Dell XPS 9520 and Docking Station?

My daughter had a macbook with a single usb-c port and now has a new 2020 macbook air with just 2 ports. So, we got her a multiport USB hub that could handle USB power pass through and offered her a couple of traditional USB ports. And it does have hdmi so she connects an external display with it. This is the one we bought.

I have a Dell Precision 5550 for work, and it came with this little adapter which is what I assume that you mean by your 2 in 1. This offers an HDMI output, and a single USB 3 port. I've used that adapter when i'm physically in the office to connect to HDMI displays in a conference room.




At home, I'm using the Dell Thunderbolt WD19TB dock. I use it to connect to my wired ethernet, I have 1 external monitor hanging off it (HDMI). I have a wired mouse connected to the dock as well. This supports pass through charging to my laptop. I use the monitor on the laptop as a second display and I use the keyboard on the laptop when I am working.

pparks1 said:

My daughter had a macbook with a single usb-c port and now has a new 2020 macbook air with just 2 ports. So, we got her a multiport USB hub that could handle USB power pass through and offered her a couple of traditional USB ports. And it does have hdmi so she connects an external display with it. This is the one we bought.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07WPTG7NX?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image

I have a Dell Precision 5550 for work, and it came with this little adapter which is what I assume that you mean by your 2 in 1. This offers an HDMI output, and a single USB 3 port. I've used that adapter when i'm physically in the office to connect to HDMI displays in a conference room.


View attachment 41655

At home, I'm using the Dell Thunderbolt WD19TB dock. I use it to connect to my wired ethernet, I have 1 external monitor hanging off it (HDMI). I have a wired mouse connected to the dock as well. This supports pass through charging to my laptop. I use the monitor on the laptop as a second display and I use the keyboard on the laptop when I am working.

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Yes the 2 in 1 adapter is exactly the same one you have. It has a hdmi port but it also has a single usb a port correct? Now is there any issue connecting a nonpowered sabrent 4 port hub to it... to thus use 4 usb a ports instead of just 1? So you connect the sabrent port hub to it and then connect wireless mouse dongle, wired keyboard, cable matters ethernet adapter and say a usb flash drive? Then all the while having an hdmi to say dvi cable connected to a monitor? This would be with a thunderbolt 4 port on the laptop.


Then use a usb-c to displayport on another monitor.


And the usb-c port on the laptop, use it for charging the laptop?


Is there any issue with connecting those things to that 2 in 1 adapter? Any issue with drawing too much power to it? Because that adapter is meant for 1 hdmi monitor and just one usb a device right? So when connecting a usb 4 port hub to it, it would be daisy chaining it for 4 usb a ports? But will there be issue with this?


Because if not, then no dock station needed for 2 external monitors?

newmann said:

Now is there any issue connecting a nonpowered sabrent 4 port hub to it... to thus use 4 usb a ports instead of just 1? So you connect the sabrent port hub to it and then connect wireless mouse dongle, wired keyboard, cable matters ethernet adapter and say a usb flash drive?

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That should work just fine. Here i have connected that 2 in 1 device to my Precision 5550, and I have a non-powered 4 port hub connected and then have my external house connected to that hub

newmann said:

Then all the while having an hdmi to say dvi cable connected to a monitor? This would be with a thunderbolt 4 port on the laptop.

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Are you stuck with DVI on my your monitor? It would be best to just go HDMI out on that 2 in 1 dongle, to HDMI in on a monitor. But you certainly can get an HDMI to DVI cable and attach that way, it will work.

newmann said:

Then use a usb-c to displayport on another monitor.

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Yes that would work to handle that second monitor.

newmann said:

And the usb-c port on the laptop, use it for charging the laptop?

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Correct

newmann said:

Is there any issue with connecting those things to that 2 in 1 adapter? Any issue with drawing too much power to it? Because that adapter is meant for 1 hdmi monitor and just one usb a device right? So when connecting a usb 4 port hub to it, it would be daisy chaining it for 4 usb a ports? But will there be issue with this?

