(Part 3) Reddit mentions: The best laptop docking stations

T430 owner here - upgraded everything. I'm a developer by trade but also do a ton of spreadsheet work - things like scalability projections, cost/benefit analysis, budgets, etc.

Personal opinion time: the 14in sometimes feels small for this. I have a couple of LARGE monitors at my desk and if I'm doing even moderate spreadsheet stuff I prefer to work on my numbers there. If you're planning on utilizing JUST the laptop screen I would suggest the T430 100%, however I would also suggest budgeting for a larger monitor for use back at a desk for serious work!

I would suggest the 8G RAM for either as it will run modern Windows better - even on Win7 I have noticed a huge difference going from 4G to 8G of ram. Also everyone will tell you SSD is a great idea - these laptops do VERY well with a couple of simple upgrades =D

You may be able to save yourself some cost by buying something that doesn't have the upgrades yet and doing the labor yourself if you're comfortable. There are an insane amount of articles, videos, etc. for cracking into these things if you're comfortable doing your own work.

One other thing - 10 key. I would suggest getting a nice keyboard with a number pad for home too. I don't know how much data-entry you'll be doing but I LOVE the ability to 10 key when I need to!

My overall suggestion:

• ($250-300 USD) T430 with 8G of memory and SSD
  
• ($100-120 USD) 21"-ish monitor - something like this
  
• ($55 USD) Mini-dock
  
• ($80 USD) A nice keyboard with a number pad like this
  
• ($20 USD) A nice mouse for desktop use like this (free scrolling mice are super nice when working with long spreadsheets imo)
  
  PS: I also REALLY suggest the screen upgrade - it makes a HUGE difference and I found mine for around $40 USD. I feel that it was really worth it!

Let's go back in time to VGA / DVI! These were great for 1,920*1,200 @ 60 Hz (3.96 Gbit/s). As bandwidth demands grow, Dual Link DVI (2560 × 1600 @ 60 Hz) gets used mostly for 30" screens but since it needs to more pins it doesn't become popular.

Then came DisplayPort 1.1 which had the rough bandwidth equivalent of double of DL DVI, thus it was capable of driving a 4K monitor at 30 Hz. HDMI was originally the same (video wise) as single link DVI, later it got its clock speed doubled and this became a widespread standard so much that most DisplayPort sources are in fact so called DisplayPort++ which are capable of emitting a HDMI signal. When you see passive, cheap DisplayPort-to-HDMI converters, this is why: it's only a plug converter, the signal coming out of the DisplayPort socket is HDMI.

Then came DisplayPort 1.2 which doubled the bandwidth again, thus being able to drive 4K at 60 Hz. It also had the capability to drive multiple monitors from a single connector by feeding that signal into what's called an MST hub. DisplayPort monitors offering daisy chaining contain such an MST hub. Here's how much bandwidth typical resolutions need:

> 1920x1080 (High-definition 1080p) @60hz - 22%
> 1920x1200 @60hz - 30%
> 2560x1440 @60hz - 35%
> 2560x1600 @60hz - 38%
> 3840 x 2160 (Ultra HD 4K) @30hz - 38%

Mix and match to your hearts content up to 100%, four 1080p @ 60Hz etc. But three 2560x1440@60hz won't work, you can't say "it's just a little over 100%".

Then came USB C which is a gigantic mess. It has four high speed links which are able to carry different signals, one of them is a DisplayPort signal. If you get a cheap USB C to DisplayPort device, that's what happens. USB C also contains an USB 2.0 connection which is available while using DisplayPort. Some adapters (Xiaomi has a great one) will give you a DP port and some USB ports.

The same four lanes are capable of running high speed USB, up to 10 gbit/s and also the USB 2.0 connection. It is possible that some USB C docks will have USB 3.0 marked ports which run at 3.0 speed (5gbit/s) when there's no DP cable plugged in and fall back to 2.0 when you plug in the DP cable. Because Macbooks only have USB C lately, adapters and hubs became popular for them. You will notice some have two USB C plugs -- no wonder, they use the high speed link in one for DisplayPort and then they need the other for speedier USB.

