In todays world of computers, knowing what a cable is and how it’s used is pretty important. It is also VERY confusing! The “average Jane or Joe” has very little knowledge of these things. I do not blame them! Computers are NOT their full time gig. They simply wish to turn it on and have it do the task they are requesting.
Unfortunately the marketing guru’s out there know this, and are working diligently against you. They wish to confuse you even more. I’ve stated this before… back in the day we had professional sales people. They guided you towards your purchase.
In the world of corporate “how do we do more with less,?” Professional commissioned sales people are becoming dinosaurs. Those people are being replaced by low paid entry level employees, or even worse, computer scanning devices.
So now “buyer beware” is also “buyer educate yourself on the choices!” Since I am a Professional Photographer in the digital age, who was also in the film age, I’ve grown older and wiser to the changes. I wish to assist you with the education I’ve received over time.
Top Five Computer Cables Of 2024
Now my version of this list has to do strictly with cables necessary for computer operations concerning Photography. There are so many operations and cables out there I could type till I’m blue in the face and not mention them all!
Also? I do NOT wish to involve myself in the PC vs Mac debate! Use what ever tool you wish! Simply understand… when it comes to Photography and Video, no matter which way you go, you will need a top of the line system.
The one thing a Mac has going for it is service after the sale. They have a free number you can call when you need assistance. In my PC days that was not an option, and to my knowledge, that is still not available now.
- HDMI Cables. (High Definition Multimedia Interface)
The HDMI cable is a staple in modern computing and entertainment systems. It transmits high-definition audio and video signals over a single cable, making it ideal for connecting computers to monitors, TVs, and gaming consoles. - Ethernet Cable
For a stable and fast internet connection, Ethernet cables are the go-to choice. These cables connect your computer directly to your router or modem, providing a more reliable connection than Wi-Fi, especially for high-bandwidth activities like gaming, streaming, downloading, up-loading, or printing. - Display Port Cable
DisplayPort cables are the advanced cousins of HDMI and DVI, offering higher bandwidth and capable of carrying audio, video, and other data. They are often used to connect high-end monitors and graphics cards. - USB Cable (Universal Serial Bus)
USB cables are everywhere in the computing world. They come in various forms, such as USB-A, USB-B, USB-C, and Micro USB, each serving different purposes like charging devices, transferring data, or connecting peripherals like printers and external hard drives.
USB Cables are also the most confused cable out there! More on this below… - Thunderbolt Cable
Popular in the Apple ecosystem, Thunderbolt cables offer high-speed data transfer and video output. They are often used to connect external hard drives, docks, and monitors, especially in professional creative work setups.
Thunderbolt Speed is the biggest reason myself, and most Professional Photographers and Graphic Designers are part of the Apple Ecosystem! More on this below…
Honestly the USB-C Cable and Thunderbolt Cable debacle will drive you nuts! Please read on…
The top three cables from left to right… HDMI, Ethernet, & Display Port
The USB-C vs Thunderbolt debacle
Currently the powers that be wish to really confuse you with this one. Thunderbolt was originally developed by Intel and Apple. Thunderbolt was first offered in devices February of 2011. Thunderbolt has huge advantages over other connection methods.
Thunderbolt combines PCI Express (PCIe) and DisplayPort (DP) into two serial signals, and additionally provides DC power via a single cable. Up to six peripherals may be supported by one connector through various properties.
In the computer world? This is mind-boggling! Everyone would love to have these features. However in order to use it, manufactures have to pay royalties. When originally introduced Thunderbolt 1 was over twenty times faster than USB 2.0, with additional other capabilities.
Recently Thunderbolt 5 was introduced with speeds that double Thunderbolt 4. I’m going out on a limb and state that hardware introduced soon by Apple, will include Thunderbolt 5.
So what’s the debacle? USB-C and Thunderbolt use the same connector, but are vastly different! This allows marketers to use keywords in their adds that say they are both the same, but they are not.
The above image shows you the differences in speed. All of them using the same connector!
The graph below shows the differences of Thunderbolt 4 with USB. Now understand that TB 3 And TB 4 were both the same speed but TB 4 allowed more.
Thunderbolt 4 supports 4K to dual monitors or 8K to a single monitor, while Thunderbolt 3 supports 4K to dual monitors or 5K to a single monitor. Charging: Thunderbolt 4 can provide charging power up to 100W from a single port.Thunderbolt 5 is even more powerful.
