USB-C port with DP Alt Mode or a powerful Thunderbolt 3 port. And the docking station should match the USB-C specification on the laptop. We must note that if we want to buy a Thunderbolt 3 docking station, our laptop will also need a Thunderbolt 3 port.
Paying attention to the logo next to the USB-C port may quickly help you identify the features it supports. We put together a table of common logos and the functions they represent:
On some devices, several signs appear next to the USB-C port at the same time, meaning that the port can support these functions at the same time.
(The USB-C port on the device above supports both USB 2.0 and DP Alt Mode video transmission.)
However, not all manufacturers (Apple's MacBook, for instance) print logos next to the interface, so if you don't have one or you're not sure, it's best to check the official technical specifications to make sure your device can use the docking station.
If you're an Apple user with a 2016-2020 MacBook Pro, the iVANKY Docking Station Pro, optimized for the MacBook Pro, is the way to go. It's not a Thunderbolt 3 dock, but the dual USB-C connector designed for the MacBook Pro offers the same performance for a much better price.
A. Portable or fixed?
When we mentioned the docking station, we had the impression that it was suitable for the home office, fixed on the table, and would not move around. The reason for this impression is that such stationary docking stations often have independent power sources. That means it doesn't need to drain your laptop's battery to power external devices and can even charge your laptop. But its separate power module also means it's not portable enough to handle the demands of mobile work.
A portable docking dock is great for slipping into a bag and carrying around, but its performance and number of ports may not match that of a stationary docking dock. In addition, due to the lack of an independent power supply, the hub needs to consume the power of the laptop to power external devices. When buying, we can choose according to our own usage scenarios.
B. Design
A variety of designs can be found on the market for both portable and stationary docking stations. There are currently two types of portable hubs: The cable-free ones, and those with short extension cable.
The cable-free hub itself does not contain wires and can be plugged directly into the side of the notebook, which looks better overall. But because there is no wire to cushion the pressure of movement and touch, there’s a potential risk of damaging the port. The wired ones don't have to worry about that.
The stationary docking usually has two designs: vertical and horizontal. The horizontal design is the first choice for most consumers because it is easy to find the right place on any worktable. However, vertical docking stations are preferred because of the small footprint, taking up less desktop space, which makes the desktop look cleaner and neater.
(The iVANKY Thunderbolt 3 docking station can be used both vertically and horizontally.)
No matter the sort of design, it is designed to pass elaborate considerations. The frequently used ports are on the front, while ports that aren't frequently reached are placed on the back. It makes cable management easier, and it can be really handy when in use!
C. Right Cables
Choose the right expansion dock, which of course, will also require proper cables in order to fully equip your workbench. Whether the transmission of video, data, or power supply, in fact, follows the barrel principle, the actual performance is determined by the shortboard. So even though the laptop and docking docks are in place, if the cables are lagging behind, you may still not be reaching the desired performance.
Therefore, you are advised to select cables based on interface specifications. If you are buying an expansion dock with an HDMI 2.0 port, you should get a cable that at least supports HDMI 2.0.
Additionally, the length of the cable also requires careful decision making. Short cables can be disastrous if you have a complex setup, and long cables can make cable management difficult. If you are using an electric standing desk, you should also consider whether the height of the table will affect the normal use of those cables.
Buying a docking station can be expensive, but it can transform your laptop into a powerful desktop workstation, greatly increasing your productivity and efficiency, and it's plug-and-play easy.
However, there are a wide variety of docking options and specifications are also uneven. If you are considering to get one, it is suggested that you evaluate your needs according to the steps in this article, to avoid the trouble of buying the wrong model or spending more money than necessary. Once you get a taste of that power and productivity, you'll never go back.
(MacBook Pro 15-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports.)
However, the USB-C port on the MacBook isn't just any ordinary USB-C port. It's Thunderbolt 3, which is an extremely powerful port. Many are wondering if the Thunderbolt 3 port is a USB-C port. Considering the USB-C cable works on the same port and they both have the same shape, what exactly is Thunderbolt 3?
As we mentioned in a previous article, USB ports come in a variety of shapes, and USB-C is just one of them. The name ‘USB-C’ simply refers to the shape of this port.
However, USB connectors are not only categorized and differentiated by shape. They can also be loaded with different protocols, which enable the interface to perform a variety of functions. When you purchase a USB-C cable, you will usually see the names "USB 3.0," "USB 2.0," "Thunderbolt," all of which are different protocol names.
What’s so exquisite and special about Thunderbolt 3? Just like many other USB protocols, it has evolved over several generations. At first, it wasn't using a USB-C port.
The MacBook iteration is a glimpse into Thunderbolt's evolution - although Intel has been leading Thunderbolt's development, Apple has also done its best to promote this particular technology.
The 2008 MacBook has dozens of ports. As you can see, the side of the notebook is covered with various ports. Apparently, there is MagSafe for charging, Gigabit Ethernet for wired internet access, Mini DVI for connecting to external monitors, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 for transferring data, and so much more. With so many ports functioning at once, a thick, bulky notebook body is clearly inevitable.
But remember, Apple is the first company to remove the headphone jack. With so many inbuilt ports at the side, it's definitely not aesthetically pleasing. Hence, the Mini DVI port was replaced immediately after the smaller Mini DP came out -- and it can transmit video as well, and is equipped with better performance.
However, that only makes the interface for video a little smaller. How can you optimize the rest of the interface? That's when Intel came along with their inspiring Light Peak technology.
In 2009, Intel first demonstrated its new Light Peak technology. The technology was officially called Thunderbolt and first went on sale in 2011. The Thunderbolt protocol originally had the same physical appearance as the Mini DP port, and it was immediately shipped on the MacBook in 2011, replacing the 2010 Mini DP port. Both Mini DP cables and adapters can work with Thunderbolt ports too.
Thunderbolt's technology supports both data and video, which means that it can transmit data, video, and audio signals with a single wire, and can even supply power to peripheral devices. The specifications of the original Thunderbolt technology are as follows:
So how fast is 10Gbps? 10Gbps can theoretically copy a FullHD movie in just 30 seconds, which is 20 times faster than the USB 2.0 protocol of the same period.
(Although the ports are the same, Thunderbolt has a lightning-shaped Logo.)
While the new ports are extremely powerful, you can see that the 2011 MacBook Pro doesn't have fewer or thinner ports. In fact, Thunderbolt's technology is so cutting-edge - hence its low popularity. At the time, USB-A was the dominant port, and common devices such as mouse, keyboards, and USB drives were using USB-A ports, so Apple couldn't immediately eliminate all those frequently-used USB-A ports on the MacBook.
In 2013, Intel introduced the second generation of Thunderbolt technology, known as Thunderbolt 2. The interface still has the same shape as the Mini DP, but is equipped with improved performance:
Apple, of course, was the first company to adopt the technology, offering Thunderbolt 2 on the MacBook Pro in 2013. As you can see, the 2013 MacBook Pro's side has been much cleaner, but with the popularity of Wi-Fi and the obsoletion of Firewire ports, the Ethernet port, and Firewire port have been thoroughly eliminated. The number of Thunderbolt 2 ports has been increased to two, while the regular USB port still remains.
The MacBook Air, which was released in the same year, was a big hit at the time for its ultra-thin body, which means that the configuration of ports has also become simpler. However, due to the significance of particular ports, Apple retained a Thunderbolt 2 port and two USB 3 ports.
In a sign of Apple's obsession with the technology, the Mac Pro, Apple's most advanced desktop workstation at the time, was crammed with six Thunderbolt 2 ports. You can find Thunderbolt 2 ports on every MAC released between 2013 and 2015 until Thunderbolt 3 came along.
At the end of 2015, Thunderbolt technology received another upgrade, which was closely related to USB-C. The USB-C port is small enough to fit on a thin device and can be inserted in either direction without distinction. It can also carry protocols for data, video, and power supply at the same time. A single USB-C cable can easily complete all the work, so it was really welcomed at the time and slowly gained popularity.
The popularity of USB-C is actually the biggest advantage. The Mini DP failed to catch on for many years and was found only on a handful of laptop brands, and yet USB-C became widely recognized and accepted. That's why Thunderbolt 3, released in 2015, chose USB-C as its preferred carrier.
In 2016, Apple dropped all the usual ports on the new MacBook Pro, keeping only the advanced Thunderbolt 3-powered USB-C port. This radical move caused great controversy when the USB-C interface was not widely used, and many media expressed confusion and anger - mouse, keyboards, monitors and SD cards were no longer usable, requiring the purchase of various adapters to continue normal use of external devices.
(Until this day, MacBook Pro owners still can't shake their fear of being dominated by the various adapters.)
Apple's boldness, of course, is driven by its belief in the power of the Thunderbolt 3 interface:
What does 40Gbps mean? Copying 25,000 photos takes less than a minute. With 100W of charging power, it was more than enough to charge even the most powerful 15-inch MacBook Pro at the time. With the power of Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C, all of these functions can be done on a single wire.
Apple also introduced the Thunderbolt display, a collaboration with LG, which requires only a Thunderbolt 3 cable connection to transmit images and charge the laptop at the same time, making it a perfect match for the new MacBook Pro with a clean desktop that isn't cluttered with cables.
It really sounds great, right? But here's the problem: The Thunderbolt 3 port is so high-end that the average consumer can't use it daily -- would you copy 25,000 photos at once? When was the last time you copied something? Besides, many people purchase laptops because of their lightness and mobility, and not everyone will choose to attach an external monitor. Plus, how many of those are going to require plugging in two high-end 4K monitors?
Because of this, there are still a lot of people today who don't really know what Thunderbolt is, even though the laptop they're using actually comes with Thunderbolt.
Thunderbolt 3, for all its benefits, is aimed at professional users, which is exactly what the MacBook Pro is trying to target. For example, professional users engaged in design, photography, video editing, and other creative work, often have hundreds of GB of file handling, and of course, they need faster transmission to improve efficiency, and they also need high resolution 4K displays, convenient for them to clip, color, and so on.
