{"id":18937,"date":"2022-08-10T12:46:23","date_gmt":"2022-08-10T10:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=18937"},"modified":"2023-05-05T16:09:57","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T14:09:57","slug":"fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port\/","title":{"rendered":"Laptop Without Ethernet Port: What Can You Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-668453963cf6f\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-668453963cf6f\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-668453963cf6f\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port\/#Why_You_Should_Be_Using_Laptop_Ethernet\" title=\"Why You Should Be Using Laptop Ethernet\">Why You Should Be Using Laptop Ethernet<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port\/#How_a_Laptop_Without_Ethernet_Port_Happens_and_What_Its_Actually_Good_For\" title=\"How a Laptop Without Ethernet Port Happens, and What It\u2019s Actually Good For\">How a Laptop Without Ethernet Port Happens, and What It\u2019s Actually Good For<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port\/#What_To_Do_When_Your_Laptop_Doesnt_Have_a_working_Ethernet_Port\" title=\"What To Do When Your Laptop Doesn\u2019t Have a (working) Ethernet Port\">What To Do When Your Laptop Doesn\u2019t Have a (working) Ethernet Port<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port\/#Method_1_Get_a_USB-To-Ethernet_Adapter\" title=\"Method 1: Get a USB-To-Ethernet Adapter\">Method 1: Get a USB-To-Ethernet Adapter<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port\/#Method_2_Get_a_USB-C_andor_Thunderbolt_Dock_with_an_Ethernet_Port\" title=\"Method 2: Get a USB-C and\/or Thunderbolt Dock with an Ethernet Port\">Method 2: Get a USB-C and\/or Thunderbolt Dock with an Ethernet Port<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port\/#How_do_I_use_Ethernet_with_my_router_in_another_room\" title=\"How do I use Ethernet with my router in another room?\">How do I use Ethernet with my router in another room?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port\/#How_do_I_cool_my_laptop\" title=\"How do I cool my laptop?\">How do I cool my laptop?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port\/#How_do_I_add_more_USB_ports_to_a_laptop\" title=\"How do I add more USB ports to a laptop?\">How do I add more USB ports to a laptop?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port\/#Are_laptops_or_desktops_better_as_a_workstation_PC\" title=\"Are laptops or desktops better as a workstation PC?\">Are laptops or desktops better as a workstation PC?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/fix-laptop-without-ethernet-port\/#Over_to_You\" title=\"Over to You\">Over to You<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>When you buy a laptop without an ethernet port, do you have any recourse?<\/p>\n<p>Why should you be worried about something like this when your laptop most likely already has good Wi-Fi support? And what are your options to make Ethernet work nonetheless?<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll be diving into those and related questions now.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_You_Should_Be_Using_Laptop_Ethernet\"><\/span>Why You Should Be Using Laptop Ethernet<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>I\u2019d like to take a moment to break down the fundamental differences between an Internet connection achieved over Wi-Fi<\/strong> <strong>compared to one achieved through a wired Ethernet connection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wi-Fi,<\/strong> especially modern implementations on both the router and device end, <strong>can be fairly powerful and versatile<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>However, wireless connections, by their nature, <strong>suffer from more interference and inconsistency, especially if you\u2019re occupying crowded network channel bandwidth<\/strong> in large residential or business areas.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The two use cases that suffer most from a Wireless connection<\/strong> include two niches that should be fairly familiar to our readers: <strong>latency-sensitive professional workloads<\/strong>, especially <strong>high-end remote work, and...gaming, in general. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is <strong>down to the fundamental disadvantages of wireless network interference<\/strong> and crowding mentioned earlier.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A wired connection with enough bandwidth will usually work just fine, but wireless connections simply don\u2019t come with that guarantee of consistency<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18957\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/wifi-interference.jpg\" alt=\"wifi interference\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/wifi-interference.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/wifi-interference-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/wifi-interference-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/wifi-interference-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/wifi-interference-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18957 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"wifi interference\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/wifi-interference.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/wifi-interference-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/wifi-interference-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/wifi-interference-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/wifi-interference-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/wifi-interference.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><em>That isn\u2019t to say there aren\u2019t good Wi-Fi solutions,<\/em> of course.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5 GHz band Wi-Fi may compromise on range, but it offers a fairly solid decrease in latency compared to traditional 2.4 GHz band Wi-Fi. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Wi-Fi 6 supports both Wi-Fi bands (2.4 and 5 GHz), but <strong>Wi-Fi 6E goes on to also support a 6 GHz band to offer a selection of more Wi-Fi channels to avoid congestion on crowded networks<\/strong>...until everyone\u2019s on Wi-Fi 6E in 10 years, presumably.