Can my Mac mini power a monitor with USB C?

[w4rm]

Hey,
I know a USB-C monitors powers a laptop, but can a monitor be powered just with a USB-C cable from my Mac without a power adapter connected to the monitor?

If so any cheap options you recommend?

Thanks!

 

[Fishrrman]

I don't -know- the answer, but my guess would be... no.

 

[archer75]

no

 

[FreakinEurekan]

There are some, sure. Google "USB Powered Display" for some examples. But what's the point? It's not a portable computer, it requires AC power - so why limit yourself to a USB powered display?

 

[NerdsLTD]

Nope. A hex core processor requires way more power than the monitor can provide. More importantly, if you've ever seen how shaky USB-C connections can get, you wouldn't want to try.

 

[weaztek]

so why limit yourself to a USB powered display?

I'm not the OP but I've run out of outlets on the wall. I have wall worts for: Mini, monitor, optical drive, external HDD, time machine HDD, printer, 2.1 speakers, cable modem, wireless router....shall I go on?

 

[Fishrrman]

"I'm not the OP but I've run out of outlets on the wall. I have wall worts for: Mini, monitor, optical drive, external HDD, time machine HDD, printer, 2.1 speakers, cable modem, wireless router....shall I go on?"

ummm....
Lay out a little money and get a GOOD power strip/surge supressor with 6-8 outlets, spaced so that you can use power blocks in all of them if need be...

 

[w4rm]

There are some, sure. Google "USB Powered Display" for some examples. But what's the point? It's not a portable computer, it requires AC power - so why limit yourself to a USB powered display?

The less cables the better haha especially with my set up.

Honesty can’t wait until all non-power cables are wireless. Like universal wireless hdmi maybe the next Bluetooth generation? Or the one after that.

Solves the need for dongles too. Does anyone know of any news of people working on this? Is it even possible to get same speed and latency as cables? Are there physics limitations? Because everything on my desk is so close doesn’t need that much range.

 

[rmdeluca]

The less cables the better haha especially with my set up.

Honesty can’t wait until all non-power cables are wireless. Like universal wireless hdmi maybe the next Bluetooth generation? Or the one after that.

Solves the need for dongles too. Does anyone know of any news of people working on this? Is it even possible to get same speed and latency as cables? Are there physics limitations? Because everything on my desk is so close doesn’t need that much range.

There are plenty of consumer wireless HDMI solutions, but they aren't going to reliably do 4K@60FPS (especially not without compression and latency), there just isn't enough bandwidth.

With respect to the physics - is it possible to get the same speed and latency as cables? In theory, yes, especially compared to where we are right now with typical cables. Visible light is in the hundreds of terahertz so it has HUGE bandwidth available, plenty enough to carry everything we could conceivably want in the next decade.

The limitations of using light for signaling are pretty obvious, however there is active research being done on this front for future WiFi standards and other applications. There have been military (and some commercial) applications of point-to-point signaling with lasers for a long time now.

 

[w4rm]

There are plenty of consumer wireless HDMI solutions, but they aren't going to reliably do 4K@60FPS (especially not without compression and latency), there just isn't enough bandwidth.

With respect to the physics - is it possible to get the same speed and latency as cables? In theory, yes, especially compared to where we are right now with typical cables. Visible light is in the hundreds of terahertz so it has HUGE bandwidth available, plenty enough to carry everything we could conceivably want in the next decade.

The limitations of using light for signaling are pretty obvious, however there is active research being done on this front for future WiFi standards and other applications. There have been military (and some commercial) applications of point-to-point signaling with lasers for a long time now.

Awesome thanks for the info!

 

[FreakinEurekan]

The less cables the better haha especially with my set up.

Vaya con Dios then. But you're limiting yourself to smaller, more expensive displays. For me, I'll keep my power cable

 

[weaztek]

get a GOOD power strip/surge supressor with 6-8 outlets, spaced so that you can use power blocks in all of them if need be...

I guess I haven't shopped for one for a while (like 15 years). Ended up ordering a Tripp Lite 10 outlet protector.