The average user simply can't get the full power of Thunderbolt's technology. Fortunately, Thunderbolt 3 uses USB-C as its carrier and is compatible with other USB-C protocols, so it can still meet some very practical needs, such as:
However, you will need adapters to meet the needs listed above. There is a dizzying array of adapters on the market that can help you freely switch between USB-C and a variety of ports, and no matter how old your monitor, TV, or even projector is, you can always find one that works for you. At the end of this article, we will also recommend some commonly used adapters.
In 2020, Intel announced that it would ship Thunderbolt 4 ports on all PCs that are running 11th Gen Intel Core processors (Codename Tiger Lake). The Thunderbolt 4 doesn't look much different on paper than its predecessor, with 40Gbps of bandwidth and 100W of power, probably because Intel assumes Thunderbolt 3 is already powerful enough.
Thunderbolt 4's upgrades focus on the following aspects:
To put it simply, Thunderbolt 4 is a more restricted version of Thunderbolt 3, with higher performance limits and expanded functionality. It defines stringent product features, validation testing, and certification requirements, so that devices that support Thunder 4 have a better experience and, of course, are more expensive. However, Thunderbolt 4 has only been on the market for nearly a year, and there is still a long way to go in terms of popularity, so don't worry too much.
(Apple shipped up to three Thunder 4 ports on its most recent MacBook Pro in 2021.)
The first step is to look at the shape. If the interface is in the shape of a Mini DP, it may be the first- or second-generation lightning interface. If the port is USB-C shaped, it could be a third or fourth-generation Lightning port.
The second step is to check whether there is a logo in the shape of a lightning bolt near the interface.
If the above two steps still do not help you to confirm the version, the most accurate way is to consult the official technical specification information document, which is usually available on the official website. Take Apple for instance, there’s a dedicated page to help you confirm your equipment lightning interface version: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201736
The Thunderbolt 3 uses USB-C ports, so USB-C features are well preserved. The following scenarios are very suitable for the performance of the Thunder 3 interface:
If you want just one of these scenarios, buy a Thunderbolt cable compatible with your device. For a laptop with a Thunderbolt 3 port, for example, you can buy a Thunderbolt 3 cable or a Thunderbolt 4 cable which is backward compatible. It is also very simple to distinguish between the two: The connector of a Thunderbolt cable is printed with the Lightning logo, and it will be marked with the number "3" or "4" to indicate whether it is a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 cable.
But if you are a professional user who needs all of the above scenarios, or wants more ports for your peripherals, then a docking station is the best choice. Nevertheless, Thunderbolt docks tend to be pricey, not to mention the fact that there are a bunch of optional specifications to choose from. Hence, it would be a bit imprudent to purchase a product that doesn't fit one's needs. In our next blog post, we'll cover how to shop for a docking station that's right for you.
But if you're an Apple user with a 2016-2020 MacBook Pro, the iVANKY Docking Station Pro, optimized for the MacBook Pro, is the way to go. It's not a Thunderbolt 3 dock, but the dual USB-C connector designed for the MacBook Pro offers the same performance for a much better price. Click on the image below to learn more.
First, we need to understand the USB-C interface. The conclusion can be thrown out directly here: USB-C is just the name of the interface shape, nothing more. USB ports come in a variety of shapes, and here are some common ones:
Different shapes have different design considerations. The Type-C interface, for instance, which has become the mainstream choice, can be inserted either way, and is smaller than the older Type-A interface, so it can be used in thinner and lighter devices. Names like ‘Type-A’ and ‘Type-C’ are used only to distinguish between different interface shapes.
However, it is not just the shape of the connector that is different. They can also be loaded with different protocols, which enable the interface to perform a variety of functions. When you purchase a USB-C cable, you will usually see the name "USB 3.0," "USB 2.0," "Thunderbolt," all of which are different protocol names.
The current mainstream USB protocol is USB 3. The latest, USB 4, has yet to catch on despite being released in 2019. The figure above shows the various ports available for USB 2 and USB 3. In this figure, we can see that despite the common Type-A, Micro-B, and Type-C interfaces, many interfaces are rarely seen in everyday life. It's also worth noting that USB 2 and USB 3 have the same type-A port shape except for the number of contacts.
Both suggest that the shape of the USB port and the protocol behind it have always been separate parts. The same goes for Type-C, where USB Type-C is just an interface, running on either USB 3, USB 2, future USB 4, or even high-performance Thunderbolt 3.
Understanding the difference between interface shapes and protocols will help you not just look at the shape of the interface but at the various protocols behind the interface when purchasing hardware in the future. Otherwise, you could easily make the wrong purchase.
Since the USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum) issued the USB 1.0 standard in 1996, the USB standard has experienced the development of USB 1.1, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, and USB 3.2. In 2019, the USB-IF organization released the latest USB4 standard, bringing in a new standard specification for the USB interface.
Let’s have a look at the table above, some of you guys may have a question - where are USB 3.0 and USB 3.1? At this point, we have to mention the broken naming and branding changes behind USB standards. To be precise, the USB standard has been renamed three times:
First change: 2003
In 2003, the USB-IF organization renamed the USB specifications and standards, changing USB 1.0 to USB 2.0 Low Speed, USB 1.1 to USB 2.0 Full Speed, and USB 2.0 to USB 2.0 High Speed.
Second change: 2013
Shortly after USB 3.1 was released, the USB-IF organization renamed USB 3.0 to USB 3.1 Gen1 and USB 3.1 to USB 3.1 Gen2. However, this amendment has caused trouble for consumers, as many profiteers marked the product supporting USB 3.1 in the product packaging but did not point out whether it was Gen1 or Gen2. Even with the labelling, a lot of consumers still don't know that USB 3.1 Gen 1 actually stands for the old USB 3.0 version. The difference between the two generation’s transmission performance is astronomical, resulting in consumers falling into a chasm without careful consideration.
Third change: 2019
The 2013 name change was confusing enough without the same thing happening again. In 2019, the USB-IF organization renamed USB 3.1 Gen1 (formerly USB3.0) to USB 3.2 Gen1 and USB 3.1 Gen2 (formerly USB 3.1) to USB 3.2 Gen2 X1, and USB 3.2 was renamed USB 3.2 Gen2 X2.
We have no idea what the USB-IF Association thinks, but these several name changes did not make a clear distinction but instead made each version of the protocol more confusing and difficult to distinguish. Fortunately, there is no such confusion regarding the latest USB4.
Now let's summarize the supporting relationship between USB transport standards and interfaces with a graph.
transmission, power supply, and video signal transmission. In other words, assuming you have a USB4-compliant Type-C port on your laptop, a USB4-compliant USB-C cable would allow you to connect your USB-C monitor and charge your laptop at the same time. In this case, type-c interfaces are the way to go.
The main task of the USB protocol is to transfer data and supply power. The main difference between USB standards is that they have different transmission speeds. Although USB-IF always likes to change old protocol names to new ones, which leads to the confusion of USB naming, it can be seen from the table that in the same series of naming, there is still no escape from the law that " the larger the number, the better the performance".
The USB transport protocol can also be used as a display transport, although this is limited to Type-C interfaces. USB Type-C has the most pins and can enter a state called alt-mode, through which the display transfer is required to work.
The problems we have encountered, such as the inability to light up the screen, were mainly due to the fact that "Alternate Mode" was not a required option for major vendors, but an option. To summarize, not every USB-C device needs to support all "Alternate Modes," and not every USB-C port on a laptop/tablet/docking station supports video output. Therefore, it is important to know whether the USB-C port on your device is compatible with "Alternate Mode" when shopping for a new device.
The USB-IF Association has specified the following Alternate Modes for display transfers:
Devices need to be connected through cables. If the cables are not up to standard, the protocol cannot be used even if it is supported by both the receiving and sending ends. If you want to simultaneously achieve power supply, data, and video signal transmission functions, a high specification and quality USB-C cable is essential.
In our opinion, cables that meet the preceding requirements must meet the following requirements:
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Pictured above is a dreamlike configuration consisting of five monitors. Some game enthusiasts opt for multi-screen games for a more immersive experience. However, have you ever wondered how all those monitors are connected together?
From what we used to understand, each monitor needed to be connected to the output of the signal (such as a graphics card) by a cable via a parallel connection. Suppose all five monitors have their HDMI or DP ports, even if I have all five cables, there wouldn't be that many ports on the computer itself.
In addition, several problems emerged with multi-screen displays:
This is because each monitor needs to attach a cable to the video output port on the main computer. For instance, if there are three monitors, then three cables are required to attach to the main computer. The further away the screen is, the longer the cable will be needed, making it difficult to arrange the cables, and the desktop will look super messy. If the distance is too far, it is likely to cause a decline in transmission quality.
If you only need to connect two or three monitors, your PC probably does have sufficient video output ports. However, laptops are limited in size and often possess only one video output port, making it difficult for users to use multiple screens.
DisplayPort's MST technology solves this problem, as MST has been a feature of the DisplayPort standard since the release of Version 1.2 in 2010. As long as the main computer possesses a DP 1.2 interface that supports MST technology, multiple screens can be connected in series.
This technique is also known as daisy-chaining. In this way, the problem of insufficient video output interface can be solved, and the challenge of affected signal quality caused by using lengthy cables can be avoided too.
To enable this feature, the following conditions are also required:
The picture above shows a display that supports DP MST technology. We can see that it has two DP interfaces, one DP-IN, and one DP-OUT, which are used for signal input and output in series respectively.
How do I enable MST on multiple monitors? We can refer to the figure above and follow the following steps to set it up:
In MST multi-screen mode, the screen display types are as follows:
Split-screen display mode: Different contents are displayed on different screens according to individual requirements. For example, stock traders can access different information on three screens, while code developers, graphic designers, and video post-production can all take advantage of the extra screens to increase the effectiveness of multitasking.
Screen Expansion mode: Use multiple screens to extend a single screen, which is ideal for immersive, high-resolution games. Using this mode in shooting games gives you an advantage by providing you with a wider field of view. Using this mode in a racing game with a gaming steering wheel also gives you a very realistic driving experience.
