LaptopDesktop.net Plan a desk

PreviewDesk Pass $1.95 a month or $19.50 a year. Free during preview: nothing is charged. See what it adds

Hookup Planner

Which port, which cable, and will it fit?

Count the ports on your laptop, describe each monitor, and the planner matches every monitor to a port, names the cable, and checks the picture you want fits through it.

1 The laptop's ports

Count the sockets on the laptop itself. Not sure which USB-C ports carry video? See the Port Guide.

carries DisplayPort 1.2
carries DisplayPort 1.4
carries DisplayPort 2.1
no picture
2 The monitors

3–4 monitors are part of the Desk Pass, $1.95 a month or $19.50 a year. Free during preview: nothing is charged.

1 Monitor 1

Inputs on the back of this monitor

2 Monitor 2

Inputs on the back of this monitor

3 Monitor 3 Desk Pass

Inputs on the back of this monitor

4 Monitor 4 Desk Pass

Inputs on the back of this monitor

Example desk: change the form to plan yours

2 monitors, 2 cables

1 HDMI (HDMI 2.0), 2 Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 · Windows

  1. Left 27-inch 2560 × 1440 at 144 Hz

    Fits

    Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 port 1USB-C to DisplayPort cable, rated 2560 × 1440 at 144 HzDisplayPort in (DisplayPort 1.2)

    Needs 14.08 Gbps of 17.28 Gbps through DisplayPort 1.2 · 19% to spare

  2. Right 4K 3840 × 2160 at 60 Hz

    Fits

    HDMI port (HDMI 2.0)Premium High Speed HDMI cableHDMI in (HDMI 2.0)

    Needs 12.54 Gbps of 14.40 Gbps through HDMI 2.0 · 13% to spare at the leanest timing (many laptops use TV timing over HDMI, which needs more)

Shopping list

  • AUSB-C to DisplayPort cable, rated 2560 × 1440 at 144 Hzfor Left 27-inch
  • BPremium High Speed HDMI cablefor Right 4K

Cable and adapter types only: LaptopDesktop.net sells nothing, and this list names no shop and links to none. A cable you already own works if it is the same type.

One cable instead?

  • USB-C video hub with USB 3 ports (most hubs)Does not fit

    All screens share one link (MST): 26.62 of 12.96 Gbps (DisplayPort 1.4, 2 lanes); the other two lanes carry the USB 3 data.

  • USB-C video hub with only USB 2.0 portsDoes not fit

    All screens share one link (MST): 26.62 of 25.92 Gbps (DisplayPort 1.4, 4 lanes).

  • Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 dockFits

    Each screen gets its own DisplayPort stream (up to DisplayPort 1.4, 25.92 Gbps); the biggest needs 14.08 Gbps. The dock can also charge the laptop.