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No, the only issue you "could" run into would be if you wanted to say run a higher powered USB hard drive and it may not work with a passive (not powered) 4 port USB hub. If you think you might run a full size 3.5" external hard drive, you may want to get a powered hub instead. You aren't going to be straining that 2 in 1 device at all, it's simply moving data through it. It's not handling power or anything.

newmann said:

Because if not, then no dock station needed for 2 external monitors?

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Correct, that's what I said above.

Docking station are just nice when you are coming and going frequently and you want to attach to everything with 1 single device to plug into. For example, I go into the office 2 days a week and carry my laptop. I have a dock at work and a dock at home. I just sit the laptop on the desk, plug in 1 USB-C port, since it's power it automatically turns on the laptop when I attach it and i'm good for the day. Same experience at home as in the office.

what I would do is connect suitable Hubs to each of the 2 TB4 ports, each would power one monitor, and a number of usb-A ports as required which should be within the power limits of the ports, this is assuming that the monitors are supplied with power via regular power cables and not the TB Ports.

there are thunderbolt hubs available with multiple ports, I have seen up to 10 + ports of various types, I would suggest you look at two hubs, one to supply the video signal to one of the monitors and another to supply the video to the other monitor. the hubs would also include other ports -, USB-A, Ethernet, [USB-C charging port for phones etc if needed]

You can get hubs that will supply more than one monitor with data, most include HDMI even those which include Display port but I would prefer to keep the monitors on separate ports. what other ports are on the two hubs is purely a case of getting hubs that meet all your needs - there are a huge number of variations available including audio, and different USB versions. it's also possible to add daisy-chained USB port hubs when needed as long as you do not require too much power off each individual port, [Hubs with USB-C through ports are useful here ]

The advantage of a Docking station is that it's a single unit but, it can never give the full range of ports available with Thunderbolt 3/4 ports, for this you need to use hubs although they may never look as tidy as a dock, they are flexible

Am looking at the picture and a bit confused. The non power 4 port hub is connected to that single usb a port on that 2 in 1 adapter? So it is connected to that 2 in 1 adapter? But you only have just your external mouse hub connected to it so still 3 available usb a ports available on that 4 port hub? My sabrent usb 4 port hub is also nonpowered.


I would be connecting 2 external monitors. One would be usb-c to displayport cable to 32' 4k monitor which would use the other thunderbolt 4 port.

But with this 2 and 1 adapter, I would connect a hdmi to dvi cable to the 2nd monitor. This 2nd monitor would be 24' 1920x1200 resolution.


The 32' 4k monitor can be connected displayport or hdmi
The 24' 1920x1200 monitor can be connected displayport, dvi or VGA


My old xps laptop, I plugged usb-c to displayport with the 32' 4k monitor. I used the hdmi to dvi cable with the 24' 1920x1200 monitor. So I want to do the same thing because of this 2 in 1 adapter.


With the nonpowered sabrent usb 4 port hub, I would be connecting wireless mouse usb, wired keyboard, cable matters ethernet adapter for wired internet... an possibly usb flash drive? So would that be more than enough power for that? I don't plan to connect a 3.5' hard drive to it.


So because of this specific usb-c to usb-a/hdmi cable supplied by dell, I can do 2 external monitors along with that nonpower sabrent usb 4 port hub with usb a devices without issue then?

So with what I mentioned earlier with how I plan to set up the 2 external monitors... one would be without any docking station and just having that usb-c to usb-a/hdmi adapter, you recommend that?


Or


The wavlink thunderbolt dock would work better? With the wavlink thunderbolt dock, 2 external monitors would be connected to it and be each using displayport to displayport cable. There is also an ethernet port on it for wired internet. It also has 1 single usb a port. Now with this, you do this on thunderbolt 4 port. On the other thunderbolt 4 port, you would use the usb-c to usb-a/hdmi adapter and plug in just the sabrent 4 port hub to it and then plug in wireless mouse usb, wired keyboard. You don't even need to connect a cable matters ethernet adapter for wired internet because the wavlink has it.