(This is an incredibly fantastic desktop setup that all the other players would envy.)
Of course, restrained by computer performance and video output bandwidth, the total number of monitors that MST can connect to is also limited. For example, the amount of food a person eats in a day is relatively fixed. If you want to change the habit of eating three meals a day to more meals a day, it is definitely possible. You just have to switch to a frequent small meal mode in which the food taken via each meal will become lesser.
The total data volume of all the monitors connected by the MST cannot exceed the transmission bandwidth of DisplayPort. Taking DisplayPort 1.2 as an example, its maximum bandwidth is 17.28 Gbit/s. The number and resolution of displays supported by DisplayPort 1.2 are shown in the following table:
As shown in the figure above, up to five 1680x1050 resolution screens can be connected in series for a screen refresh rate of 60Hz. As resolution increases, the number of monitors that can be connected in series decreases.
Going back to our example that we mentioned in the previous paragraph, the resolution of the monitor is equivalent to the amount of food eaten per meal, and the number of monitors is equivalent to how many meals you have in a day. If you want to have more meals a day, you have to eat smaller portions in each meal. If you want to connect more monitors, the resolution of the monitor will have to be reduced. Otherwise, the computer may not be able to handle such a huge volume of data, just like your stomach can't handle that much of food.
If you use a DP 1.4 interface, the number of monitors that can be connected and the resolution can increase as bandwidth increases. With the DP 1.4 interface, you can connect six 1080P monitors in series, with a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, for example.
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The latest version of HDMI was released in June and called HDMI 2.1.
HDMI 2.1 supports a range of higher video resolutions and refresh rates including 8K@60Hz and 4K@120Hz, and resolutions up to 10K. Dynamic HDR formats are also supported, and bandwidth capacity is increased up to 48Gbps.
2. What are the major differences between those HDMI versions?
3. What are the important features of HDMI 2.1?
4. I have a 4K monitor. Which HDMI cable should I get?
HDMI 2.0 supports 4K at 60Hz, so an HDMI 2.0 cable should do the job. Please note that HDMI 1.4 also supports 4K resolution, but only at 30Hz. Trust me, you don’t want your shiny new 4K monitor to operate only at 30Hz.
5. How is DisplayPort different from HDMI? Which one is better?
Ask yourself: What are you going to use cables for?
Choosing between HDMI cables or DisplayPort cables can be flexible. Different needs may have different choices.
What do you use the cable for? Watching videos? Playing games? Generally speaking, HDMI dominates living rooms, but DisplayPort stands in the unique position of being popular amongst PC gamers.
To learn more about the differences between DisplayPort and HDMI, check out this article.
6. Does HDMI support audio?
Yes, HDMI supports inline audio with lots of advanced audio features. HDMI 1.4 introduced HDMI ARC, which allows users to utilize a single HDMI cable to transmit audio and video simultaneously.
eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) is the latest audio feature released with HDMI 2.1 by HDMI Association in 2017. It supports audio formats such as DTS:X and Dolby Atmos, which delivers a cinema-quality-deep surround sound system.
Click here for more information about HDMI ARC.
7. How long can an HDMI cable go?
HDMI did not specify the maximum cable length, and yet the video signal degrades with distance.
The effective distance for standard HDMI cables is typically around 30 feet - anything longer than that requires a bus-powered signal booster, which extends the maximum length to about 100ft.
If you replace the cable core with fiber optics, it can go even further. But optical HDMI cables tend to be expensive.
8. Does HDMI include content protection capabilities?
Similar to DisplayPort, HDMI supports HDCP content protection. In the United States, HDCP support is mandated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
9. The HDMI port on my old monitor is an HDMI 1.4 port, can I use an HDMI 2.0 cable?
Of course, all HDMI versions are backward compatible with previous versions, but you’ll only get HDMI 1.4 features.
10. What are Mini and Micro HDMI?
Mini and Micro are smaller versions of the standard HDMI interface. Mini HDMI (also known as HDMI Type C connector) measures 10.42 mm x 2.42 mm and also features the same 19-pin design, and the Micro HDMI (also known as HDMI Type D connector) measures 6.4 mm x 2.8 mm and features a 5-pin design.
Both are compatible with HDMI 1.4 and can be found on handheld devices including DSLR cameras, action cameras, camcorders and smartphones.
11. Can I power my laptop with an HDMI cable?
According to the HDMI specification, HDMI carries 5V 55mA. However, this isn’t enough for powering accessories or external devices, so no, you can’t power your laptop using an HDMI cable.
12. What is HDMI Alt Mode?
HDMI Alt Mode is a feature that utilizes USB-C for a full range of HDMI features. It allows the physical USB-C port to support other video and data formats - one of which is HDMI. Only devices that have a USB-C port that can also be HDMI enabled are able to use HDMI Alt Mode.
13. I have a complex cable setup. Is it OK to bend HDMI cables?
Though most HDMI cables in the market are highly flexible, there is still a need to prevent sharp bends if possible, especially those fiber optic ones, bending could cause irreversible damage to the optical core inside the cable.
2. What are the major differences between those DisplayPort versions?
3. What are the important features of DisplayPort 1.4?
4. What are the important features of DisplayPort 2.0?
5. How is DisplayPort different from HDMI? Which one is better?
Ask yourself: What are you going to use cables for?
Choosing HDMI cables or DisplayPort cables can be flexible. Different needs may have different choices.
What do you use the cable for? Watching videos? Playing games? Generally speaking, HDMI dominates living rooms, but DisplayPort stands in the unique position of being popular amongst PC gamers.
To learn more about the differences between DisplayPort and HDMI, check here.
6. Does DisplayPort support audio?
Yes, DisplayPort supports multi-channel audio and many advanced audio features. DisplayPort to HDMI adapters also include the ability to support HDMI audio.
7. Can DisplayPort support 3D Stereo?
Yes, DisplayPort includes protocol support for transmitting left and right eye display data. DisplayPort 1.4a supports 4K Stereo at 120Hz frame rate with full 24 bit 4:4:4 color.
8. Does DisplayPort include content protection capability?
Just like DVI and HDMI, DisplayPort supports HDCP content protection. DisplayPort 1.4a supports the latest HDCP 2.2 content protection that is required for the latest premium AV contents.
9. The DisplayPort on my monitor is a DP 1.2, Can I get a DP 1.4 cable?
Of course, DP 1.4 is backwards compatible with older DP versions. But you’ll only get DP 1.2 features.
10. How to daisy-chain multiple monitors from a single DisplayPort?
There’re two requirements:
Please notice that the majority of DisplayPort monitors do not feature two ports. Additionally, the last monitor in the chain doesn't need to have an 'Out' jack, as it will only receive input.
11. What’s an Active DisplayPort cable? Do I need it?
It all depends on your personal needs. Check out the list below:
If you say yes to one or two questions, go ahead and choose active DisplayPort cables!
For more information about active DisplayPort cables, see the article here.
12. What is DP Alt Mode?
DisplayPort Alt Mode is a feature that utilizes USB-C for a full range of DisplayPort 1.4 features. It allows the physical USB-C port to support other video and data formats - one of which is DisplayPort.
13. I have a 1080P @240Hz monitor, which cable should I get?
A DisplayPort 1.2 cable will do the job. You can also get a DP 1.4 or even DP 2.0 cable and get ready for the future.
14. I have a 34" ultrawide with 3440x1440 resolution, which cable should I get?
If your monitor is running at 60Hz, a DisplayPort 1.2 cable should be fine. If it’s a high-refresh-rate gaming monitor, you will need a DP 1.4 cable to run at 144Hz.
15. What is the Pin 20 issue? Will it damage my graphics card?
The VESA specification shows that both the source and the sink are supposed to provide power at 3.3V+-10% and 500mA on the DP_PWR pin, which is the notorious pin 20.
According to the VESA specification, pin 20 is not wired at all. The issue can be avoided by using a properly wired DisplayPort cable.
For more information on the pin 20 issue, please see the article here.
The VESA specification shows that both the source and the sink are supposed to provide power at 3.3V+-10% and 500mA on the DP_PWR pin, which is the notorious pin 20.
Pin 20 is very useful when you are trying to connect dongles to your device. Some dongles require an external power supply to work, and thanks to DP_PWR, you don't need a separate power supply cable to power your dongle.
The real issue is that one should never ever connect the DP_PWR of the source to the DP_PWR of the sink: it's impossible for both pins to have exactly the same voltage, so connecting them together would effectively result in a short circuit condition. In addition, if your display is powered on while your GPU is powered off, this connection might even cause graphics card failures.
Truth be told, pin 20 is actually part of the VESA standard, and that means most DisplayPort cables from third-party brands have the pin 20, so it’s no big deal. The difference between an incorrectly built DisplayPort cable and the correct one came down to how the pin 20 was wired.
According to the VESA specification, pin 20 is not wired at all. The issue can be avoided by using a properly wired DisplayPort cable. But how are we supposed to know that?
The only way to know is to tear the connector apart. As shown above, the pin 20 of iVANKY’s DisplayPort cable is not connected. All the DisplayPort cables at iVANKY are correctly wired and don’t cause damage or failure on your PC.
If your graphics card was manufactured after 2017, then you have nothing to worry about. The issue is commonly found on older models, and GPU manufacturers like Nvidia and AMD provided software updates to fix the problem.
However, the fastest and safest fix is a well-built, VESA certified DisplayPort cable. All DisplayPort cables at iVANKY are properly made and wired correctly, preventing possible damage and failures to your computer.
In fact, the iPad Pro was equipped with this technology in 2018. Furthermore, high refresh rates have become the norm for Android phones lately. On some gaming monitors, you can also find some labelled "144Hz" or even "240Hz" models. So, what exactly is the refresh rate? Will a higher refresh rate always be better?
Frame rate is an inescapable concept when discussing refresh rates. It has to do with visual retention in the human eye.
