Recommendations about Docking to connect multiple monitors

Hardware
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Hello Friends

For other 2 members of my family having each one their own laptop with a direct installation as follows respectively:

  • Windows
  • Linux

Is the intention to connect either 2 or 3 monitors. Now according with my understanding the best approach is:

  1. Buy a docking with N HDMI ports (and according the model it would have USB ports of type A & B too) to connect.
  2. Furthermore the Docking needs mandatorily the USB of type C.

Am I correct about 1 & 2? If I am correct, pls, according with your experience:

  • Would you share your best recommendations?
  • Indicate if is necessary install some software in Linux

For example for Ubuntu I installed something about “GNOME Tweaks” to do a special configuration about workspaces. Thus I am assuming would be necessary something similar to work with the Docking.

Thanks in advance

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I have had good luck connecting two monitors directly to my desktop.

For my laptop I have used a docking station like you describe. It has two Display Ports and one HDMI port with a USB-C port connecting to the laptop. If I connect all three monitors to the docking station the third one has a horrible resolution / refresh rate. It’s unusable.

Instead, I have been using that third monitor attached directly to the HDMI port on my laptop. My theory is that the Nvidia display adapter is responsible for the monitors attached to the docking station, but the built-in Intel display adapter is responsible for the directly attached HDMI port.

In any case, that works for me.

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My desktop system has 4 outputs - 3 x DisplayPort and 1 x HDMI… They all work in Pop!_OS - no heavy lifting required - plug and play…

Be VERY careful if buying a docking station for a laptop…

e.g. Those old Dell docking stations work really well (where the dell laptop sits on top and connects via proprietary interface) - but often only support displayport and/or DVI… Plug and play in Windows and Linux…

Be VERY careful of DisplayLink (not to be confused with “DisplayPort”) docking stations (some are Dell branded) - these ones usually connect via USB C or “thunderbolt” port . They require a driver - and on both MacOS and Linux - that driver EATS CPU… I have one but I don’t use it - because it was slowing down my MacBook Pro (M1).

I currently only have single monitors connected to my MacBooks - and I had to buy a “dongle” thingie for that… They work okay and also have 2 x USB A ports and 1 x USB C ports (the other USB C port is for power) and ethernet : “CableCreation 6-in-1 USB-C Hub with 4K 60HZ HDMI, USB C Data Port, 1Gbps Ethernet, 100W Power Delivery, 2 USB 3.0 Port”

I bought a separate “dongle” to use when at the office - to output Mac to 2 monitors - it says “driverless” in the marketing info - but that’s bullshit because it doesn’t work unless some proprietary software is running - i.e. a “driver”… Beware of things advertised as driverless too!

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Hello

Thanks for the replies

pdecker

Thanks for the feedback. Pls could you share the exact model of your docking station to let me do a research on Amazon.

Dan

Thanks for the feedback. Pls could you share the exact models of your docking stations and “dongle” to let me do a research on Amazon.

Just to avoid problems to myself. Normally a Monitor has HDMI port and for old versions either only VGA or VGA and HDMI. What kind of Monitors has the DisplayPort?

Thanks in advance

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This is Amazon AU - this only supports a single external HDMI monitor - it says 4K - I’m running QHD (~2K) to a 150 hz 32" Lenovo curved gaming monitor… It works with MacOS (MacBook Pro M1 2020) - haven’t tried it with anything else… I have two of them - use the other one with my work MacBook Pro M1 2020 and same model / brand Lenovo monitor…

I use one of these when working at the office :

It’s marketed as “driverless” which is a lie:

  • Transferring photo and video files in a flash, quick charging your device, and extending to 2 HDMI displays, all without having to download cumbersome drivers.
    I think their legal dept let them get away with it 'cause it has some tiny bit of flash storage inside it which has the driver installer (which needs to be updated anyway)

Lots of monitors - my 3 curved QHD 32" gaming monitors (Lenovo and Gigabyte brands) have BOTH HDMI and DisplayPort inputs. My Lenovo “flat” 32" QHD monitor (not curved and only 60 hz) also has both inputs… I have some old (7+ years old) Dell 19" monitors that also have DisplayPort inputs - but I don’t use these…

As previously advised - I wouldn’t recommend DisplayLink (not to be confused with DisplayPort) docks as they require a driver that has a noticeable performance impact on MacOS and Linux…

At my office - I have slightly newer 19" FHD Dell monitors on my desk - they have mini-displayport (x2) and HDMI. When I use them I only use the HDMI ports from that Hyper dock listed above…

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Sorry it took me a bit to get back to you. Mine is a Dell WD19. I see them listed online for as low as $140 US.

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Really Huge thanks for the two valuable links.

I hope Amazon suggests similar products to expand the research.

Thank You

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