Apple's M4 all-in-one features two Thunderbolt 4 and two USB 3 ports, all using USB-C connectors, mounted on the rear of the display stand for a clean desk setup. Every USB-C port supports DisplayPort output, enabling up to two external displays alongside the built-in 24-inch 4.5K Retina screen. Gigabit Ethernet is uniquely integrated into the magnetic power adapter rather than the computer itself. A 3.5mm headphone jack on the left side of the chassis supports high-impedance headphones.
desktop Devices
The M4 Pro variant of Apple's redesigned Mac Mini upgrades to three Thunderbolt 5 ports on the rear, tripling bandwidth to 120 Gb/s compared to the standard M4 model's Thunderbolt 4. Two front USB-C ports at 10 Gb/s handle peripherals and quick file transfers alongside a headphone jack. HDMI 2.1 drives a display up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz directly from the rear panel. Gigabit Ethernet comes via the power adapter, with a configurable 10GbE upgrade for network-intensive workflows.
Apple's completely redesigned Mac Mini drops USB-A entirely in favor of an all-USB-C layout with three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the rear and two USB-C ports on the front. HDMI 2.1 on the back supports displays up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz without any adapter needed. A front-facing headphone jack with high-impedance support rounds out the audio connectivity. Gigabit Ethernet is built into the magnetic power adapter rather than the computer chassis itself.
Apple Mac Pro (M2 Ultra, 2023)
Apple's tower workstation offers six Thunderbolt 4 ports split between two on top for quick access and four on the rear, each delivering up to 40 Gb/s for high-bandwidth peripherals and displays. Dual HDMI 2.1 outputs can each drive an 8K display at 60Hz or a 4K display at up to 240Hz. Two 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports enable link aggregation for demanding network workflows. Seven PCIe Gen 4 expansion slots allow adding specialized hardware like video capture and storage controller cards.
Apple Mac Studio (M4 Max, 2025)
Apple's compact desktop powerhouse packs four Thunderbolt 5 ports on the rear delivering up to 120 Gb/s bandwidth each, triple the speed of Thunderbolt 4. Two front USB-C ports handle quick peripheral connections at 10 Gb/s alongside an SDXC UHS-II card slot for fast media imports. HDMI 2.1 on the rear drives a display up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz without any adapter. The rear also includes 10 Gigabit Ethernet and USB-A for legacy accessories.
Packed into a sub-1-liter chassis, this mini PC delivers dual Thunderbolt 4 ports on the rear for 40Gbps data and driving up to four displays simultaneously. Two HDMI 2.1 outputs add further display flexibility, supporting 4K@60Hz each with built-in CEC control. The front panel offers three USB ports including a 20Gbps USB-C for quick external SSD access. Intel 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6E ensure fast wired and wireless networking in a toolless-access design.
This mid-tower gaming desktop delivers 10 USB ports across its front and rear panels, including two front USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 connectors for VR headsets and peripherals. The discrete NVIDIA GPU provides two HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort 1.4 output for multi-monitor gaming at up to 4K@120Hz. Three rear 3.5mm audio jacks support 7.1-channel surround sound for immersive game audio. Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6E handle wired and wireless connectivity for online play.
A triple-display mini PC in a compact chassis — DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, and a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode can drive three 4K monitors simultaneously. The 2.5G Ethernet jack is a standout at this price class, delivering meaningful NAS throughput over a 2.5G switch. USB-C runs at USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) with DisplayPort Alt Mode but no Thunderbolt. Three USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports round out the rear, covering most peripherals without needing a hub.
Dell OptiPlex 7020 Tower (2024)
Dell's business tower features a front-panel USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 port running at 20 Gb/s for high-speed peripherals alongside a mix of USB-A ports across front and rear panels. Three DisplayPort 1.4 outputs on the rear support native multi-monitor setups up to 4K without a discrete GPU. Gigabit Ethernet provides reliable wired networking for enterprise environments. A total of ten USB ports across front and rear panels ensures ample connectivity for keyboards, mice, storage, and docking accessories.
Dell's performance desktop features a rear USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 port hitting 20 Gb/s for fast external storage alongside a front USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port for quick peripheral connections. The integrated DisplayPort 1.4 output supports one external display, while additional display outputs depend on the discrete GPU configuration. An SD card reader on the front panel handles media imports without needing a dongle. Rear 3.5mm audio jacks provide 7.1 surround sound support for multi-channel speaker setups.
This business-class tower packs a generous 13 USB ports across its front and rear panels, including a front USB-C at 20Gbps for fast data transfers. Two rear DisplayPort 1.4a outputs handle dual 4K@60Hz monitors out of the box with integrated Intel UHD graphics. The configurable Flex I/O bay lets IT teams add extra video, Thunderbolt 3, or legacy serial ports to match department needs. Gigabit Ethernet and optional Wi-Fi 6E round out connectivity for enterprise deployments.
Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 (2024)
This gaming tower comes loaded with 12 USB ports spanning USB 2.0 through USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 at 20Gbps, giving plenty of headroom for VR headsets, controllers, and fast storage. The discrete RTX 4080 Super GPU provides three DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI 2.1 output for multi-monitor gaming setups up to 4K@120Hz. A 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port delivers low-latency connectivity for competitive play. The rear 7.1-channel surround audio jacks and optical S/PDIF out support full home theater audio.
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90q Gen 5 Tiny (2024)
This ultra-compact 1-liter PC delivers seven USB ports despite its tiny footprint, including a front USB-C running at 20Gbps for fast external SSD transfers. The rear HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a outputs support up to three displays natively, expandable to four with optional punch-out video ports. One-cable USB-C docking at up to 75W power delivery simplifies desk setups for hot-desking environments. Intel Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5Gb Ethernet options ensure fast networking for enterprise use.
Two Micro HDMI ports allow the Raspberry Pi 5 to drive dual 4K@60Hz displays simultaneously — a notable upgrade from the Pi 4's single-display limitations. The USB-C port is power-only at USB 2.0 speeds; a 5V/5A supply is required for full performance and it cannot output DisplayPort video. Four USB-A ports split into two USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) and two USB 2.0 for peripherals, alongside Gigabit Ethernet. Primary storage uses a microSD card; the M.2 HAT+ expansion enables NVMe drives for faster storage.