Another way to use the four high speed links is to carry Thunderbolt 3. Thunderbolt 3 is a 40 gbit/s bus which contains a mix of various signals, for example, two DisplayPort signals and some PCI Express as well. Since today all panels are of the Embedded DisplayPort variety you need a thing which takes the DP signals off the TB bus. This can be inside the monitor, that's what a Thunderbolt monitor is. 5K monitors with a Thunderbolt connection will happily take two DP signals off the bus to have enough bandwidth (and/or have two DisplayPort inputs). 4K @ 60 Hz monitors (and lower) will take only one signal down. A dock also can take two DP signals off or one DP signal off. To complicate matters, the one DP signal can be fed into an MST hub and so it's possible you are looking at two digital outputs and have no idea how much bandwidth you got. The manual tells it all: if the resolution table says one monitor can be 4K @ 60 Hz but two is 4k @ 30 Hz, that's an MST hub, splitting the bandwidth.

So your options are:

1. If you want to run a single monitor up to 4K and low speed peripherals, look no further than the Xiaomi USB-C to Mini DisplayPort Multi-function Adapter. 30-40 USD. Add a two port MST hub to taste for another 30-ish.
   
   
2. If you need more video bandwidth but no USB peripherals, use the Plugable adapter. 70-ish USD.
   
   
3. If you also need speedier peripherals, you need to buy some sort of Thunderbolt device. StarTech has a cheap single DP dock which also provides a built in USB 3.0 with a few USB ports visible (the Xiaomi USB 3 looking ports are 2.0 speed! there isn't a way to do otherwise) and a couple devices (Ethernet, audio) hardwired to the other ports of the hub. Lenovo's dock is a terrible deal, really because takes only one DP and contains an MST hub while the Dell TB16 is less than 10% more expensive but demuxes two DP. Single DP 200, dual DP 300-ish USD.
   
   
4. If you need speedier peripherals not provided by the docks, get the Akitio Node Lite and use a PCI Express card to have at it. Note I recommended this one because it also demuxes a DP port for your convenience. 270-ish USD plus whatever card you will want. There are smaller, dedicated devices for most purposes in this category (10 gigabit ethernet, video capture etc) but they usually don't provide a DisplayPort and hideously expensive.
   
   
5. If you need a lot of video bandwidth and/or graphics performance, you can buy a Thunderbolt external GPU chassis which allows you to plug in a desktop PCI Express graphics card. Most consumer cards will give you only three DisplayPorts but more professional cards will give you 4-8. NVS 810 and four 5K monitors, yummy! :D The reason I emphasize DisplayPorts so much should be clear by now: they stand in perfectly for HDMI 1.4 and also can be split with MST hubs. You don't necessarily need to bring your own videocard: Gigabyte has one with a built in short 1070 or 1080 and built in PSU and USB port, Sonnet has a puck which is relatively small but provides no USB ports, Galax has an upcoming 1060 in a similar physical format. Note the Node Lite can be hacked with an eGPU too. https://egpu.io/ is your friend. 400-ish USD and up, up, up.
   
   Real big confusion points include:
   
   
6. many laptops have a half Thunderbolt implementation with only one DP signal on the bus. This is never documented anywhere, it just comes from user reports. There's a mountain of confusion when one person says "this has only one DP signal" and the other says "but I am running two monitors from it" because the latter has an MST containing dock like Lenovo's...
   
