Everyone with a desktop PC and a desk has been in the same boat. You return to your gaming rig, only to recall just how messy it is. There are cables everywhere, between the monitor to the PC and everything else you need to have connected to your battle station for work and play. There are a few ways to remedy this, one through the use of cable ties, trunking, and clips. Another would be switching to an all-in-one PC, but that would mean completely changing the way you use the system, which is no good for me.
Then I remembered my monitors have integrated USB hubs, which is something I have yet to use. After finally getting around to hooking up my monitor to the desktop twice, I’ve been able to connect all my peripherals using the single link, which has been a game-changer in my effort to tidy up the space. It’s easy to understate just how much of a positive impact a clean work and gaming environment can have on mental health. It allows me to get more done through the day and properly unwind with my favorite PC titles.
The hub of hubs
More ports than you know what to do with
Not every monitor has a USB hub. It’s a feature usually found in more expensive screens or those designed for productivity. Thankfully, both of my monitors have one, allowing me to take full advantage of not one, but two USB hubs for an impressive number of throughput options for hooking just about everything on my desk up to the screens directly. It’s not something you’d actively consider when setting up your PC the monitor is usually forgotten about after an HDMI or DisplayPort link has been established.
Many monitors with an internal USB hub can also handle video, data, and sometimes even power through a single USB-C link to a laptop or desktop PC. This can completely clear up most of the cable clutter between your system and what’s used to display all the output. These hubs usually have an array of USB-A and USB-C ports, depending on when the display was made, what it’s marketed for, and the number of ports available. For my two screens, the NZXT Canvas 27Q and MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD, I had the choice of two hubs to work with.
I had an extensive list of peripherals to connect through the screens, including a mouse, keyboard, webcam, screen light, microphone, and audio controls. Not only does this allow me to completely hide cables through bundling them together and using monitor routing, but it also means there are fewer wires to contend with between the desk and the PC. This makes it considerably easier to create the ultimate clean desk setup. The best part about these ports is that they’re standard, so you can connect anything through them as you would directly into the motherboard I/O.
Upgrading my PC setup
Creating the ultimate clean look
Prior to making the switch to the internal USB hubs, I was relying on direct connections to the PC, using a few cable ties along the way. This allowed me to quickly swap everything out when needed, or so I thought. As soon as I moved to the hubs, I realized just how backwards that approach was. Now, it’s convenient to quickly access everything connected to my PC behind the screens without having to bend down to access the system itself. Even something as minor as connecting one of my gamepads is now super simple.
It’s borderline hilarious how I’ve built systems for decades and have never attempted using USB hubs outside of dedicated external hubs. It’s also changed how I view monitors (no pun intended). Prior to this switch, they would simply be a means to look at content displayed from my PC, but now they’re much more than that. They’re an integral part of my PC setup, acting as a gateway to my system’s I/O with more convenient access. What’s more is you can save money going down this route compared to buying a dedicated hub.
A decent USB hub can cost $100 if not more, depending on how many ports you require, the speeds, and available connections. The hubs within your monitors are available for free and usually include the necessary USB cabling to activate them. This makes it a cost-effective means to tidy up your desk, and it takes a few minutes, once you’ve located the monitor’s cardboard box. Interestingly, like many things in life, the best solutions are usually ones we often overlook, and this is definitely something small that made a notable impact.
Check your hardware today
Don’t miss out on any features
It’s easy to overlook various parts of a setup, be it the mouse, a monitor, or a specific component within the system itself. If you’ve built a few systems, it can also make you quick to believe you’ll know how to use every part of your PC, which can sometimes result in a degree of shortsightedness. That’s precisely what I experienced with monitor USB hubs. I never found a use for them, though they were pointless, and always went direct. That was until I finally wanted to create a cleaner work (and game) environment, and I wish I had done it sooner.