You've probably all seen this flipbook where, by flipping through the pages quickly, the book’s content appears to move like a movie. That's where the visual retention effect comes in, and that's how all video works. If a static picture can be played quickly over a short period of time, the human eye will perceive a continuous picture. Frame rate refers to the number of images played per second.
The unit of frame rate is fps (Frames Per Second). 60fps refers to playing 60 images Per Second. We can get a sense of the difference between high and low framerates in the GIF below:
Animated images of 15, 30, and 60 frames per second, from left to right. We can see that the movements of the three figures are quite different in terms of consistency and details. The higher the frame rate, the smoother and more natural the image appears.
24fps is pretty much the slowest frame rate that the human eye interprets as motion. if the frame rate is slower than 24fps, we’ll still be able to see the motion, but we'll eventually feel the choppiness of the video. Most of the videos we watch online, and most of the movies we play in theatres, are at 24fps. However, you can also find some videos on YouTube with the 60fps option if you prefer a smoother video.
(The "60" after 2160p indicates that 60fps can be turned on at this resolution.)
Does that mean the higher the frame rate, the better it will be? The answer is probably no. The Gemini Man film, released in 2019, was made with 120fps 4K 3D shooting, which means that the camera takes 120 still images per second. Imagine how smooth and realistic the images are! In fact, the technology was so advanced that only 14 theaters in the United States can project in 120fps 3D – but only at 2K, not 4K. And the rest would run the film at 60fps or even 24fps. However, according to viewers, the 120fps does provide shocking detail and realism, making it hard to tell whether it's real or a movie.
However, this is also a problem. After all, movies are not reality. The plot, the acting, and even the makeup details of the characters are all constructed and arranged by us. The more we tried to make it look realistic to the audience, the more it seemed fake to them. It is overwhelming because there is a need to keep a distance between the audience and the story. Indeed, the graphics at 24fps aren't as smooth or detailed, but it feels like we're watching a story -- isn't that why we go to the movies? Consequently, some critics argue that this technology is not suitable for filmmaking.
So, what exactly is a high frame rate for? One of the best uses is slow motion.
The iPhone can shoot 240fps video at 1080P, which means it can shoot 240 images a second at that resolution (What is resolution?). But to the human eye, taking 24 images per second is a continuous view, so 240fps is enough for 240/24=10 seconds. The one-second content is stretched to 10 seconds, causing the motion to be slowed down:
(Coffee drips, 240fps in slow motion.)
As mentioned earlier, frame rate refers to the number of images played per second. In addition to video, the concept also exists in the everyday use of computers and mobile phones. Let's say we use computers to play games. Playing games is also a process of displaying pictures. In the game, the motion of shooting, dodging, moving, are all in the form of animation and they are also composed of the continuous frame by frame of static images. So, if video can be recorded with a camera, where does game footage come from?
The picture above is a relatively high-end gaming graphics card, which is an essential component of a powerful gaming PC. Whether the graphics card is high-end or not, it is mainly responsible for getting the right picture on your monitor. Those static images in the game, frame by frame, are rendered by the graphics card. The frame rate can also be used as a measure of graphics card rendering power in FPS units. Graphics cards with more computing power can produce more pictures in a second.
(The game above is running at a whopping 322fps.)
Gamers are looking for better graphics cards and higher graphics refresh rates that lead to smoother performance. This is particularly crucial for shooting games or sports games. Just think about the intense camera cuts, agile dodging, and positioning in the PUBG gameplay. If it all looked like a slide show, how would you enjoy it? To play this type of game, the graphics have to be sharp, the screen and operation must not be sloppy. That’s why gamers are much more concerned with a high refresh rate than with a high resolution.
Does high-frame-rate content always allow you to experience high-refresh-rate graphics? The answer is no. You may be able to generate many images in a second, but your monitor may not be able to display all of them. To maximize the experience, high frame rates often require high monitor refresh rates.
The screen refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), is the number of times a monitor refreshes a picture per second.
There are many gaming monitors to choose from, and they all support different maximum refresh rates. The monitor shown above has a maximum refresh rate of 240 Hz, which means the screen refreshes 240 times a second, well above the smooth standard of 60fps. So, it certainly gives us an enjoyable gaming experience.
As mentioned earlier, frame rate and refresh rate are two inseparable concepts when it comes to the overall experience. What is the reason for this? Let's say we have a high-powered computer that can render a 165fps game, but we have a mediocre monitor with a refresh rate of 60Hz. It's interesting what happens in less than a second:
In other words, the video card threw several frames during the refresh of the monitor. So as soon as the display refreshes, the picture will appear multiple frames at the same time, causing it to appear dislocated or incorrect.
(A demonstration of screen tearing. Stay cool, your screen is fine.)
The image above clearly shows the screen tearing phenomenon. In a game with far more frames than the refresh rate of the monitor, these screens tearing and skipping effects can seriously ruin your gaming experience and can even make you feel slightly dizzy.
That was just an example to help you understand the relationship between frame rate and refresh rate. In fact, game frame rates are not constant. The frame rate fluctuates as the complexity of the game's graphics changes. As a result, a game's frame rate and refresh rate are rarely in perfect sync. A frame rate that's higher than the refresh rate will cause some tearing, but most of the time it's not noticeable and only a small percentage of game enthusiasts will notice it. To solve this problem, turn on the "vertical sync" option in the game’s settings. This option essentially tells the graphics card to work at the same pace as the display, rendering and transmitting the next frame only when the display has finished displaying one frame and is ready to display the next.
Predictably, this feature puts a limit on the graphics card to match the monitor’s refresh rate. But with the NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, a chip in the monitor can communicate with the graphics card, allowing the monitor to match the refresh rate with the frame rate. This helps eliminate screen tearing if the frame rate is higher or lower than the refresh rate. All you need is a monitor with G-SYNC support and an NVIDIA GTX graphics card.
AMD has a similar counterpart called FreeSync. This technology relies on the DisplayPort’s Adaptive-Sync feature, which is commonly seen on gaming monitors. The combination of display firmware and AMD Radeon drivers will enable communications between the graphics card and the monitor, so a dedicated chip in the monitor won’t be needed. Of course, a monitor with FreeSync support and an AMD Radeon graphics card would still be required.
(Generally, G-SYNC monitors are more expensive than their FreeSync counterparts due to the dedicated chip.)
We have been discussing computers and games for so long, in fact, the same applies to mobile phones. Phones also have graphics chips, as well as a high-refresh screen and a fast enough frame rate, which provides a smooth experience. The biggest problem with phones, though, is battery life -- more graphics power, faster screen refreshes, and more power consumption. Instead of keeping the mobile phone at a consistently high refresh rate, most phones have adaptive refresh rate adjustments - the refresh rate goes all the way up when playing games or scrolling through content and dials down when displaying still images. This technology reduces power consumption by intelligently adjusting the refresh rate, and Apple's ProMotion is no exception.
High refresh rates are increasingly used by smartphones. Gamers can have a more enjoyable gaming experience, and even when they're not playing games, the high refresh rate makes touch interaction more tactile and makes the phone feel smoother and more usable. I believe that this will become a mainstream feature in the future, so when you buy a mobile phone, you might as well start to compare, experience a high refresh rate screen before you make a decision.
But when it comes to monitors and TVs, if you're not a gaming enthusiast, you probably won’t notice a huge difference. If you don't play games and don't find your monitor too sloppy, most 60Hz displays are good enough.
If you're a gaming enthusiast and ready to embrace high refresh rates, what do you need to do to prepare?
Before you purchase a high refresh rate monitor, make sure your gaming PC has enough performance to run your game in enough frames. If your game can only run at 60fps, your game won't work as well as you expected even if you have a 144Hz monitor, and you'd be better off spending that money on upgrading your computer. When these two cooperate well enough, the results should clearly bring you advantages in the gameplay.
Meanwhile, DisplayPort 2.0, the latest protocol, was introduced in 2019. Do you know what it brings in terms of performance? Even two years after its launch, why are we still not seeing any DisplayPort 2.0 devices on the market?
Can you recall the metaphor we used earlier? For video protocols, bandwidth resembles a water pipe: the larger the diameter, the greater the amount of water that can pass through; the higher the bandwidth, the greater the amount of data that can be transmitted. In comparison to DP 1.4, DP 2.0 substantially increases the bandwidth by three times to 77.4Gbps!
The increased bandwidth means that DP 2.0 can achieve unimaginably high resolution and high refresh rates. To get an idea of how incredible the improvement is, we compare the refresh rates and resolutions supported by the previous DP 1.4 and the latest DP 2.0:
With no compression or any colour degradation, DP 2.0 has a maximum resolution of 10K (10240 × 4320) and a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz at 4K resolution. With the Display Stream Compression (DSC) technology, the highest resolution can reach a stunning 16K (15360 × 8640). Gaming enthusiasts and audiophiles will definitely enjoy the absolutely amazing specs.
At the same time, DP 2.0 possesses excellent multi-screen support improvements, allowing it to appeal to productive users with high-resolution requirements. Despite having three 4K monitors connected simultaneously, the refresh rate can still reach 90Hz without any compression at all. Even if you connect it with two 8K monitors, the refresh rate can still be maintained at a silky smooth 120Hz.
Although there are currently no 8K 120Hz display devices available, it's not hard to imagine that DP 2.0 would be significant for the adoption of high refresh rates. We've already seen 120Hz screens with high refresh rates on phones and tablets, and the very low latency touch experience is something that cannot be overlooked. On larger screens, a high refresh rate provides a smoother gaming and viewing experience, and once you get used to it, there is no turning back!
The connector shape for DP 2.0 remains unchanged, and it is also backward compatible with the previous version of the DisplayPort protocol. In addition, DP 2.0 continues to support DP Alt Mode, which has been well received for its ability to be used on USB-C ports. Fully functional USB-C ports that support DP Alt Mode allow data, audio, video, and even electrical power to be transferred via a single USB-C cable. In fact, there are quite a few laptops on the market equipped with DP Alt Mode on the USB-C interface. With USB-C Monitors, it is very convenient to charge the laptop while transmitting video.