<\/p>\n<p><strong>An ethernet connection largely just...doesn\u2019t come with these caveats.<\/strong> Once you run the cable, you can basically forget about it and it will function exactly as intended until your router needs a restart or something.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Apart from the above, it might very well be that you're only <em>offered<\/em> the option to use a wired Ethernet connection at your workplace. No Wi-Fi because of security reasons and the like.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Anyway, enough about Wi-Fi. Let\u2019s narrow it down to your actual use case and what you can do about it!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_a_Laptop_Without_Ethernet_Port_Happens_and_What_Its_Actually_Good_For\"><\/span>How a Laptop Without Ethernet Port Happens, and What It\u2019s Actually Good For<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18958\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/RJ-45-vs-USB-size-comparison.jpg\" alt=\"RJ-45 vs USB size comparison\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/RJ-45-vs-USB-size-comparison.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/RJ-45-vs-USB-size-comparison-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/RJ-45-vs-USB-size-comparison-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/RJ-45-vs-USB-size-comparison-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/RJ-45-vs-USB-size-comparison-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18958 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"RJ-45 vs USB size comparison\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/RJ-45-vs-USB-size-comparison.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/RJ-45-vs-USB-size-comparison-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/RJ-45-vs-USB-size-comparison-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/RJ-45-vs-USB-size-comparison-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/RJ-45-vs-USB-size-comparison-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/RJ-45-vs-USB-size-comparison.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Due to evolving Wi-Fi standards and increasing demands for <strong><em>thinner<\/em> <\/strong>computing devices, something had to go.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Your regular Ethernet port is taller than any USB port, and without it, your laptop can easily be made even thinner.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At least in an ideal world, <strong>a laptop designed by this philosophy was explicitly designed around not having an Ethernet port.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If your laptop <em>isn\u2019t<\/em> extremely thin and you still have this problem, the opposite may be true. It could very well be a cost-cutting measure<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>In the case of many budget thin-and-light laptops, it can kind of feel like both.<\/p>\n<p><strong>So, what are the upsides of a design like this? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>First and foremost, is the ability to engineer <em>thinner<\/em> laptops (assuming that's why the manufacturer removed the ethernet port)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The secondary one<\/strong>, which is common for thin and less powerful laptops in general, <strong>is turning the device into a cheaper, lightweight, secondary computer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>With remote desktop or game-streaming apps over a good network, a device like this can easily turn into an excellent second screen even if it isn\u2019t very powerful on its own<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>An<strong> Ethernet connection will absolutely improve those workloads. So, let\u2019s lay out what you need!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_To_Do_When_Your_Laptop_Doesnt_Have_a_working_Ethernet_Port\"><\/span>What To Do When Your Laptop Doesn\u2019t Have a (working) Ethernet Port<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_1_Get_a_USB-To-Ethernet_Adapter\"><\/span>Method 1: Get a USB-To-Ethernet Adapter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>The first and most obvious solution is just to get a USB-to-Ethernet Adapter.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Many USB-A to Ethernet adapters can be found for under $30 on Amazon and other online markets, and most of them work well. <a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"Plugable USB to Ethernet Adapter, USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet, Supports Windows 10, 8.1, 7, XP, Linux, Chrome OS\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/plugable-usb-to-ethernet-adapter-usb-3-0-to-gigabit-ethernet-supports-windows-10-8-1-7-xp-linux-chrome-os\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\"><strong>I\u2019ve had the best experiences with the Plugable USB To Ethernet Adapter, personally.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_18959\" style=\"width: 1001px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18959\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-18959\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-to-Ethernet-Adapter.jpg\" alt=\"USB to Ethernet Adapter\" width=\"1001\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-to-Ethernet-Adapter.jpg 1001w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-to-Ethernet-Adapter-300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-to-Ethernet-Adapter-768x413.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18959\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-18959 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201001%20538%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"USB to Ethernet Adapter\" width=\"1001\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201001%20538%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1001w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-to-Ethernet-Adapter.jpg 1001w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-to-Ethernet-Adapter-300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-to-Ethernet-Adapter-768x413.