   
7. You never know what an USB C connector can provide. You plug a cable in it, you plug it into another device , it doesn't work, you can begin guessing: maybe the cable is not in spec, maybe it's in spec but the wrong spec (a 10gbps USB C cable won't work with 40 gbps TB3), maybe your host dislikes the controller of the device (google macbook ti82), maybe the device wants the USB C to use its four high speed lanes in a mode that the host is incapable of and any other number of issues
   
   Ps. HDMI 2.0 is a late comer, many years later than DP 1.2 and it has roughly the same bandwidth as DP 1.2 but as it is a late comer, DisplayPort++ doesn't apply and you need an active converter. You need to read manuals carefully to see what the HDMI port gives you, as many docks and converters won't do HDMI 2.0 they will say "4K" but that's just "4K @ 30 Hz" and not HDMI 2.0 which is required for "4K @ 60z". All in all, venturing into anything above the usual low bandwidth resolutions you need to read all manuals carefully. Acer has a new monitor which, on the cusp of the demise of DVI uses DL DVI to drive a monitor at 144 Hz. Anyone sane would've used a DisplayPort.

Hi! We're glad that you've heard good things about the TS3 Plus- however, if you're only looking to connect a single external display and charge your laptop, I think our USB-C Dock might be a better fit for you. It can provide up to 60W to your computer while giving you access to more USB ports, Ethernet, and an external display via either DisplayPort or HDMI. If you have any other questions, please feel free to either ask them here or to send an email to support@caldigit.com. Have a great rest of your day!

Nice. I also very nearly ordered it from Best Buy (in that config with 512GB SSD) - but thought it was crazy they were charging $300 more for the Iron Grey. I'm only sold on the Iron Grey color because that's what they had on display at my local Best Buy and I loved it. Of course they don't have any of the UHD models in stock here so I'm stuck ordering online somewhere.

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Where did you get yours?

​

Also, are you using it in a way that you'll be wanting a Thunderbolt 3 / USB C dock of any kind? I've done some basic research on them and I think this is the one I will probably go with.

Dock 1: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KY51P6S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dock 2: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F2VRRJ9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I Forgot to mention that both of these docks worked without issue when I was testing the SPX as well, this seems to be tied more towards the SP7, and I am fairly certain that the SL3 would have the same issues.

I did find that they work a little bit more reliably when no monitor is plugged into them, charging will survive reboots at that point. If I plug a monitor in while charging though, 9 times out of 10 charging stops, not even a notification from windows that power is too low or anything like that.

These docks work perfectly fine on all of the surface go's we have, as well as all of the Dell machines that have USB-C that we have in our inventory, including:

• Dell XPS 13 9360 (I7-7560U CPU / Iris Plus 640 GPU)
  
• Dell Latitude 5290 2 in 1 (i7-8650U / Intel UHD 620 GPU)
  
• Dell Precision 5530 (i7-8850H / UHD 630 / nVidia Quadro P1000)
  
• MSI GS65 Stealth 9SE (i7-9750H / UHD 630 / RTX 2060)
  
  While the difference here could very well be Intel's 10th gen cpu / gpu / chipset, I'd be surprised that all of these (and some more) work perfectly with both of these docks, and for it to be the docks that do not follow the USB-C / Displayport spec.
  
  There are no events that show any indication of what might be going on when these issues present themselves.

If you’re got a MacBook with USB C, I would highly recommend looking for a USB C monitor for the true “one cable” experience. Otherwise you’ll wind up hooking up one cable for the display and another for the USB ports.

Otherwise, another good option would be some sort of docking station, of which there are many options for Macs. You can get some pretty sleek looking ones like this.

The dock has two DP ports, no HDMI. You can see all the ports in the pics on the Amazon product page here. If you need HDMI to Mini-DP converter, you can get the one I use here. I prefer surface dock because I love how easy it is to connect the Surface connect port to my computer and then just have charging, displays, and all my USB-stuff just work. If you get a USB-C dock, even if it does charging, I can't guarantee that it will charge it well. The SP7 seems to charge slower on USB-C than on Surface Connect port. If you plan on plugging in but then also having a port to run your dock, you should look at this USB-C dock. But again, I love that the Surface Dock does everything in one connection, and then my USB-C port is still available if I need to connect anything that way.

I use this at work for my laptop, and just plugged in my Note 9, and it works awesome, shows up on dual monitors, you can full-screen apps etc. Totally missed this feature when thinking about getting this phone.

This docking station is way too expensive to want to buy for the house, but its pretty neat that it works by just plugging it in.

