[Updated 2021/04/22 with additional cables and adapters]
If you search Amazon or another major retailer for USB-C -> DisplayPort or USB-C -> HDMI adapters, there are dozens to choose from. >99% are single direction with the source/host PC intended to be connected to the USB-C end and the sink/monitor to be connected with the DisplayPort or HDMI end.
What if you need to go the other way? For example, how do you connect a USB-C-only monitor to a PC that only has DisplayPort or HDMI?
Get the right cable that supports bi-directional or reverse signaling. These cables are considerably more expensive than typical cables since they have several integrated circuits inside to handle both directions. For example, the StarTech cables combine a Via VL170, a Chrontel CH7213C, and a TI TUSB544.
DP 1.4 <—> USB-C cables/adapters (full size DP)
With DP 1.4 / HBR3 support, these are the most capable and future-proof offerings:
- Cable Creation CD0738 (2m length) (~$20)
- Club 3D CAC-1557 8K60 (2m length) (~$35)
- Delock 85813 (1.5m length) (~$60)
- Infinnet 8K-ready 2m length) (~$40)
- Infinnet 8K-ready (0.5m length) (~$30)
- Moshi 99MO084102 5K60 (1.5m length) (~$45)
- Startech CDP2DP141MBD 8K30 (1m length) (~$37)
- Startech CDP2DP142MBD 8K30 (2m length) (~$40)
- VisionTek 901288 (2m length) (~$30)
DP1.2 <—> USB-C cables/adapters (full size DP)
- AmazonBasics UTC-DP-B-L (1m or 2m lengths) (~$16)
- MonoPrice 139240 (2m length) (~$30)
- Startech CDP2DP1MBD 4K60 (1m length) (~$33)
- Startech CDP2DP2MBD 4K60 (2m length) (~$33)
- Tripp Lite U444-066-DP-BD (2m length) (~$33)
DP 1.2 -> USB-C (single direction)
- DeLock DP -> USB-C adapter 63928 (~$30) (20cm length)
- Belkin cable for Huawei VR (DP + 2x USB-A -> USB-C) (~$95)
What about HDMI/DVI?
Several brands offer HDMI -> USB-C or HDMI -> DP cables but they are single-direction aka “reverse” only. Many include a USB A plug for power (not data). Many of these adapters are based on the Lontium LT6711 chipset. To use DVI, just combine with a DVI->HDMI adapter.
HDMI -> USB-C (single direction)
- Club3D CAC-1332 (~$35)
- DeLock 63251 (~$55)
- Goovis Young HDMI adapter (~$50)
- Siig CB-H21711-S1 (~$46)
- UGreen CM323 (~$35)
HDMI -> DP (single direction)
4K60
- Benfei 000308grey ($27)
- Club3D CAC-1331 ($41)
- DeLock 63206 ($38)
- Ferissa HDMIDP ($29)
- Foinnex H-DP ($34)
- Foinnex H-DPF ($33)
4K30
- Cable Matters 103069 ($35)
- goFanco HDMIDP ($35)
- QGeeM 4336291398 ($27)
- Tripp Lite P130-06N-DP-V2 ($40)
- Visiontek 900822 ($35)
- Wacom Link Plus adapter ACK42819 (~$70)
What about MiniDP?
Just use a MiniDP->DP adapter with one of the full-size DP options above. Or the Wacom Link:
- Wacom Link Plus ACK42819 (~$70)- combines HDMI or mDP + USB-A/micro-USB into USB-C (USB 2.0 speeds only)
- Wacom Link adapter ACK42719 (~$60) (mDP + USB 2.0 -> USB-C)
Additional Resources:
Let me know in the comments if you know of any other brands of bi-directional cables/adapters and what you’re using them for.
Hi Dan, I recently bought an HP EliteDisplay S14 which has a single USB-C port (for both power and video input). I need a cable/adapter to convert DisplayPort to USB-C and also provide power. As far as I know, DisplayPort does not provide power so I need something to work. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks!
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I think the best option is the Belkin adapter listed above. It has DP input plus 2x USB-A power injection (10 watts) and USB-C out. There is no competition in this market, so its quite expensive, but worth a shot IMHO.
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I too wanted to limit cables to only one for DP -> USB-C with power delivery, but there are almost no products on the market. The Belkin is dedicated for VR and it doesn’t state what power it can deliver to the USB-C end and is also too expensive. Was looking for some kind of USB-C power injector (similarly to PoE injectors) or a USB-C powered hub (with external power supply for the hub) but no sensible products exist on the market. Any help?
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Thanks for your research. Save me so much time sorting and looking through Amazon.
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When selecting one of the listed cables be sure to double check the Displayport Alt Mode specifications of your USB-C device. Ex: the Monoprice cable is DP 1.4 spec but it’s DP Alt Mode is only 1.0 whereas most USB-C devices with DP Alt Mode use spec 1.2.
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Hi Victor – what does a user miss with the Monoprice cable on today’s hardware? My understanding of the alt mode spec beyond 1.0a is that it addressed power delivery interop and to get any benefit for video you need to jump to alt mode 2.0 for which no products exist yet. So what does Alt mode 1.2 bring beyond 1.0a for video?
Unfortunately, many of the vesa specs are non-public and you need to pay the annual fee to get access. My subscription ran out quite a a while ago so I can no longer check this myself.
But I found this: https://www.anandtech.com/show/15752/displayport-alt-mode-20-spec-released
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Hello! Great resource. Here’s a link to a Club3D branded HDMI to USB-C Converter to add to your list: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SVPX9S5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Hi! I’m looking into my options for connecting a Laptop Dock from an HP Elite x3. One thing I’m a bit worried about is that it will only work if it can connect to the device using USB Data as well. I noticed that the “product brief” for the Lontium LT6711 mentions a “high performance bi-directional Super-Speed switch”. Page two of the product brief actually shows a diagram with HDMI and USB 3.1 on the left side and USB-C (DP1.2/eDP) on the other side. Yet on all of the adapters listed here I only see a regular “USB micro-B” connector and the specs for all the adapters seem to imply it’s used for power only.
Are there any products that you know of that actually patch the USB-C data lines through to the “host” device as well? Honestly if it was only USB 2.0 signals I’d already be super happy.
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Ugreen CM323 works fine with usb c hubs at usb 2.0 speeds (uses a micro usb for data connection), I tested it with a usb memory stick in my hub and it worked fine. $25 on Aliexpress
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Thank you so much for takin the time to respond, much appreciated! I’ve ordered the CM323 and I’ll cross my fingers that it will work with the Elite x3 Lapdock! 😀
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Hi Dan. Hope all is well! Don’t know if you remember, but I was using the Club3D HDMI>USB-C unidirectional adapter and connecting my Epson Moverio BT-40 Smartglasses via it’s USB-C cable. The image being projected in my smartglasses has a thin white line that flashes intermittently at the top of the image. I tried to contact Club3D, initially their support was trying to help & then now no response. I have two of these adapters doing the same thing. Seems that the Lontium LT6711A chip that does the conversion needs a filter of some sort to get rid of the overscanning. Would you be able to try & solve this?
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