Data Cables
Cables primarily used for data transfer (USB, Thunderbolt, Ethernet).
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DE-9 Joystick Extension Cable (Atari / Sega 9-Pin)
The DE-9 joystick port is one of computing’s great accidents of standardisation: Atari defined it in 1977 and the Commodore 64, the Amiga, the Master System and the Mega Drive all adopted the same nine pins. An extension lets you sit somewhere other than directly in front of the console, which retro hardware with its…
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Lightning to USB-A Cable
The Lightning to USB-A cable is the one Apple shipped in the box for a decade: charge and sync over a plain USB-A port at up to 12W. It is the slow option — USB-A cannot negotiate USB Power Delivery, so an iPad on this cable charges at roughly half the speed it would on…
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Lightning to USB-C Cable
Lightning to USB-C is the fast-charge cable: paired with a 20W or larger USB-C Power Delivery charger it takes an iPhone or an iPad from flat to roughly half in half an hour, which the USB-A cable cannot do at any wattage. It is also the cable you need for a USB-C-only Mac. What it…
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Nintendo Game Boy Advance Link Cable
Before wireless, this was multiplayer. The AGB-005 links two Game Boy Advance or GBA SP systems directly, and daisy-chains to four with additional cables for games that support it — and because many GBA titles offer single-cartridge play, one copy of the game can often serve everyone on the link. Compatibility is by connector generation,…
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Nintendo Game Boy Advance to GameCube Link Cable
One of the more interesting ideas Nintendo never quite followed through on: plug a Game Boy Advance into a GameCube controller port and the handheld becomes a second screen only its owner can see. Four Swords Adventures used it for dungeons, Pac-Man Vs. gave the ghosts a map the runner could not see, Final Fantasy…
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Sony PS Vita USB Data & Charge Cable
The launch Vita uses a wide proprietary Multi-Use connector that does everything — charge, sync, and Content Manager transfers to a PC or PS3 — and nothing else uses it. Sony replaced it with an ordinary micro-USB socket on the 2013 PCH-2000 Slim, which means a Slim cable will not fit a launch unit and…
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Thunderbolt 3 Cable (USB-C)
The Thunderbolt 3 Cable (USB-C) at 40Gbps supports dual 4K@60Hz displays and 100W power delivery. Critical gotcha: passive cables only hit 40Gbps at 0.5m — longer passive cables drop to 20Gbps. For full speed at longer lengths, use active Thunderbolt 3 cables (up to 100m). Backward compatible with USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 devices.
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Thunderbolt 4 Cable (USB-C)
The Thunderbolt 4 Cable (USB-C) delivers 40Gbps bandwidth with mandatory DP Alt Mode video, PCIe tunneling, and 100W USB Power Delivery. Intel-certified for dual 4K displays or a single 8K. Every TB4 cable is also a USB4 cable — fully backward compatible. Passive cables max out at 2m at full speed. Requires E-Marker chip.
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USB-A to USB Micro-B Cable (USB 2.0)
The USB-A to USB Micro-B Cable (USB 2.0) at 480Mbps is the classic Micro-USB cable for PS4 controllers, Xbox One controllers, Kindle e-readers, and thousands of older accessories. Delivers 2W charging. Still the most common legacy USB cable you’ll find in a drawer. Being replaced by USB-C, but these cables will be around for years.
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USB-A to USB-B Cable (USB 2.0)
This is the standard cable shipped with most audio interfaces (Focusrite Scarlett generations 1-3, SSL 2/2+, MOTU M2/M4, Behringer UMC series) and USB turntables. Any USB-A to USB-B cable works regardless of USB version labeling — USB 2.0 Type-B is identical to printer cables. USB Audio Class devices need only USB 2.0 bandwidth. AWG 28/24…
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USB-A to USB-B Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
The USB-A to USB-B Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 1) at 5Gbps connects printers, audio interfaces, monitors with USB hubs, and older peripherals. The square USB-B end plugs into the device; the flat USB-A end plugs into your computer. Still widely used for pro audio gear and office printers. Blue connectors indicate SuperSpeed 3.x — black…
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USB-A to USB-C Cable (USB 2.0)
The USB-A to USB-C Cable (USB 2.0) at 480Mbps is the budget charging-and-sync cable for USB-C devices. Just 2W charging and basic data — the cable most often included in the box with phones, earbuds, and controllers. Fine for keyboard/mouse connections. Don’t expect fast file transfers — upgrade to Gen 1 or Gen 2 for…
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USB-A to USB-C Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
The USB-A to USB-C Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 1) at 5Gbps is the workhorse cable for connecting USB-C devices to USB-A ports on older computers and consoles. Up to 4W charging. Handles external drives, controllers, and accessories at decent speeds. The most commonly sold USB-A to USB-C cable type.
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USB-A to USB-C Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 2)
The USB-A to USB-C Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 2) at 10Gbps connects newer USB-C devices to PCs, consoles, and chargers with USB-A ports. Up to 7W power delivery. Good for fast external SSD transfers and quick phone charging. Note: USB-A limits power delivery compared to USB-C to USB-C cables.
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USB-C to USB-B Cable (USB 2.0)
As laptops drop USB-A ports, this cable bridges modern host devices to USB-B peripherals like audio interfaces. USB Audio Class 2.0 compliance is maintained — high-resolution audio (24-bit/192kHz) works without issues. Electrically equivalent to USB-A to USB-B plus a USB-C adapter, but in a single cable. Ensure the cable supports data transfer (not charge-only).
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USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB 2.0)
The USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB 2.0) at 480Mbps is primarily a charging cable — 15W max. Data transfers crawl at USB 2.0 speeds. No video output capability. The cheapest USB-C cable tier and the one most often bundled with budget devices. Don’t use this for external drives or displays — you need USB 3.2…
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USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
The USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 1) at 5Gbps with up to 60W charging is the standard bundled cable with many devices. Good enough for external hard drives and moderate charging. Passive up to 2m. Step up to Gen 2 (10Gbps) for external SSDs. Look for the SuperSpeed trident logo.
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USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 2)
The USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB 3.2 Gen 2) at 10Gbps with up to 100W power delivery is the sweet spot for most users. Fast enough for external SSDs, NVMe enclosures, and quick charging. Passive cables up to 1m. No video output unless your devices support DP Alt Mode. Check for USB-IF certification to ensure…
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USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB4 40Gbps)
The USB-C to USB-C Cable (USB4 40Gbps) at 40Gbps carries data, video (DP Alt Mode for 8K@30Hz), and up to 240W charging through a single cable. Requires E-Marker chip. Short max passive length (0.8m) — this is a performance cable, not a long-run solution. Backward compatible with all USB 3.x and USB 2.0 devices.