Wow thanks. I’ll send you a DM later if that’s ok? I am trying to connect a laptop. One issue I’ve realized is I’m missing a power cord for one of the monitors. Probably lost in the move and the second I buy a new one I’ll find it lol. But that only explains one monitor. The other one I can’t get to turn on either and I’m wondering if I just don’t have a good dock.

This is the dock I have Kensington USB 3.0 Dual Display Docking Station for Windows, Mac OS and Surface Pro (K33972US) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009F7E730/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VpcwDbK9NGRSP


And here’s my setup.
https://imgur.com/gallery/izMMkoL

Search for "Thunderbolt 3 docking station" instead of "hub", and you'll have more luck.

Check out StarTech's list of TB3 docking stations.

I have this docking station and it works great, but it only has 1 USB2 and 1 USB3.

There's only so much bandwidth in one cable, so you can't have infinite ports in a single docking station.

Don't forget you need a free port for charging, or a docking station that passes through power.

>1x Thunderbolt

Do you mean Thunderbolt 2 (which has the same connector as mini-DisplayPort), or a pass-through Thunderbolt 3 port (which has a USB-C connector)?

All the MacBookPros come with at least two TB3(USB-C) ports; the more expensive ones come with 4. The MacBook (not Pro) only has one, and the MacBook Air has two.

FYI,

I got the one mix 3 (base model) and this USB c hub from Utechsmart (Note that this hub is rebranded by multiple companies using VL817 and LT8712X chips. the port layout and triple display advertising are exactly the same, find one that you like: Hiearcool, YXwin)


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07PRJJNGF/


In windows:
I am able to drive 3 monitors , independent extended mode (laptop internal + 2 HDMI, or laptop internal + 1 HDMI +1 VGA). The external displays are 1080p (don't have anything higher)

The USB C female port on the hub is power only (it does pass through power to the laptop. A lot of these mini hubs only does USB C power pass through, which means you cannot plug a USB C flash drive in the hub

Manual for hub says it passes through 14.5/20V, which is fine because the factory included laptop charger supports 5v/3A, 9v/3a, 12v/2.5a, 15v/2a, 20v/1.5a. not sure if hub is able to support just 5/9/12V power input

Still looking through your Linux testing to see which Linux distro I want to use, will test the hub and display out probably with KDE Neon

Edi: tried different Linux distros (kde neon, Ubuntu 19.04/18.04). Only able to drive one display from hub (even if I plug in 2x HDMI or 1x HDMI 1x vga). Both displays mirror the same content. Need to investigate. Can still drive triple display by doing internal+usbC hub+miniHDMI from laptop

Alas. Many are getting discontinued because of TB3 and it’s unclear if you can use a TB2 to TB3 connector in any direction.

The OWC TB2 is probably one of the best options if you can find one, however this one and seems to be one of the best options for portability and it looks like it’s still available.

I actually have both a 2011 MBP and a 2017 MBP and a Pluggable TB3 Dock as well as Apple’s TB2 to TB3 adaptor. If I can hunt down a TB2 cable I can verify.

Interesting. A little difficult to understand why you say thunderbolt cant move into backwards compatibility mode, since thunderbolt 3 says it supports allprevious version of usb 3 and thunderbolt. Maybe I'm not understanding you here. My port has thunderbolt 3, but instead of dumping in 4 lanes, i discovered they only shoved in 2 lane thunderbolt 3. So my max bandwidth there is 20gpbs. That being said, the moment I plug in something like a T5 which can hit 10gbps, I'm assuming you're saying I will still be capped at 5gpps since the usb C port I have only has a max cap at 5gbps. If this is the case, would something like this be able to solve the problem? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PFFN219/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A1AMUYYA3CT6HJ&psc=1

Since it's a TRUE thunderbolt 3 dock with legit 10gbps transfer usb ports around

This one works fine for two Full HD monitors. Just make sure if you have HDMI monitors you need to get active converters to DisplayPort.