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-to-Ethernet-Adapter.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-18959\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ugreen.com\/products\/usb-c-to-gigabit-rj45-ethernet-adapter?variant=39815558987838\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ugreen<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>However, there is a use case where this clear-cut solution isn\u2019t actually very clear-cut: thin-and-light laptops that also have few or even single USB port setups.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In this case, you\u2019ll be forced to think a little more creatively, but any reasonably modern device making this design choice is also doing so with a specific solution in mind:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_2_Get_a_USB-C_andor_Thunderbolt_Dock_with_an_Ethernet_Port\"><\/span>Method 2: Get a USB-C and\/or Thunderbolt Dock with an Ethernet Port<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>The solution for a thin-and-light laptop that only has a few USB ports<\/strong>, particularly if one of those ports is a USB-C or Thunderbolt Port, <strong>is to use an entire Dock<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>This is<strong> most commonly seen with budget laptops, ultrabooks, and Apple\u2019s thin-and-light Macbooks.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Instead of a simple USB to Ethernet adapter, you\u2019ll instead be turning your limited USB port into a dedicated USB dock for your Ethernet connection, several USB ports, and potentially even a display output<\/strong>, depending on your device and dock\u2019s supported standards.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_18960\" style=\"width: 1011px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18960\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-18960\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-Dock-with-Ethernet-Port.jpg\" alt=\"USB Dock with Ethernet Port\" width=\"1011\" height=\"744\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-Dock-with-Ethernet-Port.jpg 1011w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-Dock-with-Ethernet-Port-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-Dock-with-Ethernet-Port-768x565.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1011px) 100vw, 1011px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18960\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-18960 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201011%20744%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"USB Dock with Ethernet Port\" width=\"1011\" height=\"744\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201011%20744%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1011w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1011px) 100vw, 1011px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-Dock-with-Ethernet-Port.jpg 1011w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-Dock-with-Ethernet-Port-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-Dock-with-Ethernet-Port-768x565.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/08\/USB-Dock-with-Ethernet-Port.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-18960\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ugreen.com\/products\/ugreen-4-in-1-usb-c-to-ethernet-adapter?variant=39815557546046\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ugreen<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>If you have support for Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, or any version of USB-C using USB 3.0 or faster<\/strong>, you should get a compatible Dock with a built-in ethernet port for your laptop.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Most docking stations are a little more complicated and expensive to recommend that can be given as a passing recommendation in this article.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"Cable Matters Dual Monitor USB C Hub (USB C Dock) with Dual 4K DisplayPort, 2X USB 2.0, Ethernet, and 100W Charging - Thunderbolt 4 \/ USB4 \/ Thunderbolt 3 Port Compatible for Windows and Linux\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/cable-matters-dual-monitor-usb-c-hub-usb-c-dock-with-dual-4k-displayport-2x-usb-2-0-ethernet-and-100w-charging-thunderbolt-4-usb4-thunderbolt-3-port-compatible-for-windows-and-linux\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noindex noopener noreferrer\"><strong>As a budget starting recommendation, Cable Matters sells a decent USB-C Dock with Ethernet for under $70!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But for higher-end picks, ask us in the comments or wait until we tackle this topic in a larger article, as Thunderbolt 3\/4 and higher-speed USB docks also exist.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_use_Ethernet_with_my_router_in_another_room\"><\/span>How do I use Ethernet with my router in another room?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>So, if you\u2019re a laptop ethernet user, you\u2019re still essentially going to be limited to one place where you CAN have an ethernet cable routed, like a desk.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At least while actively using the ethernet connection. Wi-Fi will function more as an explicit on-the-go option when you have the faster and more stable Ethernet connection as an option at home or in the office.<\/p>\n<p><strong>With office environments, you\u2019ll most likely just end up using pre-existing network cable wiring for your needs. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For example, Ethernet ports in the wall at fixed locations or other workplace-specific network cable runs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In a home environment, you can look into either routing a long-enough Ethernet cable between the two rooms, OR using Power Over Ethernet<\/strong> and smaller Ethernet cables at both ends to minimize hassle and potential routing problems.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_cool_my_laptop\"><\/span>How do I cool my laptop?