Best Cable Upgrades to Boost Performance

You’ve spent thousands on a killer GPU and a lightning-fast CPU, but are you still using the same old cables that came in the box? We sat down with Alex, one of our senior technicians, to answer the community’s most frequent questions. When you’re chasing peak performance, every single component matters… right down to the wire. Upgrading your cables is a small change that can unlock some seriously big results, from higher refresh rates to more stable connections. ✨

Your Top Cable Questions Answered

Here’s a rapid-fire Q&A to clear up the confusion and help you choose the right cable upgrades for your gaming rig and tech setup.

Q: Do cables really make a difference in gaming performance?A: Absolutely. Your monitor cable is the most common bottleneck. An old HDMI 1.4 cable, for instance, can’t deliver the 144Hz signal your new 1440p gaming monitor is waiting for. For online gaming, a poor-quality Ethernet cable can introduce packet loss and jitter, even with fast fibre. It’s not about making your PC faster… it’s about removing the things that are slowing it down.

Q: I’m on a tight budget. What’s one cheap cable upgrade that has a big impact?A: The easiest win is swapping your monitor’s stock cable for a certified DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 cable. This is often all it takes to enable G-Sync or FreeSync properly and unlock the high refresh rates you paid for. It’s a huge performance gain, and you can find excellent, high-bandwidth cables for under R200 that are more than up to the task.

Q: Are all USB-C cables the same? My phone charger looks the same as my laptop one.A: They are definitely not the same. A basic USB-C cable might only support slow charging and USB 2.0 data speeds. A high-spec one can handle 100W Power Delivery (PD) and Thunderbolt 4 speeds of 40Gbps. If you’re connecting a high-speed SSD or a docking station, using a quality cable from a brand like GIZZU ensures you get the speed and power you expect.

Q: What about cables for my other gear, like my headset or travel power bank?A: Durability is key here. Look for cables with braided sheathing and reinforced connectors that can handle being thrown in a backpack. You want something that’s built to last. Brands like Promate specialise in this kind of robust gear that’s perfect for gamers on the go.

Q: Is it worth paying more for a specific brand?A: For critical connections, yes. A reputable brand name usually guarantees better materials, shielding to reduce signal interference, and stricter quality control. For essential peripherals like a printer or a work-from-home dock where a failed connection is a real pain, using certified cables from a manufacturer like HP is a smart move for guaranteed compatibility and reliability.

Q: I’ve heard about custom PSU cables. Are they just for looks?A: Mostly, yes. Coloured, individually sleeved cables are a fantastic way to customise your build’s aesthetics. However, they can also make cable management easier than the stiff, bulky cables that come with many power supplies. They won't increase your FPS, but they will definitely elevate the look and airflow of your rig.

HP DHC CT500 HDMI to VGA Adapter Cable Black - resolution 1920x1080 / DHC-CT500

R199.00In Stock

Fractal Design USB-C 10Gbps Cable – Model E / FD-A-USBC-002

R289.00In Stock

Gizzu 4K Type-C to DisplayPort Cable 1.8m Poly / GCPCDP18

R249.00In Stock

Promate PowerBolt 240W USB-C Cable / USB-C Thundebolt 3 / 8K@60Hz Video Support / 2Meter Length / POWERBOLT240-2M

R399.00In Stock

GIZZU 4K DISPLAYPORT TO VGA ACTIVE ADAPTER / DisplayPort to VGA conversion / GAPDPV

R199.00In Stock

Gizzu 4K HDMI 2.0 Cable 10m Poly / Supports 4K at 60Hz Resolution / Up to 18Gbps Bandwidth / 3D and HDR for Vivid Colours / GCPHH10

R349.00In Stock

Key Takeaways

If you only remember a few things, make it these:

• Your display cable (DisplayPort or HDMI) is critical. It dictates the maximum refresh rate and resolution you can see.
• For online gaming, a stable Cat6 Ethernet cable is always better than Wi-Fi.
• Not all USB-C cables are created equal. Match the cable’s specs to the device’s needs (e.g., Power Delivery, Thunderbolt).
• Don’t neglect internal cables. Good cable management improves airflow and system cooling.