(The D-shaped logo on the right indicates that the USB-C port supports DP Alt Mode.)
The relative strengths and weaknesses of HDMI and DisplayPort will always be a topic of discussion with the advent of their new generation protocol. As mentioned in our previous post, there are several battlefields: HDMI rules the living room, while DP is more popular among gamers. The following table also compares the main functional differences between the latest generation of HDMI and DisplayPort protocols:
However, in the latest round of the battle, the DisplayPort has fallen behind -- game consoles and TVs with HDMI 2.1 are already available, but DP 2.0 monitors and other hardware are still awaited. Even on the RTX 3090, which is the best gaming graphics card available today, you can only find DP 1.4 ports. Why is DP 2.0 still unavailable on the market two years after its release?
According to VESA, the main reason for the delay in the DP 2.0 launch program is the suspension of VESA's PlugTests 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. PlugTests is the key activity for testing systems and interoperability across multiple vendors, where engineers and hardware developers discuss, patch, and decide on standard implementations. Hence, the cancellation of PlugTests contributed to a significant delay in the commissioning of DP 2.0. PlugTests 2021 was scheduled to take place in Taiwan in the spring, but the exact schedule and launch plans are still unknown.
We'll most likely have to wait for a new DP 2.0 interface on the next generation of graphics cards. It has been predicted that Nvidia's next-generation graphics card will most likely be released in late 2022 or early 2023. If you are keen to experience the power of DP 2.0, you may have to wait a little longer to purchase hardware with the new interface.
If you're a gamer, you're probably not using a very high-resolution display screen. For gamers, a higher refresh rate is more important than a higher resolution, so a DP 1.2 cable already meets the needs of most gamers. If you want to play games at a high refresh rate of 144Hz on a 4K monitor, buying a DP 1.4 cable will also suffice. If you own one of those shiny new top-end gaming monitors that may be pushing the limits of DP 1.4, you can grab a DP 2.0 cable and get ready for the future.
If you are an videophile, 8K TVs on the market is actually good enough. There is an extremely limited selection of 8K monitors, and they are usually expensive as well. With either an HDMI 2.1 or DP 1.4 cable connection, these devices can play to their full potential.
If you don't play games, aren’t aiming for high resolution, and think your display looks pretty decent, then DP 2.0 doesn't mean much to you. The performance of DP 2.0 is incredibly strong, but you won't necessarily feel its significance. Not to mention that it's not on the market yet, and even if it were, the price would be quite high for a while, and it would take longer for it to gain traction on the market.
In case you don't have time to read the entire article, here's our summary as well:
"4K" and "8K" are some abbreviations for screen resolution. The screen of a display device is actually made up of extremely tiny pixels. If we drop water on the screen of a mobile phone, we can see many colourful dots inside. They are pixels. The resolution refers to the number of pixels on the screen. The more pixels per unit length, the higher the resolution.
The image above shows a microscope shot of a mobile phone screen. The dots in the image are pixels and they are too small and densely packed to be seen by the naked eye. However, pixels do not have a fixed size. They can be huge and visible to the naked eye -- for instance, pixels on a bus stop screen that look like tiny light bulbs.
Letters and numbers are easily readable on these screens, but the quality is not exceptional. As a result, it is not surprising that the number of pixels on the bus stop screen should be much lower than those on the phone screen.
When it comes to resolution, we typically refer to two aspects: image resolution and screen resolution.
Image resolution refers to the number of pixels contained per unit length. We took a photo with an iPhone and examined the following parameters:
The image above shows a resolution of 3024×4032, which means it has 3,024 pixels horizontally and 4,032 vertically. 3024 times 4032 equals 12192768, which is what we often call a "12-megapixel camera".
Likewise, video is not an exception. When we watch videos on YouTube, we can choose the quality of the video, which is 720P, 1080P, and also 4K.
The P here refers to ‘Progressive’ in ‘progressive scanning.’ progressive scanning is an idea that comes with television. Instead of showing all the pixels in a picture simultaneously, television illuminates a screen by displaying lines sequentially from top to bottom. The reason progressive scanning ever became a feature is because earlier analogue TVs only display the odd lines first, then the even lines are displayed an instant later for a complete image, which we called ‘interlaced scanning’. Progressive scanning produces flicker-free and smoother videos comparing to the interlaced scanning, and modern TVs support progressive scanning because the improvement is absolutely noticeable.
An example would be 1080P, which means the TV needs to scan 1080 lines to display the proper image. This means that there should be 1080 pixels vertically. If you don't understand how it works, you can go to Microsoft Excel, create a table with 1080 rows, and countdown to see if there are 1080 rows exactly.
Ergonomics claims that the field of vision that human eyes can perceive is a rectangle with a length ratio of about 16:9. Therefore, many movies, TV shows, and display devices will produce content and design products according to this golden ratio, which is best suited to the human eye. In that case, how many columns should there be for 1080 rows, in a ratio of 16:9? If you are good with numbers, then you might immediately think of 1920 columns. In other words, 1080P represents a 1920×1080 resolution or 1080P Full HD.
Screen resolution is the number of pixels on a screen. Similar to the definition of image resolution, a 1080P Full HD screen is a screen with 1,920 pixels horizontally and 1,080 pixels vertically. 1080P is still the mainstream resolution for office monitors, but when you purchase a TV, almost all of them are in 4K or even 8K. But what does that mean? What is 4K resolution? We have sorted out the common resolution types for your reference:
The current mainstream TV resolution is 4K resolution size or 3840×2160 resolution, often referred to as UHD or 2160P. For those of you who are sensitive to numbers, 3840 is twice the size of 1920, and 2160 is twice the size of 1080. That means 4K resolution is twice as many pixels as 1080P, both horizontally and vertically. Does that mean 4K video is four times sharper and four times better than 1080P?
And if you think about it mathematically, in terms of area, it might make sense. But as we mentioned earlier, the pixel size is not fixed, and the display area varies from device to device. Even when we use these devices, the distance from our eyes to the device is totally different. Resolution is not the only factor to consider when discussing clarity.
The picture above shows a 55-inch 4K TV and a 6.5-inch 4K smartphone. They both have 4K screen resolution, so who will possess higher clarity? As a first step in answering this question, let's examine how screen size is defined.
Screen size is generally determined by the diagonal length of the screen, in inches. A 55-inch TV is obviously much bigger than a phone, but the resolution is 4K, which means individual pixels are bigger and more visible to the naked eye, and the picture is certainly not as detailed. You can take a closer look at the screen of your phone and then at the screen of your TV if you are able to. Pixels on a TV can be seen with the naked eye, but on a mobile phone, they are hard to see.
This is actually explained by the concept of Pixels Per Inch (PPI), which is typically used to refer to pixel density of a screen. The higher the PPI, the harder it is to distinguish individual pixels with the naked eye, hence greater details in the display.
Thanks to technological advancements, the picture quality of the smartphone screen is so fine that the pixels are almost invisible to the naked eye. Nevertheless, long before the advent of the iPhone 4, smartphone screens generally had low pixel density, so the graininess was still noticeable. The iPhone 4's Retina Display, on the other hand, pushes the pixel density up to 326, which is higher than 300 PPI, the highest pixel density that the human eye can detect. The smoothness of a smartphone screen is no longer a concerning issue.
(Left: iPhone 3GS; Right: iPhone 4)
However, following this logic, the pixel density of the TV is very low. Does that mean 4K TVs aren't sharp enough? No, of course not. We don't watch TV up close as we do with our phones, we watch it at a distance. By viewing it from a certain distance, all the pixel points won't be clearly visible, so the definition will not necessarily be worse than a mobile phone.
Some may still wonder: Do we have to buy a smaller TV to get higher definition? Is it the only way to enhance our watching experience? Let's not forget that pixel density is related not only to the display area but also to the total number of pixels. If you want to maintain a sufficient pixel density without reducing the area, you can just increase the total number of pixels. As 4K is not sufficient for us, we use 8K resolution on the TV, so the display area can be retained and the pixel density can be increased.
There are already plenty of next-gen TVs with 8K resolutions on the market. Nevertheless, to fully experience 8K ultra-high-resolution, you need more than just a TV. Ensure that your input source, cable, and streaming content all support 8K. It’s not that hard to find 8K compatible cables on the market, All you need is a well-made HDMI 2.1 cable. But is there anything to stream in 8K?
The specification of 8K content is way too high. So, it has brought significant challenges to home broadband, as well as film and television production. As a result, streaming media giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime are still focusing on 4K content. None of them have plans to promote 8K content anytime soon. So, it will probably take some time for 8K to truly become popular. However, with enough bandwidth, powerful computer and the right display, you can now stream 8K videos on YouTube, which are mostly landscape footage like Vistas of Norway. You may not find them 4x greater than 4K contents, but it is a sneak peek to the future.
So, what is HDMI ARC? ARC refers to the Audio Return Channel. It is capable of providing two-way communication between devices over a single HDMI connection, using the HDMI interface as both video input and audio output. In short, ARC allows us to utilize a single HDMI cable to transmit audio and video simultaneously.
This feature has been available since 2009. Theoretically, HDMI 1.4 and HDMI ports later are available to support this feature, which means it has been around for nearly a decade. You'll find this feature on almost every television (or TV box) and HDMI port on your home AV system.
We are about to illustrate its importance from the perspective of a must-have item for a family AV system: the mighty soundbar.
Here it is, in the photo above, you can see there is a soundbar for TV. Over the past few years, more and more families intend to purchase one to enjoy a better movie-watching experience. But really, it's just a stereo speaker after all. What's so special about it? And most importantly, the TVs already come with speakers, so why would you need additional ones?
The crucial problem is that TVs are becoming thinner. There is a TV in the picture above. Can you find it? To be honest, it took me a few seconds to see it, and it's thinner than an iPhone!
The screen is probably the most important component of a TV set. Viewed from the front, we can see the screen covers around 90% of the surface, and yet it is so thin that we can't help but wonder: where exactly should the TV speakers be located?
