USB-C doesn’t matter on PCs, and I’m tired of pretending it does ‣ Diverse Daily

I’m a big fan of what USB-C has brought to the table. I love that I don’t have to continue using all those older formats, like Micro-USB, Mini-USB, and even USB-A, in many scenarios. I still have a lot that uses USB-A, but the other formats I mentioned have pretty much been retired aside from some very niche situations.

I have amassed quite a few USB-C cables over the years that charge my phone, laptop, game controller, and several other things that are slipping my mind at the moment. The point is that USB-C cables have completely replaced the need for other cables — except for PC. I don’t have an old PC by any means. I have an AM5 motherboard, so it’s actually the newest generation you can get. What’s surprising is that I have a single USB-C port on it. In comparison, I have been testing out a Dell XPS 14 laptop that comes with just three ports on the entire thing, and they’re all USB-C.

Laptops seem to have gotten the message, a bit too quickly if you ask me, but desktop PCs are lagging behind in a huge way. There are a few reasons for that, and peripherals have to be at the top of the list.

4.5/5

Operating System: Windows 11
CPU: Intel Ultra X7 358H
GPU: Intel Arc Graphics
RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5x Dual Channel at 9600 MT/s

I would have a lot of accessories with no home

Goodbye mouse and keyboard

A keyboard that has been cleaned and reassembled.

The thing I noticed is that I wouldn’t have anything I use plugged into my PC if all the USB-A ports were to suddenly disappear and be replaced by USB-C. Both my keyboard and mouse rely on the older USB-A port, and even the Xbox controller I keep handy uses a USB-C to USB-A cable to plug in. I didn’t realize how much I used these cables until I actually looked at the back of my PC to count all the things I had plugged in. My microphone, webcam, mouse, keyboard, controller, and Thrustmaster T128 racing wheel all need that USB-A port to work.

It’s almost fascinating to look at how many devices have started to drop USB-A connectivity, and then to compare that to PCs. In so many ways, desktop PCs are behind the curve. I guess it’s a matter of if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. It’s not like I move my mouse or keyboard around often at all, so it doesn’t really matter how they’re plugged in. The only unfortunate thing is that you often have to grab a different cable to connect something that relies on USB-C to your PC. My Xbox controller is a good example of that, but that cable is actually a holdover from when I didn’t have a USB-C slot on my PC.

I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a bad thing, mind you. I don’t want to have to run out and replace all my cables, but it’s strange that we’re essentially in a whole new world. It’s just another day if you’re a PC user, but from the outside looking in, it’s bizarre to see how different things are.

Desktop PCs just do things differently

Different standards over there

An Ethernet port on the back of a gaming PC.

I’ve also talked about this before, but it feels like desktop PCs function in a different reality. I mean, it’s the only platform where you’ll ever use a DisplayPort cable. HDMI reigns supreme with game consoles and in the TV space, and there’s a strong possibility that if you ask somebody who has never used a PC before what a DisplayPort cable, they wouldn’t know what one is.

At their core, DisplayPort and HDMI do the same thing, but many people prefer using DisplayPort because it’s what’s easier on their PC. My RTX 3070 Ti has three DisplayPort ports and a single HDMI port, so it’s not like you have much of a choice if you have two monitors. TVs only have HDMI ports, so you’re pushed in that direction on that side. With that logic, that’s probably a big factor in why USB-A has survived as long as it has on desktops. There’s just no reason to replace it at the moment, and since you don’t typically use your mouse cable for anything other than your mouse, I don’t see why things would change. Your phone charger can be used for a wide range of things, and that’s why I keep it plugged in all the time next to my couch.

I don’t know what the future holds for USB-C and desktop PCs, but the adoption has been much slower than I anticipated. Laptops have adopted quickly, and many laptops use a USB-C charging port these days, a very welcome addition if you ask me. The downside to that is I feel like I need to grab a USB-C hub to connect everything I want, and it’s annoying to have to go out and buy a third-party accessory to get the most out of my laptop.

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