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Best Cables & Connectors in 2026 — Ranked by Reviews & Value

Building the whole machine? The Windows 98 retro PC build guide pairs a period-correct CPU, board, graphics card and sound card for DOS, Windows 98 SE and Windows XP builds.

10 picks By

Our top 10 cables & connectors picks for 2026, ranked by rating, review volume, and real-world value. Every recommendation links to its current listing and a full SpecPicks product page.

At-a-glance comparison

PickBest ForPriceRatingVerdict
NES Classic Controller Extension Cable 3M / 10ft (2-Pack)… Best Overall $12.99 Best all-rounder of the bunch. Strong all-around pick, broadly recommended. Backed by 6,746 verified reviews.
BENFEI USB to Serial Adapter, USB to RS-232 Male (9-pin)… Best Value $9.99 Best price-to-performance ratio of these picks. Best price-to-performance ratio of these picks — strong rating with broad buyer agreement. Backed by 6,404 verified reviews.
StarTech.com 3m Black Straight Through DB9 RS232 Serial… Best Premium $15.00 Premium spend for buyers who want headroom. Premium spec sheet earns its price tag — build quality, materials, and feature headroom over the value tier. Backed by 1,744 verified reviews.
StarTech 0.5m Straight Through DB9 Serial Cable, Black… Budget Pick $7.99 Cheapest pick that still clears our quality bar. Saves $5 vs. Best Overall. Strong all-around pick, broadly recommended. Backed by 1,743 verified reviews.
TRENDnet USB to Serial 9-Pin Converter Cable, TU-S9 Honorable Mention $12.99 Editor pick for this guide. Strong all-around pick, broadly recommended. Backed by 3,200 verified reviews.
CableCreation USB to RS232 Serial Adapter Cable, PL2303… Honorable Mention $10.99 Editor pick for this guide. Strong all-around pick, broadly recommended. Backed by 2,346 verified reviews.
Kaico PS2 to HDMI Adapter for PlayStation 2, Plug & Play… Honorable Mention $12.74 Editor pick for this guide. Decent option, weigh against alternatives. Backed by 2,970 verified reviews.
SABRENT USB 2.0 to Serial (9-Pin) DB-9 RS-232 Adapter… Honorable Mention $11.18 Editor pick for this guide. (USB 2.0) Strong all-around pick, broadly recommended. Backed by 1,269 verified reviews.
24 Pin to 8 Pin ATX PSU Power Adapter Cable Compatible… Honorable Mention $13.99 Editor pick for this guide. Strong all-around pick, broadly recommended. Backed by 1,049 verified reviews.
tesha 2PACK PS2 Controller Extension Cable, 6ft/1.8m Cord… Honorable Mention $8.99 Editor pick for this guide. Top-rated, near-zero complaint rate.

🏆 Best Overall: NES Classic Controller Extension Cable 3M / 10ft (2-Pack), SNES Extension Power Cord Compatibility Nintendo SNES Classic Edition Controller (2017) and Mini NES Classic Edition (2016), Wii, Wii U

NES Classic Controller Extension Cable 3M / 10ft (2-Pack), SNES Extension Power Cord Compatibility Nintendo SNES Classic Edition Controller (2017) and Mini NES Classic Edition (2016), Wii, Wii U
$12.99 · i-Kawachi

NES Classic Controller Extension Cable 3M / 10ft (2-Pack), SNES Extension Power Cord Compatibility Nintendo SNES Classic Edition Controller (2017) and Mini NES Classic Edition (2016), Wii, Wii U. A curated pick in its category. See full product detail for specs, benchmarks, and alternatives.

🛒 Check Price on Amazon See Full Details →

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.

💰 Best Value: BENFEI USB to Serial Adapter, USB to RS-232 Male (9-pin) DB9 Serial Cable, Prolific Chipset, Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, Mac OS X 10.6 and Above, 1.8M（Not VGA）

BENFEI USB to Serial Adapter, USB to RS-232 Male (9-pin) DB9 Serial Cable, Prolific Chipset, Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, Mac OS X 10.6 and Above, 1.8M（Not VGA）
$9.99 · BENFEI

BENFEI USB to Serial Adapter, USB to RS-232 Male (9-pin) DB9 Serial Cable, Prolific Chipset, Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, Mac OS X 10.6 and Above, 1.8M（Not VGA）. A curated pick in its category. See full product detail for specs, benchmarks, and alternatives.

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.