Obviously, you can't watch TV without sound, can you? And new technologies are emerging at an ever-increasing rate. There are some ultimate high-tech hacks, such as the advanced frame-tweeter technology from Sony, which produces sound from the top and sides of the TV.
(Sony’s Z8H vibrates the frame to generate sound…yeah, that sounds crazy.)
However, the space of the living room is getting bigger, hence the in-built TV speaker definitely cannot provide a better quality of sound compared to a real speaker. Many families just want to enjoy their Netflix sessions in their free time, and the speaker is really crucial for the viewing experience. Eventually, matching a soundbar to a TV, became the preferred choice for many families.
Before the advent of ARC technology, one had to consider: How the hell am I going to connect the soundbar to the TV? We mentioned HDMI in our previous article, which allows audio signals to be transmitted, so is it really that simple to attach an HDMI cable directly to the TV and everything will work just fine? Yes, ARC is what makes this idea work!
While watching TV, most of the sound is actually transmitted from the set-top box to the TV, and then the sound is output from the built-in speakers of the TV. Now, assuming an external soundbar replaces the TV's original loudspeaker, how does the sound signal travel?
You’ll need to know where the sound of the television came from and where it is going.
The direction of the sound signal should look like this:
Here’s what it would look like:
Isn't it hard to understand? To do this, you'll need two HDMI cables in total, along with an optical cable or digital coaxial cable for sound transmission. People who try to set up their home theatre for the first time, often become dissuaded by the fact that they do not even know how to join the cable properly. There are all sorts of signal cables that have been just wound around. They do not know which wire to connect and the exact quantity of the cables. It's pretty hard to figure it out on your own without professional help.
However, thanks to HDMI ARC, the audio return channel, the HDMI interface possesses the ability to return sound. Now, the direction of sound signal transmission can be directly simplified as:
So, the sound transmission process is simplified as follows:
As you can see, the beauty of ARC technology lies in its simplicity and flexibility. My time isn't wasted figuring out where the sound is coming from, where it's going, how my soundbars, set-top box, and TV are connected, what cables make the sound work, etc.
The TV will clearly show you which HDMI port is ARC enabled. There are a lot of people who buy soundbars, but when they plug in the cable, they don’t work. It’s likely that he failed to notice the interface mark clearly and just simply plugged the cable into any one of the HDMI ports.
The vast majority of TVs sold today come with ARC-enabled HDMI ports, so you don't have to worry about compatibility.
Most ARC TVs are dual-channel, which means you can easily connect two speakers to create a dual-channel or 5.1 surround sound system.
But with the popularity and development of streaming content, movies are not only getting better, but their specs are also improving. Netflix, for example, already offers 4K content, and some even support higher-spec Dolby Vision and multichannel audio.
(With Netflix Premium you can access content in Dolby.)
As a result, people are increasingly seeking high-quality audio, 5.1, 7.1, and even more luxurious home theatre receivers. There is no doubt that ARC's data transmission limit is not sufficient to meet market demand. This is why the HDMI eARC was created.
eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) is a new feature released with HDMI 2.1 by HDMI Association in 2017. The audio transmission capacity is greatly improved compared to the previous HDMI ARC. The maximum audio bandwidth that an HDMI 2.1 cable can reach is about 37Mbps, which is an improvement of more than ten times. Think of, for example, that the eARC is a pipe with a larger diameter, which naturally increases the amount of water that can be transported at one time.
This allows eARC not only to transmit uncompressed 5.1 or 7.1 multichannel audio but also to support audio formats such as DTS:X and Dolby Atmos and enable a cinema-quality-deep surround sound system.
In fact, HDMI eARC ports can already be found on mid-to-high-end 4K TVs starting from 2018. Experienced users may wonder why eARC is available before HDMI 2.1 is widely used. The reason is simple: HDMI 2.1 is the specification for the next generation of 8K TVs, and it will take some time to catch on. If we make the eARC function HDMI 2.1-only, we are turning down the latest sound formats that take the viewing experience to the next level. As a result, the HDMI Association has decided to allow eARC to be released early, enabling eARC support on many HDMI 2.0 devices.
(Sony Z9F, a Flagship TV introduced in 2018, was equipped with an eARC-enabled HDMI port.)
In any case, no matter how the HDMI version changes, or how their functions improve, the wire itself essentially remains the same. The changes include a high-definition multimedia interface, the ability to be compatible with a newer chip, or other enhancements to hardware and software. Unfortunately, high-definition multimedia interface lines can often cause multiple problems, mainly because inferior or too cheap lines are used, poor contact, or low-quality conductor. They are unable to handle large bandwidth transmissions, which can lead to difficulties. So, in our humble opinion, we would suggest buying a well-made HDMI cable with new specifications, to ensure that the latest experience is wonderful. At the same time, to reduce the risk of changing cables in the future.
The easiest way -- take a look at the shape of the interface
Although HDMI and DisplayPort have different shapes, for most users, there are only two shapes that can be touched commonly, so we focus on these two to distinguish them carefully.
On the left is the standard Type A HDMI connector (19 pins), which is the most seen on the market. The vertically symmetrical design requires users to clearly distinguish between the front and back/upper and lower sides when using.
The one on the right is the standard DisplayPort connector (20 pins), and there is no symmetry at all. The rectangular shape with a missing corner allows users to easily identify the direction of insertion.
Quite a few brands have adapted a locking mechanism to secure the connection, and you need to press it while unplugging the cable. That sounds thoughtful, right? But customers tell us they forgot the mechanism and caused damage to the port when they tried to unplug. After considering the insertion and withdrawal force, we decided to cancel the lock and reinforce connectors on both ends so fine-tuned friction can do the work. Our latch-free DisplayPort Cables have served tens of thousands of happy customers.
Once you can recognize the shape of the connectors, everything becomes very simple. You only need 5 seconds to see what interfaces you have for the two devices you want to connect. See? That simple!
Ask yourself – what are you going to use cables for?
Well, if you don’t have any devices by your side, and you plan to build your own workstation or decorate your house from scratch, choosing HDMI cables or DisplayPort cables can be flexible. Different needs may have different choices.
What do you use the cable for? Watching videos? Playing games? Generally speaking, HDMI dominates living rooms, but DisplayPort stands in the unique position of being popular amongst PC gamers.
(HDMI is more commonly found in living room, while DP is more popular on gaming PC setups.)
Basically, if you want to build your own home theatre, or connect your newly bought PS5 or Xbox Series X to a TV, then HDMI might be your best option. Sure, you need to check the HDMI cables’ specs before buying, you’ll need the latest HDMI 2.1 Cable to make the most of your shiny new gaming console.
(The HDMI 2.1 Port on the back of an Xbox series X)
If you plan to build a top-end gaming PC and have special requirements for the accuracy of shooting and gaming experience, you will need DisplayPort cables since most professional graphics cards on the market feature DisplayPort interfaces for higher resolution and refresh rate. The GTX 3080 Ti, for example, is equipped with three DP ports, whereas it only has one HDMI port. This highlights the huge significance of the DisplayPort interface to gamers.
DisplayPort vs. HDMI: Format War or Progress for All
HDMI 2.1 vs. DP 2.0
Since it is already 2021, HDMI and DisplayPort have been updated to HDMI 2.1 and DP 2.0 respectively. If you want to find out which is better between HDMI and DisplayPort, then the question becomes which is better, HDMI 2.1 or DP 2.0.
Here’s a quick overview of some key data:
From the table you can easily see that DP 2.0 appears to be in the lead on paper. The 67% bandwidth increase provides additional possibilities for the use of the DisplayPort cables, such as higher resolution and refresh rate, to create a workstation with excellent performance for your own needs. For example, you can enjoy one 16K 60Hz display (with DSC), or two 8K 120Hz displays, or three 10K 60Hz displays (with DSC), all up to you!
Well, as for HDMI 2.1, it’s not that bad. Although HDMI 2.1 won’t be enough to build an unparalleled workstation with 3 high-definition displays, it is still remarkable. You can use HDMI 2.1 to connect one 8K 60Hz display, or just connect your newly bought PS5 / Xbox Series X to your 4K 120Hz TV.
It should be noted that although VESA announced some parameters of DP 2.0 as early as 2019, the complete standard parameters were announced in 2021. At present, VESA does not offer certification for DP 2.0 cable products, so customers are unable to find a certified DP 2.0 cable in the market. At the same time, devices have not been updated to adapt to DP 2.0, so DP 2.0 still only exists on paper parameters.
Looking forward to the official launch of its actual products, which will definitely change the A/V world.
when it comes to which one is better: HDMI 2.1 or DP 2.0? We’d say DP 2.0 has an absolute advantage, but it is a pity that it can't be bought or used currently. From this perspective, get HDMI 2.1 cables.
HDMI 2.0 vs. DP 1.4
Of course, HDMI 2.1 and DP 2.0 are not much (or not at all) visible on the market at the moment. The mainstream is still HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.4, so a comparison between these two seems more practical. See the following core data comparison:
Similarly, DP 1.4, which has a late-comer advantage, is much more powerful in performance than HDMI 2.0. Not only is the highest resolution up to 8K 60Hz or 4K 120Hz, but it’s also backwards compatible, while HDMI 2.0 does not have such a wide range of application scenarios.
However, HDMI cables are more commonly used in home theater and TV connections, while DisplayPort cables are more commonly used in professional graphics cards and gaming monitors. When we compare their parameters, yes, DisplayPort is indeed better than HDMI, but when it comes to taking money out of your wallet, it is recommended that you can choose according to the devices you want to connect and your devices’ parameters.
You can also find HDMI 1.4 and DP 1.2 cables on the market. If you have made up your mind to splash out on a new 4K TV or 8K 60Hz monitor, then we highly recommend that you choose a cable that matches the performance without compromising your final viewing experience.
But if your displays are still from the previous generation, don't worry about whether upgrading the HDMI cables or DisplayPort cables to the new generation will affect the final effect. The cables are smart enough, they’re all backwards compatible.
