Understanding Ethernet Cables: Types and Benefits

So, today is the day you decide to connect your computer and monitor. You take the monitor and monitor cable out of the box, go through the manual, and the next thing you know, you’re sitting on the floor, stressed out. Wondering where to start? Being a company that sells computer accessories online, we often come across customers who inquire about computer cables and how to go about connecting their computer systems.

So, how do I set up a new monitor? Let’s go through this step-by-step guide!

Level Up Your Workspace:

Before we plunge into the actual act, let's understand the battlefield. Here's what you'll need:

• The New Recruit:
  Your shiny new monitor, gleaming with potential.

• The Cable Cavalry:
  An army of cables (power, display, maybe USB) to connect your monitor to the computer. Consult your monitor's manual to identify the specific types you need.

• The Tools of the Trade:
  A screwdriver and possibly a cable organizer if you enjoy neatness (and sanity).

• The Instruction Codex:
  Your monitor's user manual – your trusty guide to deciphering the port landscape.

Mission Prep:

Before unleashing the cables, prepare your workspace:

1. Power Down:
   Shut down your computer and disconnect the old monitor (if present).

2. Clear the Landing Zone:
   Make space for the new monitor, ensuring good ventilation and easy access to its back panel.

3. Unboxing with Care:
   Gently unpack your monitor, following the manual's instructions. Remember, size matters – enlist a comrade for bulky displays.

Cable Connection Conundrum:

Now, we enter the heart of the mission: connecting the cables. This is where the user manual becomes your holy grail.

1. Power Play:
   The most obvious, the power cable (the "kettle-like" one) plugs into the monitor and a power outlet. Simple as that!

2. Display Decoding:
   Now for the display cables. Your choices might include DisplayPort (preferred for high resolutions), HDMI (versatile option), or DVI (older but still kicking). Match the connector sizes and plug one end into the monitor, and the other into your computer's graphics card port.

3. USB Utilities:
   If your monitor has USB ports, connect the provided USB cable to your computer for additional data transfer (like connecting peripherals directly to the monitor).

Mission Accomplished? Almost:

1. Switch On:
   Flip the power switch on the monitor and on the power outlet. The monitor should power up, entering standby mode (light on).

2. Boot Up the Brain:
   Start your computer. Remember, the monitor should turn on first for proper communication with the graphics card.

3. Display Diagnostics:
   If you don't see the display, calmly check all cable connections and ensure both monitor and computer are powered on. Consult the manual for troubleshooting tips.

Fine-tuning Your Pixels:

Congratulations! You've conquered the cables! Now, personalize your viewing experience:

1. Control Panel Command Center:
   Navigate to your computer's Control Panel settings, specifically "Display."

2. Monitor Maneuvers:
   Here, you can arrange your virtual monitors on the screen to match their physical setup (drag and drop those squares!).

3. Display Modes:
   Extend your desktop across both monitors, mirror it on one, or keep one blank – the choice is yours!

Read full blog: Guide to Installing a New Monitor to the Computer

Remember going to cyber cafes and workplaces to use the internet? Now everyone has that workplace at home itself. There is no doubt how the internet has become a concrete part of everyone's lives now. With the growing dependency on online services, the need for the internet is increasing every day. 

This is why most of us drool over the WiFi for its benefits. With public WiFi services, one can connect to the internet from anywhere and with any device. But then, there are security issues too. If anyone can use it, then anyone can hack it too, right? Don't worry. We have a solution for you - Ethernet cables.

Nowadays, we can carry the internet wherever we go. However, the frustration of buffering is a real problem to fix as we all lose our patience when the internet slows down. What most people do not realize is that they can use the ethernet cable to solve this problem. 

Yes, with an ethernet cable, one can use a fast internet connection wherever they go. In this article, we will shed some light on its incredible benefits. But before we move to the benefits, let us have a short introduction to ethernet cables, its characteristics, and its types:

What is an Ethernet Cable?

Invented by: Robert Metcalfe

Standardized as: IEEE 802.3

The ethernet cable connects the gap between your computer and your internet connection. They are also popularly known as network cables. It will quickly connect the wires of your computer to a router or a modem. The ethernet cable will increase your internet speed easily. Today, millions of people rely on ethernet cables as they speed up their work and help them accomplish their tasks on time.

Characteristics of Ethernet

• Ethernet provides connectionless communication.

• It is built on a star topology.

• Ethernet operates via the link layer in TCP/IP model architecture.

• Before transferring any data to the network, the ethernet system checks if the access medium is free to transfer data or not. It determines free medium by Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection (CSMA/CD).

Types of Ethernet

As per the cable used for connecting the systems over the network, the ethernet connection is of two types:

• Fiber Optic ethernet connection

• Twisted Pair ethernet connection

There are three categories of ethernet-based on the data transfer speed:

• Basic ethernet- slowest among all and provides the speed of 10Mbps

• Fast ethernet- intermediate between basic and Gigabit network and provides the speed of 100Mbps

• Gigabit ethernet: provides the highest data transfer speed of 1Gbps. This is 10 times faster than Fast ethernet. It has increased to 100 Gbps.

Benefits of the Ethernet cables

• Speed

If you check for your maximum WiFi connection speed, you will find 866.7 Mb/s. For maximum people, this speed is enough to complete their daily internet tasks on time. Whereas ethernet connection gives 10 Gb/s. And just for the information, this tremendous speed is enough for an entire building. So, when you get your hands on the ethernet cable, you don't need to worry about your internet speed. 

• Security

The global dependence on the internet increases every second; thus, security strikes here as a major concern for everyone. There are chances of WiFi getting hacked easily as it is publicly available. No matter how secure the system you connect to is, there are always chances that anyone could easily hack into your device. These attacks are not possible to carry out remotely via an ethernet network, because for that an attacker would require physical access to do so. Thus, ethernet cables are more secure and reliable than WiFi.

Invariance: If you have a wired connection, you can only control and connect to your network on your device. This is because the router connects only a single person with a device in it.

• Latency

This is the process of distortion caused by the back and forth traveling of the signals from your device to the router. The WiFi connections can have remarkably high latency. However, the latency becomes much lower when you choose the cat5e cable. Here, with an ethernet adapter, you can still use the maximum available bandwidth whenever you require high-speed internet. Various companies use ethernet cables to maximize their productivity.

• Energy-Efficient

Congratulations! Connections established through the ethernet cables won't take an enormous toll on your monthly expenses and are energy efficient. Even the ethernet adapter consumes less energy and works for a long period. Additionally, such cables and devices benefit the environment in the long run. So, you are helping nature and yourself both.

Bottom Line

An ethernet adapter provides complete peace of mind as you can easily stay away from several internet issues in the long run. People who use WiFi can change the router every day and adjust its speed and locations to catch the signals. Adapting cat5e cable will allow you to enjoy HD streaming without any server issues. And when you have a non-buffer series session and uninterrupted work meetings, your day would likely be good and non-frustrating. 

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