How to turn an old computer into a media server in less than an hour.

You plug in the charger, connect an external monitor, plug in a USB device – simple, right? Actually, not quite. The USB-C port on a laptop can handle speeds of 20Gbps, or a maximum of just 5Gbps. They look the same, but their capabilities can be completely different, which is why the USB-C designation is important.

 

The same is true for most other ports on a laptop. An HDMI port might support 8K video or only 4K. The 3.5mm audio jack is analog, not digital, which is more important than you might think. The truth is, laptop ports are a collection of different standards, speeds, and capabilities; understanding them can save you a lot of money and frustration.

The sheer number of USB ports that manufacturers hope you'll overlook.

Same shape, but completely different capabilities.

Let's start with the most confusing part of modern laptops: USB-C. Manufacturers love it because it's reversible, compact, and theoretically universal. In reality, the physical connector form tells you almost nothing about its actual function. This is also why cable standards are so complicated, but you shouldn't blame USB-C.

A USB-C port might be a standard USB 3.1 port with speeds of 5Gbps. It could also be a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port with speeds of 20Gbps, or even a USB4 port with 20 or 40Gbps versions. If you're lucky, you might even get a Thunderbolt port. They look similar, but without a small symbol next to the port, you wouldn't be able to distinguish their capabilities. That's why you need to check your laptop's specifications instead of just relying on the port itself.

 

The difference in speed is crucial if you're moving large files. If you're a photographer transferring 50GB of RAW images from an SD card to a laptop, a 5Gbps port might take hours. However, a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port with 20Gbps speeds could shorten the transfer time to around 20 minutes. For the average user who only retrieves documents and photos, this might not be a big deal. But for creative professionals, the difference is significant.

Next is power capability. The USB-A standard has a maximum power output of approximately 2.5 to 5 watts. USB-C can deliver up to 240 watts. This means laptops can charge faster, you can directly power an external monitor from this port, and you can connect multiple devices together without burning out the connectors.

HDMI remains the standard, but the different versions have changed everything.

The connector remains the same, but the performance is different.

HDMI has been around for a long time, and most laptops still have an HDMI port—usually HDMI 2.0 or 2.1. Again, these two ports may look similar, but their capabilities differ significantly.

HDMI 2.0 boasts a maximum bandwidth of 18Gbps and comfortably handles 4K resolution at 60Hz. HDMI 2.1 increases the speed to 48Gbps and supports 8K resolution at 60Hz refresh rate, along with features like dynamic HDR and variable refresh rate for gaming.

You can't always tell which version your laptop uses just by looking at it. Newer gaming laptops are often equipped with HDMI 2.1, while cheaper ultrabooks often still use HDMI 2.0. If you plan on using a 4K monitor with the highest refresh rate during gaming sessions, it's best to check the specifications before buying that gaming laptop.

DisplayPort is also making a comeback, especially on USB-C ports. DisplayPort 1.4 (commonly used with Thunderbolt) supports two 4K displays or one 8K display. DisplayPort 2.0 or 2.1 (on USB4 or Thunderbolt 5 ) can handle 16K resolution .

Most laptops today no longer have a separate DisplayPort. These are integrated into the USB-C ports using the AltMode protocol, meaning you're sharing the port's bandwidth for data transfer. This means you won't be able to use a 16K display with just a single USB-C cable anytime soon, but you can still easily connect your existing monitors with a single cable if they support the standard.

 

SD card readers have probably gotten worse, not better.

Thin laptops have sacrificed speed for storage capacity.

If your laptop still has an SD card slot, check if it supports UHS-II or only UHS-I. The difference is 312 MB/s versus 104 MB/s, at least in theory. For photographers and videographers shooting 4K or RAW continuously, UHS-II is almost a necessity.

Some newer laptops lack SD card readers, forcing users to use external USB-C readers. These readers typically support both UHS-II and CFexpress speeds simultaneously, but this largely depends on whether you're using a V30, V60, or V90 memory card. Overall data transfer speeds depend on both the memory card and the type of USB-C port you're using.

The biggest drawback is that you have to carry an extra cable or device.

The 3.5mm jack is still there, it's just more complicated now.

Sound quality depends on the device connected via the port. As someone who always uses wired headphones whenever possible, life without a 3.5mm audio jack is still more difficult. Like smartphones, the audio jack is gradually disappearing from laptops, replaced by USB-C and Bluetooth audio . But this isn't just an aesthetic issue.

USB-C audio is digital, meaning it can bypass the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) inside the laptop and use an external converter, potentially delivering cleaner sound with less electromagnetic interference. You might not notice a huge difference when listening to casual music, but for audiophiles and musicians, a quality USB-C DAC can deliver significantly better sound than even the best 3.5mm jack version.

However, USB-C headphones are still less common and more expensive than 3.5mm alternatives. You can use USB-C to 3.5mm adapters, but not all of them are of the same quality. This means you'll encounter issues like interference, reduced sound quality, and more.

Ethernet needs to be restored.

Reliability is lost due to thinness.

Many people always use an Ethernet connection whenever possible, and you should too. Most modern laptops lack a built-in Ethernet port, but it still outperforms Wi-Fi in terms of reliability and speed.

However, even if your laptop has an Ethernet port, it's difficult to know which one it is. Like USB-C ports, all Ethernet ports look the same, but they could be gigabit Ethernet with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, 2.5G Ethernet that can reach 2,500 Mbps, or 10G Ethernet that requires special cables but will provide the fastest internet speeds you've ever seen.

 

The truth is, most laptops assume Wi-Fi is good enough. If you work from home, game, or stream, you'll know that's wrong. A USB-C dock or adapter provides a stable, low-latency 2.5G connection without interruption. Just don't buy the wrong USB-C hub.

Technical specifications are more important than port labels when making a purchase.

Don't trust the logo - read the specifications.

If you're buying a new laptop, you should start paying attention to the ports it has. For everyday use, USB 3.2 or higher, an HDMI port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB-C port with power functionality should be sufficient.

For content creators, at least one Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 40 Gbps port, an SD card reader supporting UHS-II, ideally two USB-C ports, and HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort Alt Mode are essential. For gaming and workstation use, you might want to opt for Thunderbolt 4 as standard along with HDMI 2.1. Multiple USB-A ports and high-power USB-C ports can also be helpful.

If you ignore the connectivity ports, you'll regret it later.

Bottlenecks will appear when you least expect them.

The ports on a laptop reflect its target user. A budget ultrabook will sacrifice ports for thinness and lightness. A gaming laptop will have more Thunderbolt ports because gamers can use discrete GPUs and high-speed hard drives. A workstation will prioritize power delivery and speed. No port is useless; they simply differ.

The frustrating thing is that the same physical connector can mean completely different things. That USB-C port could be a bottleneck or a powerful port. Reading the specifications isn't glamorous, but it's the only way to know what you're really buying. Your future self will thank you for the 5 minutes you spent checking the ports before shelling out thousands of dollars on a new laptop.