Thunderbolt has a higher minimum data rate than USB.

USB-C and Thunderbolt are similar, but there are some perks to Thunderbolt.

That means some high-performance gaming and workstation laptops can’t rely exclusively on USB-C for power even if the laptop has a USB-C port with Power Delivery. Power Delivery available from a monitor is currently limited to 100 watts at most. The monitor should support USB Power Delivery at least equal to wattage supplied by the laptop power adapter. Compare that to the rated wattage of your laptop’s power adapter. View the monitor’s specifications to find out how much power it can send over USB-C. You’ll need to check the USB-C monitor you want can provide enough power for any devices – in most cases, a laptop – it will power. The wattage available can vary from a few watts to 100W or more. However, the USB Power Delivery standard is extremely broad. Most USB-C devices support some USB Power Delivery, which is required to supply power over USB. Power delivery: Check the wattage before you buy But very few USB-C monitors have a refresh rate above 60Hz, so this is rarely a issue. You need USB-C with support for DisplayPort 1.4 to handle a high refresh 4K at 144Hz, for example. USB-C devices with DisplayPort Alternate Mode will support at least DisplayPort 1.2, which can output 4K at 60Hz.ĭisplayPort version will matter if you connect a high refresh display. The version of DisplayPort supported by your PC’s USB-C port usually isn’t important. This feature is not mandatory, and not all PCs that have a USB-C port support it.

It’s important to check that a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode is available on the PC you will connect to the monitor.

Microcenter portable monitor