Well, there's no inactive, clumsy or dull cable, but rather a PASSIVE cable. So what's an active cable and a passive cable? How do I know if I need an active DisplayPort cable or a passive one? How do I choose one that really fits my needs?
Before we go further into the actual content of this article, we will discuss extensively what an active DisplayPort cable is and what a passive DisplayPort cable is. Then, after our in-depth analysis, we will give you our final verdict and help you to determine which one is right for you.
Generally, we'd say it's because of the presence of a semiconductor chip. There are two types of chips, for better understanding, you can call them active chips and passive chips. A DisplayPort cable can be simply divided into the following situations:
Obviously, there's the option of not having to use a chip. Why do we need that extra chip? Is it a gimmick made up by your unscrupulous manufacturers who want to make more money?!
Of course not. It needs to be clear that ACTIVE is a concept that only appeared after the advent of 4K. Compared with the previous generation of 1080p, the performance required to achieve 4K resolution has been improved many times over.
If a copper cable is to achieve 4K@60hz video transmission, the quality of the cable should be higher and the length should be limited. The physical characteristics of the copper cables are destined to lose signals during transmission, and intelligence experts need to find a way to make up for the losses.
Your physics classmates will tell you that you can increase copper cables' performance by making them thicker. At the same length, the copper cable can transmit more signals, which is a good thing. Even if there is a signal loss during the transmission process, the signal that is successfully transmitted at the end can still meet the requirements for achieving 4K resolution.
Indeed, that's exactly right, ten points to Gryffindor. However: the copper cable would be too thick to bend and store. Also, it might be too heavy when plugging into the displays. Does that sound bad?
That's where the active chip comes into play. This small semiconductor chip can easily help amplify a signal. The signal is also lost during transmission (after all, the physical characteristics of copper cables cannot be eliminated), but by amplifying the remaining signal, it can also meet the needs of users.
Having said that, we introduced a key function of the active chip, the signal amplification function for signal attenuation in long-distance situations.
In fact, the chip has another basic function, the signal conversion function.
There are a number of different interfaces that exist in the world, such as DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI, etc. Simply understood, different interfaces can mean different transmission methods, such as land transportation or sea transportation. You need to switch from vehicle to vehicle on both channels. In the same way, if we want to switch from DisplayPort to HDMI, we need that conversion function.
To summarize, why do we need an active chip?
Although we've praised the active DisplayPort cables for so long, that doesn't mean that the active is better than the passive. We can only say that under what circumstances, the active has an advantage over the passive.
For example, active DisplayPort cables can help with more complex usage scenarios, such as home theater, where 4k@60Hz video transmission is a must, and normally requires a longer cable for complex setups.
So how do you choose active or passive cables? It all depends on your personal needs. Check out the list below:
If you say yes to one or two questions, go ahead and choose active DisplayPort cables!
Of course, we're not cunning businessmen. For iVANKY products, there's a little bit of a price difference between active and passive:
With the previous explanation, you now understand the difference between the active and the passive. But should you choose a cable or an adapter?
Let’s take the iVANKY DisplayPort to HDMI cable/adapter as an example. The biggest difference between these two is the morphological difference on the HDMI end.
If you already have an HDMI cable, then you can choose the active adapter, and no matter how long your HDMI cable is, you can achieve signal enhancement, which is really great, right?
If you don't have an HDMI cable in your home, it's still recommended to use the active DisplayPort cables instead.
After introducing HDMI, today we are going to share with you some information about DisplayPort. Although DisplayPort is not as well-known as HDMI, its performance and utility are on par with it, so it's definitely worth checking out!
DisplayPort is the digital video interface standard promoted by VESA, which was first seen in public in May 2006. The DisplayPort interface is intended to replace the old VGA, DVI, and other interfaces, enabling people to enjoy a clearer picture and higher sound quality. Following this, you will gain a deeper understanding of what DisplayPort is all about.
Decades of technological development have led to DP. If HDMI can have an association of its own, then why doesn't the same exist for DP? Whenever we buy DisplayPort, retailers often use the term "VESA Certified DisplayPort" to attract customers. However, what does VESA mean?
VESA stands for Video Electronics Standards Association, which is the international association responsible for developing DisplayPort. It was also co-founded by several industry giants, including Apple, AMD, Qualcomm, Intel, NVIDIA, LG, and others.
VESA contributed greatly to the advancement of industry technology and standards. In addition to the DisplayPort standard, they have their own DisplayHDR standard and audio standard as well.
There is no doubt that HDMI is a major competitor of DisplayPort. Remember the HDMI monopolization we discussed earlier? You'll have to pay for an HDMI port on your monitor! Under these circumstances, VESA did not remain silent. VESA announced to customers: "Hey! Don't worry about it! My product is accessible to everyone! We do exactly the same as HDMI, and the best part is you don't have to pay anything!"
As a result, DisplayPort had a lower entry barrier and quickly gained traction in the video interface market by surpassing HDMI in terms of performance.
HDMI and DP ports are both used to transmit audio and video signals, primarily to connect computers to monitors or home theatre systems. Hence, most monitors come with both HDMI and DP interfaces.
It is common to see people asking, "Is DisplayPort audio compatible?" No doubt, the answer is yes. Without audio, it is impossible to compete with HDMI.
Considering that they function almost identically, users are curious to know how the two can be distinguished. There are three main differences: their shapes, bandwidth, and audio features.
Shapes and pins
To distinguish different interfaces, it's best to look at their shapes. As shown above, the 20 pins standard DisplayPort connector comes in different shape than the 19 pins standard HDMI connector. Both DisplayPort and HDMI are available in various sizes and shapes like mini DisplayPort and mini HDMI, the miniature version of the standard ones. Interestingly, the Mini DP was promoted by Apple in 2008 (which they named it the Thunderbolt 2), so it can be found on many Macintosh models.
Bandwidth
DisplayPort cables can achieve higher bandwidth than HDMI cables. When the cable has higher bandwidth, more signals can be transmitted simultaneously, thus you can see a more clear and more smooth videos on your displays. Here’s a chart of the major DisplayPort and HDMI revisions, and their maximum transmission rate.
Audio Features
Both HDMI and DisplayPort support audio transmission. The main difference is that HDMI supports Audio Return Channel (ARC). If you want to connect a TV and a home theatre system, this is an extremely useful feature. It allows you to transmit the sound from the TV to your home theatre.
The DisplayPort standard doesn’t really define a maximum cable length. We don’t find it common that the display and the source are further than 2 meters apart in the setups. But if you do need to go for longer distance, you can rely on an active DisplayPort cable.
While HDMI continues to advance its performance, DisplayPort has also gone through more than ten years of technological development. We will not talk about them one by one here, rather, we'll focus on two key versions. They are DP 1.2 and DP 1.4.
DP 1.2
In December 2009, DP 1.2 was released. Its main performance specifications are:
- 4K 60Hz
Those of you who have read our HDMI blogpost may recall that in 2009, HDMI 1.4 was also released. At that time, it supported a 4K video transmission for the first time, but only at 24FPS.
The DP 1.2, on the other hand, also supports a 4K video - but in a smooth 60 FPS. In other words, DisplayPort has superior performance compared to HDMI.
- 2K 165Hz
For gamers, high refresh rate means a lot to them. With higher refresh rates, the graphics will be smoother, and various moves will be easier to achieve in the game.
Meanwhile, HDMI 1.4 only has a refresh rate of 75Hz at the same 2K resolution, less than half of what DisplayPort can offer. Despite HDMI's popularity, DisplayPort is the better choice for aspiring gamers. Thus, DisplayPort 1.2 cables have gained a reputation for being a great option for gamers.
Most professional game graphics cards on the market will feature a DP interface. The GTX 3080 features up to three DP ports, whereas it only has one HDMI port. This indicates the huge significance of the DP interface to gamers.
MST Daisy-chaining Technology
This topic has a lot of details to cover, so we're going to devote a separate article to it. Stay tuned!
DP 1.4
In March 2016, VESA Association brought us the DP 1.4, which significantly improved the performance of the protocol:
Once again, HDMI is outperformed by the DisplayPort. HDMI only featured 8K video support in the 2.1 release in November 2017, more than a year and a half later than DisplayPort.
Following the trend, iVANKY has also launched DP 1.4 compliant cables. However, this is way ahead of the market demand. Today, users are already required to purchase a membership to watch 1080P videos. Thus, 4K and 8K videos are far beyond their needs. So, the main attraction point of DP1.4 is to meet the needs of game players by meeting their resolution and refresh rate requirements simultaneously.
In this article, we also compared the specification differences between HDMI and DP cables. After reading it, I believe you will be more able to know the cables you want to buy.
With the exponential growth of information and technology, HDMI, which stands for High-Definition Multi-Media Interface, has become the new expected standard for users of multimedia products. After years of development, HDMI has become a widely accepted standard for the transmission of digital video and audio signals between TVs and computer monitors. The popularity of HDMI can be summarized by the fact that you can find HDMI ports on almost every display device on the market.
When we are looking at a product that we are intimately familiar with, a good place to start is to look at its development history.
Guess what? I was truly surprised by the fact that even such a small electronic product has its own international association as well! The association is comprised of some of the biggest brands in the industry, including Hitachi, Philips, Toshiba, and Sony. Here is the official home page of their website!
With the help of this international association, which is also affiliated with the electronics industry, HDMI itself has rapidly developed. Benefitting from the help of the association, manufacturers are required to pay a license fee to use HDMI interface protocols.
With an increasing demand for high-definition multimedia, HDMI cables are constantly evolving under the association's guidance. HDMI has been updated for many generations in just 20 years and possesses various professional specifications.
As users, we don't need to remember it all. There is one very critical point to understand with HDMI updates: they are designed to meet the human pursuit of higher image and sound quality, which also assumes more advanced audio and video technology in the future!
The answer is no! HDMI ports come in 4 different sizes, as you can see in the below image.
Undoubtedly, the most familiar style is the Type A HDMI, which is the most commonly seen in the market. We will introduce it below in details.
