Advantages and disadvantages to using direct HDMI vs a usb-c dongle on MacBook Pro?

[weeener]

Are there any advantages or disadvantages to using one or the other for a basic 1080 external monitor in clamshell mode on a 14’ MacBook Pro m2 that is staying plugged in at a desk most of the time?

Some things I am considering are, wear and tear on the usb-c ports from unplugging the dongle, extra heat generated in the MacBook (for either connection method), leaving a dongle plugged in all the time that draws power from the computer while it’s sleeping, etc.

What are your thoughts? If you were going to leave everything plugged in most of the time, would you plug the monitor in direct via HDMI or via a usb-c adapter? The adapter does not have its own power supply and does seem to be staying active while the computer is sleeping.

 

[Fishrrman]

If HDMI works, use it.
That's what it's there for.

Doing so leaves a USBc port "free".

 

[Chancha]

Also there is already a PCI / DP stream assigned for the HDMI port permanently, so leaving it unused but instead outputting through the pool of type-C / Thunderbolt means you are leaving that "channel" idle on the table while reducing potential TB bandwidth for the rest of what are plugged in.

Then there are issues with external dongles that you need some luck involved to get a trouble-free connection, since HDMI frequently needs handshaking and a dongle simply adds 1-2 points of failures.

Heat-wise, either way wouldn't matter much, with the internal HDMI port you may add extra work to the DP to HDMI chip on the logic board but that's well cooled inside. Then with a dongle it will be itself that heats up, which is well outside the chassis. Don't think it will heat up the port area like charging with a type-C cable would.

 

[TechnoMonk]

For me HDMI with good cable gives me higher resolution at higher Frame rate.