What to plug into your monitor's USB ports — and what to keep connected directly to your PC

Summary

This article explains which devices are best suited for a monitor's built-in USB ports versus those that should be plugged directly into a computer. It covers the technical limitations of monitor USB hubs (typically USB 2.0 or slower USB 3.0), power delivery constraints, and data transfer speeds. The author recommends low-bandwidth peripherals like keyboards, mice, and USB headsets for monitor ports, while advising against high-power devices (external drives, phone charging), high-bandwidth devices (external SSDs, VR headsets), and latency-sensitive peripherals (gaming mice, high-refresh-rate devices). The piece also explains USB-C and Thunderbolt alternatives, daisy-chaining, and KVM switch functionality for cleaner desk setups.

Source

bskyWhat to plug into your monitor's USB ports — and what to keep connected directly to your PCbgr.com