Before answering these questions, try asking yourself
As long as your answer is: Yes! Congratulations, you might not notice it, but it does exist in your daily life! HDMI cables are an indispensable part of your life!
As mentioned above, HDMI is a must for almost all display devices, which illustrates the importance of HDMI. Basically, all audio and video equipment requires HMDI for video transmission!
The chart below demonstrates the variety of HDMI applications:
As seen in the above illustration, there will be a hard time transmitting multimedia pictures without HDMI!
As we already introduced, HDMI has evolved for 20 years so as to provide higher image and sound quality. Of course we don’t need to know every generation, we pick three, HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0 and HDMI 2.1, which are also popular in the market, to introduce. I will give an overview of the features of each version.
HDMI 1.4
HDMI 1.4 came out in 2009 and got the world's attention -- it was the very first time that HDMI was able to transmit 4K video! Imagine if you weren't able to watch a 4K video right now, but they were able to transmit it ten years ago.
The main features of this update include:
There are a lot of technical highlights, but we can tell you that it can only achieve 24FPS at 4K resolution. 4K video transmission at 30FPS or even 60FPS will only be supported in later versions.
HDMI 2.0
HDMI 2.0, which was released in 2013, successfully made up for all the shortcomings of previous versions:
As you can see, HDMI 2.0 fixes almost all the weaknesses of the HDMI 1.4! HDMI 2.0 has become the current mainstream standard. We proudly state that we offer HDMI 2.0 cables in several of our product lines. Just enjoy browsing and buying!
HDMI 2.1
Four years later, in 2017, HDMI 2.1 appeared, and it looks like it has decided to compete with DisplayPort cables to some extent.
HDMI 2.1 brings an eye-catching new refresh rate and resolution, but there are few commercial devices currently on the market that can be used with. The enhancement of the gaming experience makes HDMI another great choice for gamers other than DisplayPort cables. Don't forget, both PS5 and Xbox Series X support HDMI 2.1.
If you’ve already received your PS5, you can grab a new braided HDMI 2.1 cable here for your beloved gaming console.
As for the differences between bandwidth, ARC & eARC, color depth, VRR, ALLM, and QFT mentioned above, we will keep you updated on the upcoming blog posts! Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below!
You do need to remember that we have two HDMI ports for video output, so you need to buy 2 cables at the same time.
Then comes to the front side, let's start from the left to the right.
3.5mm Audio
Audio cables are our original treasure, you must not miss this excellent Amazon's choice, with more than 10,000 comments.
USB-C ports
Please do remember, USB-C ports are only for data transfer, not for video output.
The USB-C series is a huge series, which covers USB-C to C port, USB-C to HDMI port, etc. You can find anything you want via this link.
Enjoy yourself : )
]]>Besides, you might have the chance to join our decision-making projects, to determine what we gonna design, produce, and sell.
Join the carnival now, and help yourself!
]]>First and foremost, it is essential that you
download the ethernet driver for your device.
Thanks to the prosperity of social media, people can build their own brand online. More and more people live their life as digital creator or streamer. Fan-base is their biggest value.
For these people, their daily work is to produce would-be-popular content. “To do a good job, one must first sharpen one’s tool”. If you are determined to make your way into this field, you need vlogging gear. A smartphone or camera maybe the least you need. But to become a professional vlogger, you need more than that.
Here are some tips for beginners to follow to equip essential gear and cables.
People will drive nuts if they cannot hear what you say in your vlog. That’s why vloggers need to ensure their voice is captured in isolation from background noise. A microphone attached to their SLR is a perfect solution.
You can use 3.5mm AUX cable to connect microphone to SLR, smartphone or laptop. Fortunately, iVANKY also has audio cable selection at your convenience.
Our 3.5 mm AUX cable features pure copper shell, which reduces more signal loss than the aluminum shell and enhances quality of sound.
You edit video on laptop, for most vloggers, on your MacBook Air, probably. However, I suggest you connect PC monitor to your Apple laptop if you don’t have to edit video in public places. Connecting to other displays significantly expand your screen space, which would help to maximize your productivity, and edit better clips.
To build your vlogging workstation, you need iVANKY Dual USB-C Docking Station, which is dedicatedly designed for Apple devices. MacBook Users, you don't need to install any drivers on your cherish laotops, just plug in, that easy. Before choosing it, you might need to check if you have two USB-C ports along side on your laptop. If yes, then you can move forward to the next paragraph.
With 2 HDMI ports, iVANKY allows two 4K monitors working under extended mode and reach 60Hz, as powerful as Thunderbolt 3 Docking (if you don't know what it is, I might tell you that it's a "Performance Monster"). You only need two normally 4K HDMI cables and you can achieve 4k@60Hz on your extended two displays, no need to choose "active cable", well, that's good, but you don't need it. Just the simplest 4K HDMI cable.
Plus, iVANKY Dual USB-C docking station can power up your laptop with 96W when in use, saving worries for drawing power. Besides, one USB port allows 18w PD charging for smartphone, keeping you click away and type while in use.
Oh, forget to mention it's 12 ports. I'll bet that's all for your need: 2* HDMI, 4*USB-A, SD, TF, USB-C, RJ45, etc. Anything else for vloggers?
Check out HERE.
You might only need the bigger screen to do the edit job, which is also reasonable. That's where durable cables play. HDMI cable is most widely used and can support 1080P monitor. You can easily find the right one in iVANKY. We have HDMI cable of 6 different lengths and offer 54-month warranty. No worry to place your order.
You can find details of our HDMI cable here. It is rated 4.7 on Amazon and has received more than 10K good reviews. Our HDMI cable is the flagship product and your best choice.
Check out HERE.
Vlog gear is all about helping you shoot video with good quality and show it to people properly. For beginners, basic vlog gear is all you need, including microphone, camera and computer. Don’t forget that you also need cables to put them together for producing great vlog. iVANKY is your one-stop shop for all cables. With proven quality and reasonable price, iVANKY cables take care of all you need.
Check out HERE.
]]>Information overload may not be a problem because computer process it for us. We open piles of windows in browser, devour the information in abundance. Despite the help of computer, we still find these opened windows quite annoying. They squeeze into computer screen, making it difficult to see them simultaneously and slow down our work.
During the day when time is scarcer than money, getting more productive means making more value. How are we going to be ‘rich’ in this digital age? Here are three suggestions for you.
Laptop is perfect for taking out, but at the cost of limited screen space. The maximum laptop screen is 17’’, and will easily get cramped when more than two windows is displayed. It’s getting even worse when you need to keep two windows opening at the same time while they operate separately.
Imagine this: you are a writer. Your work on your new article while searching for source material. If you do it on single screen, you have to alternate between tabs. It kills productivity, not to mention cause errors.
Dual-monitor setup is quite common among people who spend most time working on computer, such as coders, graphic designers. It allows them to do two things simultaneously, big boost to productivity. No wonder a New York Time’s report has proven that dual monitors can increase productivity by 20-30 percent.
You must be ready to get your dual-monitor setup. It is pretty easy. All you need is to find the right cable to work with the video ports on your gear. Today, HDMI and DP ports are widely built on all video transmitters and receivers. Among many versions that exist as technology is upgrading. HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.2 are the mainstream. In this case, iVANKY HDMI 2.0 cable or DP 1.2 cable is your right choice. They are the top-star products in iVANKY families.
We are familiar with USB drive. By inserting it into USB port on computer, you can move files to computer hard drive.
It’s worth mentioning that the most common USB port is actually USB-A port. It supports data transfer at a speed of 5Gbps, which means you can finish moving a 1G movie within 3 seconds.
Sounds super fast, isn’t it? Not enough, Thunderbolt technology greatly increase transfer speed to 40Gbps at maximum, with Thunderbolt 3.
Nowadays an increasing number of laptops have Thunderbolt 3 port, giving users ultra-fast transmission experience. If you desire "transfer at blink", don’t hesitate to equip yourself with Thunderbolt 3-enabled device.
Given that Thunderbolt 3 takes on USB-C port, you need USB-C cable with specified note that it supports Thunderbolt. At iVANKY, we offer a collection of USB-C cables that work with other video ports, some of them compatible with Thunderbolt. Welcome to explore in iVANKY USB-C world.
Multi-Stream Transport (MST) technology takes the form of DisplayPort port. which allows you to connect a series of monitors to a host. It is one of the features of DisplayPort Standard.
MST technology helps you spread picture of one screen to other screens connected. In other words, you get a widescreen monitor that display picture in bigger size.
The benefit of spreading picture to other screens is that it gives you a good chance to boost productivity. For example, more columns of spreadsheet will be displayed on screen, saving you time to swipe left and right; For designers, their picture can be shown in bigger size so they can retouch them in detail.
How to connect these monitors? Following these steps:
Never forget to choose the right cable for your setup. MST works on DP port and Thunderbolt port and you need to pick up DP cable or Thunderbolt cable to get your ‘widescreen’ working. To save your effort, visit iVANKY store and your dream cable is ready for you.
Nielsen Company found that person in the United States spends on average approximately 10 hours and 39 minutes each day on internet in 2018. With so many hours spend in front of screen, it is really important to build a comfortable workspace to boost productivity.
To have a nice dual-monitors setup, you do need cables for connection. iVANKY is your destination. You can find all kinds of video cables here. Head to our Amazon store to get the cable you need!
]]>In 2021, we had our breakthrough brand positioning with the concept of One Step Ahead, and proposed a unique brand personality. We want to achieve a unified image transmission across all the touch points of the brand, and truly understand our customers better than they do themselves. Standing in the new stage of development, we would like to take this opportunity to complete the major project of uniform appearance design.
We used the iVANKY theme color red, and tried to weaken its warning/attack meaning by lowering its saturation. We took one more step in the production process and designed the redline appearance logo. After the plan was designed, we sent a questionnaire to all iVANKY friends to ask their opinions on the new design plan, and received extremely positive feedback. Therefore, the design of the redline has been determined and will be applied to future cable products, making redline a unique existence for iVANKY.
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