Is there any difference between either of the two? Such as one might work better than the other? Only difference is paying for the wavlink and 2 displayport cables compared to just buying a cable matters ethernet adapter with the 1st method. Is the wavlink dock any better than having no dock since you say i can do 2 external monitors without a dock because of this sole usb-c to usb-a/hdmi adapter?

newmann said:

Am looking at the picture and a bit confused. The non power 4 port hub is connected to that single usb a port on that 2 in 1 adapter? So it is connected to that 2 in 1 adapter? But you only have just your external mouse hub connected to it so still 3 available usb a ports available on that 4 port hub? My sabrent usb 4 port hub is also nonpowered.

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Yes, I just connected it to show you that it could work. I normally don't use that 2 in 1 dongle, and that USB hub i took off my Mac Mini that I have sitting next to me. My external mouse is usually connected to my docking station.

newmann said:

I would be connecting 2 external monitors. One would be usb-c to displayport cable to 32' 4k monitor which would use the other thunderbolt 4 port.

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Yes, that will work fine for that monitor

newmann said:

But with this 2 and 1 adapter, I would connect a hdmi to dvi cable to the 2nd monitor. This 2nd monitor would be 24' 1920x1200 resolution.

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Yes, that will work just fine. I could have attached my HDMI monitor to that 2 in 1 adapter and it would have worked just fine. I'm running a 27" display at 2560x1440.

newmann said:

With the nonpowered sabrent usb 4 port hub, I would be connecting wireless mouse usb, wired keyboard, cable matters ethernet adapter for wired internet... an possibly usb flash drive? So would that be more than enough power for that? I don't plan to connect a 3.5' hard drive to it.

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A non powered hub should be fine for those things. None of those are high powered devices.

newmann said:

So because of this specific usb-c to usb-a/hdmi cable supplied by dell, I can do 2 external monitors along with that nonpower sabrent usb 4 port hub with usb a devices without issue then?

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I would expect so. This is pretty standard stuff. Nothing you are attempting to do is elaborate in any way.

And if you really wanted the docking station you can get the Dell WD22TB4 for $236 from Amazon.

That dock provides

1. 2 x Display Port 1.4
2. 1 x HDMI 2.0
3. 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
4. 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port
5. 1 x USB C multifunction display port.
6. Gigabit Ethernet port
7. 2 x Thunderbolt 4 ports

Personally, i like the docking station myself. It just comes down to budget. If you can and you are willing to pay the extra for the docking station, I think you have a better setup. This requires you to ONLY plug 1 cable into the laptop, just 1 single USB c connector. Otherwise you are plugging in multiple things, (power cable, 1 monitor to thunderbolt, the 2 in 1 to the other thunderbolt connector (which then goes to a USB hub). It's just a lot of cable and clutter.

But if the cost of the dock is prohibitive, and you don't mind the cable clutter, without a doubt you can do it the way we have been discussing.

Just noticed this "one Stop Shop" option [UK Amazon but should be available world wide ]


You may need more USB ports but this can be achieved easily enough with a basic USB-C to USB-A hub as an example below ...

pparks1 said:

Yes, I just connected it to show you that it could work. I normally don't use that 2 in 1 dongle, and that USB hub i took off my Mac Mini that I have sitting next to me. My external mouse is usually connected to my docking station.

Yes, that will work fine for that monitor

Yes, that will work just fine. I could have attached my HDMI monitor to that 2 in 1 adapter and it would have worked just fine. I'm running a 27" display at 2560x1440.

A non powered hub should be fine for those things. None of those are high powered devices.

I would expect so. This is pretty standard stuff. Nothing you are attempting to do is elaborate in any way.

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Thanks for that information. Well if i was to plug in a hard drive into one of those 4 usb port hubs, what is the worst thing that would happen? My main concern is would it possibly fry the nonpower sabrent 4 port hub? Could it damage the 2 and 1 adapter? Could it damage the thunderbolt4 or the usb-c port I plugged it into? I don't have any plans to plug a hard drive there but if i were to ever do it, any precautions? Should I remove the ethernet adapter and possibly the monitor connected via hdmi temporarily to prevent any power surge or anything like that? Again I normally do not connect a hard drive to it but if i were ever to do that, removing a monitor connected hdmi would be important? I wouldn't mind even removing the wired keyboard and wireless mouse dongle temporarily in case there could be too much power?


