Question

Difficulty: MediumVideo, Display, and Projector Issues

A user connects a new 4K external monitor to a laptop using a USB Type-C cable. While the laptop successfully charges through the connection, the monitor displays a "No Signal" message and enters power-saving mode. The laptop's USB-C port is verified to support DisplayPort Alternate Mode (DP Alt Mode). Which of the following is the most likely cause of this display issue?

  1. The USB Type-C cable in use is rated only for power delivery and USB 2.0 data transfer, lacking video channel wiring.Answer
  2. B
    The laptop's graphics processing unit (GPU) drivers are corrupted and unable to output digital video signals.
  3. C
    The laptop's internal display backlight inverter board has failed, blocking external display transmission.
  4. D
    The USB Type-C interface requires an analog VGA conversion adapter to transmit high-definition video.

Answer

The USB Type-C cable in use is rated only for power delivery and USB 2.0 data transfer, lacking video channel wiring.
The correct answer identifies that USB Type-C cables vary in internal wiring. Standard charging cables only include power pins and USB 2.0 data lines, omitting the high-speed data lanes necessary for DisplayPort Alternate Mode video transmission. Replacing the cable with a full-featured USB-C or Thunderbolt cable will resolve the 'No Signal' condition.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the reported symptoms and hardware capabilities
The host laptop's port explicitly supports DisplayPort Alternate Mode, and power delivery works, but no video signal reaches the external monitor.
Power delivery and low-speed data pins operate independently from the high-speed data lanes required for video Alt Mode.
2
Evaluate the cable specification requirements for video over USB-C
Standard charging cables bundled with laptops or power adapters often omit high-speed SuperSpeed pairs to save cost, making them unable to transmit video.
DisplayPort Alt Mode requires full-featured USB-C cables (USB 3.2 Gen 1/2 or USB4/Thunderbolt) wired with high-speed data lanes.

Key Concept

USB Type-C Cable Capabilities and DisplayPort Alternate Mode
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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