Cable Matters 10Gbps USB C Dock (USB C Docking Station) with Dual 4K DisplayPort and 80W Charging for Windows - USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 Port Compatible - Support One External Display with MacBook Pro https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F2VRRJ9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_rRotDbN0DV6ZS

Tested on kernel 5.2.

We dominantly have this one: https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/migr-76983
It works well, a little choppy with video but sufferable.

This is my new fav: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECDM78E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
USB 3.0 and dual monitor (DOES NOT WORK WITH OSX).

I also like this one: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C631EYU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
USB 3.0, dual monitor and very shiny. Not sure if it works with OSX.

It's looking more and more like I'm probably just going to have to keep slowly upgrading my T420 over time, rather than being able to built a proper desktop PC. Such is life.

I like the idea of using this and perhaps a card that's a few generations old to be able to play some games. Just curious if anyone's ever used anything like this and if so, what was the experience like?

If it matters I primarily run Arch Linux but I'm planning to get another drive for Windows dual-boot soon

Also does anyone know if it might be possible to use this in conjunction with a docking station?

Hello there,

I'm personally using this one for traveling for my Blade 15:
https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Thunderbolt-Dock-Windows-DisplayPort/dp/B07BJJX47G/?tag=gearbeacon-20

I have a pretty expensive one for home, but I also have a Core x and a lot of other stuff connected to it.
https://www.amazon.com/CalDigit-TS3-Plus-Thunderbolt-Dock/dp/B07CZPV8DF/?tag=gearbeacon-20

I sadly couldn't find any Docks which could output 144hz for the monitors.

Hope I could help.

Similar/Identical to the USB dock that /u/blackjesus posted, I have the anker one: http://www.amazon.com/Anker-Display-Universal-Ethernet-Supports/dp/B00C631EYU

Absolutely love it. Highly recommend.

Edit: I've been using it with a Surface Book, but I'm quite sure it would work with an SP2 - really anything with DisplayLink would do the trick.

Cool, thank you. I guess something like this would suite me. It seems to have 2 DVI ports - https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-Docking-Station-0A33970/dp/B008ABKADI

I bought this POS, everything but the displays worked. Bought one of these, and it works beautifully.

This may be a bit overkill, but we had these at my old job and they were fantastic. Especially since Apple has a thing for removing more and more ports each generation of product.

http://www.amazon.com/CalDigit-Thunderbolt-Station-Ethernet-TS2-US-60/dp/B00R85YSYO/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1464123970&sr=1-3&keywords=Thunderbolt+dock

So my brother wants to use a docking station, so I assume that means he won't really be using the actual laptop's keyboard much, if ever. I'm assuming the outcry is just referring to the caps lock switch and backspace swap?

Also, do you guys know what docking station is compatible with the x1 carbon? or the T440s? I'm looking for the one that goes under the laptop near the back end of it, and then you connect your two monitors through the docking station (the docking station is like beneath the laptop, the ones you see at some companies).

edit: something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Mini-Dock-Plus-USB/dp/B0085MQLGC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1393982639&sr=8-4&keywords=ThinkPad+USB+3.0+Dock

but hopefully cheaper?

macbook or macbook pro? Thunderbolt 3 or just USBC?

it should work even on a 2016 macbook (non-pro) but depends on dock and cables

must have HDMI 2.0 Display

must have certified USBC to HDMI 2.0 cable

this is why displayport is better, any DP inputs on that monitor?

this explains it

and also from apple

why not go direct from HDMI on dock? is this ur dock?

Adapting eSATA to anything else can be tricky, so you might have to try a few different solutions based on your computer and your RAID.
This is what I use for my 2012 MacBook Retina and an old G-Raid and I've never had a problem:
eSATA to USB3 6GBps cable - $23

If you want to use the thunderbolt port instead (which will likely not give any visible increase in speed over the USB3 port).
I would recommend buying the thunderbolt station - $200, as it will perform the function that you need and give you plenty of options for other devices.