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re setting up a laptop for using it in a fixed place for an Ethernet connection, you may as well also consider employing laptop cooling methods.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For example, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/laptop-cooling-pads\/\"><strong>a laptop cooling pad<\/strong><\/a><strong> can serve as a great way to improve a laptop\u2019s thermal performance under load<\/strong> and prevent thermal throttling from setting in as quickly.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_add_more_USB_ports_to_a_laptop\"><\/span>How do I add more USB ports to a laptop?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14340\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/11\/How-to-add-more-USB-ports-to-your-PC.jpg\" alt=\"How to add more USB ports to your PC\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/11\/How-to-add-more-USB-ports-to-your-PC.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/11\/How-to-add-more-USB-ports-to-your-PC-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/11\/How-to-add-more-USB-ports-to-your-PC-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/11\/How-to-add-more-USB-ports-to-your-PC-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/11\/How-to-add-more-USB-ports-to-your-PC-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14340 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"How to add more USB ports to your PC\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/11\/How-to-add-more-USB-ports-to-your-PC.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/11\/How-to-add-more-USB-ports-to-your-PC-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/11\/How-to-add-more-USB-ports-to-your-PC-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/11\/How-to-add-more-USB-ports-to-your-PC-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/11\/How-to-add-more-USB-ports-to-your-PC-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/11\/How-to-add-more-USB-ports-to-your-PC.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Another option to consider if you\u2019re going to be using your laptop in a fixed location, especially for working purposes, is <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/add-usb-ports-pc-laptop\/\"><strong>adding more USB ports to your laptop<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, you can\u2019t just slap on more USB ports like you sort of can with a desktop. You\u2019ll instead be relying on USB hubs, powered or non-powered.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_laptops_or_desktops_better_as_a_workstation_PC\"><\/span>Are laptops or desktops better as a workstation PC?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Make no mistake: in terms of raw performance, you can always build a faster desktop workstation than a laptop workstation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>This is mainly down to size and cooling design restrictions, as well as power limitations.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15223\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1.jpg\" alt=\"Laptop VS Desktop Cooling\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-15223 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Laptop VS Desktop Cooling\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2022\/01\/Laptop-VS-Desktop-Cooling-1.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>However, that definitely doesn\u2019t mean laptops shouldn\u2019t be considered. As covered extensively in this article, there are plenty of options for turning a laptop into a working device<\/strong>, even if it doesn\u2019t have a built-in Ethernet port.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/laptop-vs-desktop-workstations\/\"><strong>Jerry has also tackled this question in detail in his Laptop vs Desktop Workstation article<\/strong><\/a><strong>, which I recommend for a solid performance-per-dollar look at the argument.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>I will say that for productive work rather than entertainment, laptops can feel a little confined for me at 15 inches and under<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>I would recommend <strong>a laptop with a larger screen or even docking a laptop to monitor(s) in set workstations<\/strong> where doing so is possible. Most laptop limitations can be worked around when you have the benefit of set workstations.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Over_to_You\"><\/span>Over to You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>And that\u2019s all, for now! I hope this article helped you if you caught yourself without an Ethernet solution.<\/p>\n<p>A reliable Ethernet connection is a staple of any solid network experience, especially for high-bandwidth and low-latency work. Even laptop users shouldn\u2019t be deprived of that.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Have any other questions about using laptops for intensive work or PC hardware in general? Feel free to ask them in the <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/forum\/\">Forums<\/a> or in the <a href=\"#comments\">comments<\/a> section below!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Until then or until next time, happy computing. And consider telling me: does <em>your<\/em> laptop without an Ethernet port still perform well, otherwise?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you buy a laptop without an ethernet port, do you have any recourse? Why should you be worried about something like this when your laptop most likely already has good Wi-Fi support? And what are your options to make Ethernet work nonetheless? I\u2019ll be diving into those and related questions now. Why You Should...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2339,"featured_media":18939,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[173,303],"tags":[147],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18937"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2339"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18937"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19115,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18937\/revisions\/19115"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}