Connecting a pen display with a single USB-C cable

Overview

Ideally you would be able to connect your pen display to your computer with a single USB C cable. And that cable would provide display signal as well as enough power for the pen display. You should understand

Considerations

Key things to keep in mind:

  • Not all pen displays support this configuration - even if they do have USB C ports on the tablet

  • Not all computers are capable of sending power and display signal over their USB C ports

  • Not all USB C cables can be used for this purpose.

So, you have to do your research and plan carefully. Do not buy a pen display assuming that a single USB C cable connection will work.

Verify with your manufacturer

The first thing you should do is verify whether the tablet supports a single USB C connection. Ideally you do this before you even purchase the tablet.

You can do this verification easily:

  • Read the user manual for the tablet and see how it connects

  • Or contact product support for the tablet and ask them specifically if it will work for that specific model.

Summary of requirements

Video signal with DP alt mode support

Power support

  • Cables

    • Thunderbolt USB-C cables can carry carrying enough power

  • Ports

    • Even if the cable supports power, your computers USB-C port may not supply enough power.

  • Power needed

  • The size of the pen display affects how much power is needed.

    • It's very likely that if your USB-C port can deliver enough power a 13" pen display

    • At 16", some pen displays require additional power usually from a power adapter that is plugged into a wall.

    • Above 16" most often in my experience a single USB-C cable is not enough and these pen displays require additional power.

USB-C Port preference

Often with tablets there are two USB-C ports.

Sometimes they are not interchangeable:

  • Some tablets dedicate the top port for video and data, and the bottom to power

  • Some tablets dedicate the bottom port for video and data, and the bottom to power

  • Some tablets can any any combination of ports for video, data, and power

USB-C Ports that are recessed

You should be aware that recessed USB-C ports on your pen display typically mean that only the manufacturer-provided USB-C cables will fit them.

Manufacturer cables vs third-party cables

I recommend you get the USB-C cables the manufacturer provides for use with a single USB-C cable configuration for two reasons:

  • These cables are known to work with the device

  • The tablet may have recessed USB-C ports and these cables are designed to fit.

Thunderbolt 3/4 cables

To keep it simple, I often just use Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 cables since these are USB-C cables that are defined to support DP alt mode and enough power.

The specific Thunderbolt 3 cable I use

Resources

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