🎯 Best Premium: StarTech.com 3m Black Straight Through DB9 RS232 Serial Cable - DB9 RS232 Serial Extension Cable - Male to Female Cable (MXT1003MBK), 10 ft / 3m

StarTech.com 3m Black Straight Through DB9 RS232 Serial Cable - DB9 RS232 Serial Extension Cable - Male to Female Cable (MXT1003MBK), 10 ft / 3m
$15.00

StarTech.com 3m Black Straight Through DB9 RS232 Serial Cable - DB9 RS232 Serial Extension Cable - Male to Female Cable (MXT1003MBK), 10 ft / 3m. A curated pick in its category. See full product detail for specs, benchmarks, and alternatives.

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.

🧪 Budget Pick: StarTech 0.5m Straight Through DB9 Serial Cable, Black (MXT10050CMBK)

StarTech 0.5m Straight Through DB9 Serial Cable, Black (MXT10050CMBK)
$7.99 · StarTech.com

StarTech 0.5m Straight Through DB9 Serial Cable, Black (MXT10050CMBK). A curated pick in its category. See full product detail for specs, benchmarks, and alternatives.

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.

Honorable Mention: TRENDnet USB to Serial 9-Pin Converter Cable, TU-S9

TRENDnet USB to Serial 9-Pin Converter Cable, TU-S9
$12.99 · TRENDnet

TRENDnet USB to Serial 9-Pin Converter Cable, TU-S9. A curated pick in its category. See full product detail for specs, benchmarks, and alternatives.

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.

Honorable Mention: CableCreation USB to RS232 Serial Adapter Cable, PL2303 Chipset, DB9, 3.3FT

CableCreation USB to RS232 Serial Adapter Cable, PL2303 Chipset, DB9, 3.3FT
$10.99 · CableCreation

CableCreation USB to RS232 Serial Adapter Cable, PL2303 Chipset, DB9, 3.3FT. A curated pick in its category. See full product detail for specs, benchmarks, and alternatives.

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.

Honorable Mention: Kaico PS2 to HDMI Adapter for PlayStation 2, Plug & Play HDMI Converter | Supports 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p and 1080i output, with built-in audio, Micro USB power cable, clear video and audio

Kaico PS2 to HDMI Adapter for PlayStation 2, Plug & Play HDMI Converter | Supports 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p and 1080i output, with built-in audio, Micro USB power cable, clear video and audio
$12.74 · Kaico

Kaico PS2 to HDMI Adapter for PlayStation 2, Plug & Play HDMI Converter | Supports 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p and 1080i output, with built-in audio, Micro USB power cable, clear video and audio. A curated pick in its category. See full product detail for specs, benchmarks, and alternatives.

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.

Honorable Mention: SABRENT USB 2.0 to Serial (9-Pin) DB-9 RS-232 Adapter Cable 6ft Cable [FTDI Chipset] (CB-FTDI)

SABRENT USB 2.0 to Serial (9-Pin) DB-9 RS-232 Adapter Cable 6ft Cable [FTDI Chipset] (CB-FTDI)
$11.18 · SABRENT

SABRENT USB 2.0 to Serial (9-Pin) DB-9 RS-232 Adapter Cable 6ft Cable [FTDI Chipset] (CB-FTDI). A curated pick in its category. See full product detail for specs, benchmarks, and alternatives.

🛒 Check Price on Amazon See Full Details →

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.

Honorable Mention: 24 Pin to 8 Pin ATX PSU Power Adapter Cable Compatible with DELL Optiplex 3020 7020 9020 Precision T1700 12-inch(30cm)

24 Pin to 8 Pin ATX PSU Power Adapter Cable Compatible with DELL Optiplex 3020 7020 9020 Precision T1700 12-inch(30cm)
$13.99 · COMeap

24 Pin to 8 Pin ATX PSU Power Adapter Cable Compatible with DELL Optiplex 3020 7020 9020 Precision T1700 12-inch(30cm). A curated pick in its category. See full product detail for specs, benchmarks, and alternatives.

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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.

Honorable Mention: tesha 2PACK PS2 Controller Extension Cable, 6ft/1.8m Cord Compatible with Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2) Game Console & PS2 Controllers

tesha 2PACK PS2 Controller Extension Cable, 6ft/1.8m Cord Compatible with Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2) Game Console & PS2 Controllers
$8.99 · tesha

tesha 2PACK PS2 Controller Extension Cable, 6ft/1.8m Cord Compatible with Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2) Game Console & PS2 Controllers. A curated pick in its category. See full product detail for specs, benchmarks, and alternatives.

🛒 Check Price on Amazon See Full Details →

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.

What to look for in cables & connectors

When shopping for cables & connectors, weigh price, real-world performance, long-term reliability, and compatibility with the rest of your build. Read at least two independent reviews before buying, and prefer current-generation products unless a clear discount justifies an older model.

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— Mike Perry · Picks computed from the live catalog