Cablyst blog
How USB-C, Thunderbolt, and Power Delivery actually work — and how to diagnose them on a Mac.
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Why won't your USB-C monitor run at full resolution?
Your USB-C monitor caps at 4K@30 instead of 60, or won't hit its native resolution at all. Here's why — DisplayPort lanes, cable tier, and dock limits — and how to find the real cause on a Mac.
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How to buy a USB-C cable that isn't lying about its specs
Marketplace USB-C cables routinely claim 240 W and 40 Gbps for a few dollars — and most are lying. Here's how to buy a USB-C cable that actually meets its specs, and how to verify it on a Mac once it arrives.
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How to check a USB-C cable's real speed on your Mac
That USB-C cable might be 480 Mbps or 40 Gbps — an 80× difference with no visible clue. Here's how to check a USB-C cable's real data speed on a Mac using System Information and the cable's own e-marker.
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How to tell if a USB-C cable is Thunderbolt (on a Mac)
A Thunderbolt cable and a plain USB-C cable look identical. Here's how to confirm whether a cable is really Thunderbolt on a Mac — from the logo, from System Information, and from what the cable actually reports.
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How to spot a fake USB-C cable (and what a real e-marker looks like)
Counterfeit USB-C cables fake their specs in predictable ways. Here are the red flags — and how your Mac can read the truth straight from the cable's e-marker.
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Why won't your MacBook charge at full speed?
Slow charging almost always comes down to a Power Delivery contract that settled lower than you expected. Here's how to pin the cause on the cable, the charger, or the port.
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USB4 vs Thunderbolt 4 vs Thunderbolt 5, explained
They share the same USB-C connector and overlap heavily — but the guarantees differ. A plain-language map of what each one promises, and how to see which is actually active.