Also related to this... where would you suggest I plug the 2 and 1 adapter to on my xps 15 9520? It has 1 usb-c port and 2 thunderbolt 4 ports. The thing is the thunderbolt 4 ports have much more power than the usb-c port right? The thing is the 2 thunderbolt 4 ports are on the left side of the laptop. The usb-c port is on the right side of the laptop. I would prefer the 2 and 1 adapter and the nonpowered sabrent usb 4 port hub on the right side. But is that a risk since plugging those things to the usb-c port is not as strong as the thunderbolt 4 on the left side of the computer or would that not be an issue? I had planned to charge my laptop with the usb-c port and notice the usb-c port was on the right side of the laptop. I actually prefer if it was on the left side of laptop and the 2 thunderbolt 4 to be one on each side but it isn't. Thoughts on that?


Well the thing is I read everyone who has a xps 9510/9520 always say you need some sort of dock station if you want 2 external monitors. Because I thought you had to since... usb-c would be used as your laptop charger. Then with your 2 thunderbolt 4 ports, if you were to connect each monitor via usb-c to displayport and usb-c to displayport/hdmi/dvi to another monitor... well you have 0 usb a ports... does that make sense? So without this 2 in 1 adapter, this wouldn't be possible right? But with this, it is not only possible, but you can get 4k at 60hz resolution right?

I saw that Dell dock on dell site. It is very expensive. I saw it on amazon but I am not sure because I saw lot of reviews that say it is used and not new. I mean there is a huge price difference between amazon and dell.


Yes I heard dock makes everything simple with just unplugging 1 cable. To me, that isn't an issue at all. I just didn't want to spend $350+ for a docking station with this already expensive laptop. I don't mind removing wires because this laptop usually is on a table with 2 external monitors. Yes I will sometimes bring it with me like I will do soon as I will travel with it, but once it is on a table, it will stay there.


But for me only wanting 2 external monitors, just this 2 and 1 adapter is more than good enough right? Also it will be using whatever graphic card I am using? Someone had told me a plugable 4k dock was not good... I was looking at that at first and they said it is bad because it is DISPLAYPORT. Are you familiar with this? They said you can get lot of lagging/freezing and if you have a gaming graphic card... this laptop has a nvidia 3050, there might be issues. I even read in the plugable 4k dock instructions to avoid if you have a gaming graphics card. Do you have any opinion on this?

pparks1 said:

My daughter had a macbook with a single usb-c port and now has a new 2020 macbook air with just 2 ports. So, we got her a multiport USB hub that could handle USB power pass through and offered her a couple of traditional USB ports. And it does have hdmi so she connects an external display with it. This is the one we bought.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07WPTG7NX?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image

I have a Dell Precision 5550 for work, and it came with this little adapter which is what I assume that you mean by your 2 in 1. This offers an HDMI output, and a single USB 3 port. I've used that adapter when i'm physically in the office to connect to HDMI displays in a conference room.


View attachment 41655

At home, I'm using the Dell Thunderbolt WD19TB dock. I use it to connect to my wired ethernet, I have 1 external monitor hanging off it (HDMI). I have a wired mouse connected to the dock as well. This supports pass through charging to my laptop. I use the monitor on the laptop as a second display and I use the keyboard on the laptop when I am working.

Click to expand...

Do you know if you can get 4k and 60hz with the 2 and 1 adapter? I have this adapter since dell supplied it with my dell xps 15 9520 but i do not have a 4k monitor to test where i am at the moment. I won't get to test it until i go to another location with the 4k monitor i have there.

newmann said:

Do you know if you can get 4k and 60hz with the 2 and 1 adapter? I have this adapter since dell supplied it with my dell xps 15 9520 but i do not have a 4k monitor to test where i am at the moment. I won't get to test it until i go to another location with the 4k monitor i have there.

Click to expand...

I don't know. I don't run any 4k displays. I stick with 2k displays.

pparks1 said:

I don't know. I don't run any 4k displays. I stick with 2k displays.

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Is there a way to find out? Went to amazon and typed in dell DA20 and I do see one comment said it runs 4k at 60hz. So it should do that?