Below is an image that shows all the different USB connections. Thunderbolt 5 will use the same connector as USB-C and TB 4. This is why the connector has been adopted. It’s very powerful and forward compatible. The key element here is that any Thunderbolt cable with have that Thunderbolt on it! If it does not? Apple will sue all involved.
Can You Use Thunderbolt With A PC?
Yes, but it’s not that simple. Your motherboard and several other factors must be set up for it. Bottom line for me… It’s simply far easier to use a computer designed for Thunderbolt which was developed by Apple.
If I tried to use a Windows Computer with Thunderbolt, there are many configurations necessary, and It might even be more expensive than an Apple computer.
What’s so good about Thunderbolt? Speed! When you have enough files to transfer between devices, you will understand the need for speed. With todays high mega-pixel cameras? You will realize the need for speed and performance far sooner than in the past.
Photography And Video Require Top Of The Line Computers
Yes, I am well aware there are people out there using very old systems with their Photography. That is perfectly ok. There will come a time that they will HAVE to upgrade. When this happens, those people will endure an uphill battle learning new systems.
They will also incur some major expenses updating their storage devices. When this happens it is then that they will learn the meaning of speed when it comes to placing their data on new hard drives. Currently? In many cases I’ve seen this data transfer take up to a week.
In my humble opinion I think it’s better to stay on top of things now, instead of pay heavy prices later with both time and money. Plus this allows you to budget now… instead of have to spend later, to save all your images!
So How Do We Solve All Of The Confusion?
Just like anything else… Education! So this is why I have taken the time to write this post. To assist you! Take the time now, to understand fully what your needs are currently AND in the future! There are multitudes of cables out there! Both from the past, and currently!
Remember it wasn’t that long ago that we thought storing data on a CD was they way to go. Now? CD’s are all but dead.
The image below was put together by a pretty cool Computer Company in Florida. They specialize in many things, most of those being Windows based. However this is just a small sampling of the multitudes of cables out there.
Like their chart says it was updated for 2020. A lot of it has already changed. I can put together a chart for all of the Apple adapters I currently own as well. This stuff is constantly changing and I see no end in sight for the future.
We are in the digital age, and everyone is trying to outdo one another in order to secure their place at the top. In my humble opinion, based on all the research I’ve done to date, I think the USB-C / Thunderbolt connector is here to stay for awhile.
However! I guarantee this too will change! For now I think the top five cables I’ve mentioned will be around for a bit. When it comes to the USB-C / Thunderbolt type connection?
I would tell you to simply buy Thunderbolt Cables. They will work for anything using that connection like the image below shows you…
Yes, they can be a bit more expensive, but for me, having just one cable on hand, instead of many, is a smarter purchase. There is one difficulty I see on the horizon for me personally. That Thunderbolt connection, like all USB connections over the years, can wear out.
I would personally like to see some type of screw set up to secure the connection. Currently the only one available that I know of is offered by Other World Computing aka MacSales.com. These people do not sponsor me, but I currently use a lot of their external Thunderbolt Drive Enclosures.
They offer what is called the Cling-On… reasonably priced at under $25.00 for a five pack, these little goodies secure the connection to keep it from wiggling. The only problem? Many other builders of drive enclosures are not yet smart enough to build their enclosure to use them.
You can Click On the image above to find where to buy them
In order to use these little jewels that set screw hole above the connector port needs to be there. Also? I would not say these little gems are easy to find on OWC’s website. I personally found them at the very bottom of the page of the Mini- Stax Enclosure.
I currently use three of these enclosure’s in my operation and I’ve referred many of my clients these drive enclosure’s, all with zero problems to date. Plus? My clients have loved learning how simple it is to build their own fully replaceable and up-gradable external hard drives.
So Now I’ll Blow Your Mind With One Last Tid-Bit
When we are currently speaking of all the AI feldercarb… understand this leetle bit of fact… The numbers used in the computer world are also mind boggling! Computers are based on the binary number system. Either a zero or a one. That’s it!
So operations per second are unbelievable! The chart below show you the numbers the computer world has “made up” so far… Just so far…
Just for a bit of reference? FaceBook generates over four petabytes of information per day. That’s a million gigabytes my friend. That data is stored in what’s called the “Hive”… and it’s growing minute by minute…
The information super highway will never stop. More and more speed and power will be necessary, and it will be needed soon.