Really, it'd just take up like two ports at most. HDMI, then a unifying receiver or Bluetooth ideally.

Unless you specifically want the one-cable dock package, Dell has a USB 3.0 option that should work for under $100.

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Dual-Display-Universal-D1000/dp/B012DT6LIA

Picked this up for my SP3 the other day, works pretty well for me!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C631EYU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

This is the one I got and works great with dual 27 Dell monitors.

[Certified] Cable Matters Dual 4K@60Hz DisplayPort Thunderbolt 3 Multiport Adapter (Thunderbolt 3 Dock) with USB 3.0 & Gigabit Ethernet (Not Compatibl https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078MQST45/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_Efq3gRM47sGsq

Thanks for the advice. I couldn't find a thunderbolt docking station that supported multiple monitors, so I ended up purchasing this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C631EYU/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The stand is by Henge Docks. The one I have there is a 2015 13" rMBP. I don't know if they actively sell that dock on their site anymore, but Amazon might still have them from third parties.

I use this Dell dock. Works great for what I need. I have my monitor, keyboard, mouse, and an extra external drive connected to it.

I use the Razer Ripsaw as it's a more all in one capture card as it has native support for PS1 - PS2 and have component cables too for Gamecube and Wii. It also does 60 FPS for newer consoles. However it's basically a reskin of Avermedia Extreme I just got the Ripsaw on the cheap. If you're looking to go crazy retro N64 down I reccomend the Elgato Game Capture HD but it only supports 30 FPS and some retro games ran @ 60 fps so it might look a bit weird on certain effects.

is it this model?

https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Docking-DisplayPort-Charging/dp/B07F2VRRJ9

Do we get downstream power when using a non Samsung dock? Does it matter how the monitors are hooked to the dock? displayPort/hdmi/usb-c daisy chain?

Does dex have dual screen support?

You would think this usb-c thingy would make things standardized and simple.

Hey guys, for the sake of streaming Switch gameplay and PS3 gameplay, what are the differences between this capture card and this capture card? I'm pretty close to streaming I think and wanna know if there's a reason not to go with the first option.

Based on what you're describing, what you're looking for is probably less of a hub and more of a USB-C/Thunderbolt dock.

 


I have this CalDigit USB-C Dock which I use with my Blade 14". The build quality is very nice and sturdy and it tends to work fairly well. Though your mileage may vary.

It doesn't charge the blade 14" though b/c you can't push 165W of power through USB-C, but it should be able to charge the stealth just fine. There are also other USB-C/Thunderbolt docks such as Dell's WD15 Dock and Pluggable's USB-C Dock. Though most USB-C/Thunderbolt docks tend to have a mixed bag of reviews, so make sure to do your research before selecting one.

 

Though as for the "Affordable" part, that depends on what you consider affordable. Most of the docks tend to cost around $150

A hub, which is normally unpowered (No external supply besides the usb connection), would probably have similar ports and be cheaper, but likely would not charge the computer

Here you go. Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 Docking Station (0A33970)

This also means that you free up the Thunderbolt 3 port for any future 4K displays.

charging + sending enough data to drive a display isn't easy.

just saying- you shouldn't be surprised that premium accessories for a premium product are expensive.

In the wirecutter list they also provided the CableMatters and Promise docks which may not be able to charge your computer if its an MBP 15. They're only going to charge the 13.

The promise dock supports 60w charging and an HDMI port with 4k 60hz.

If you want an adapter/dock to charge and drive a display its going to be pricey. If you can live with the extra cable for charging the adapters get much cheaper. Or you just get the single TB/HDMI 4k60hz dongle.

https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-DisplayPort-Thunderbolt-Compatible/dp/B078MQST45/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=dock+4k+60hz&qid=1564339359&s=gateway&sr=8-3

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that help?

actually what about just a universal usb c dock? something like this https://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Display-Docking-Station-K33972US/dp/B009F7E730?ref_=ast_sto_dp

Your model has a Thunderbolt port, so you have a few options:

• Thunderbolt dock - use a model with HDMI plus a thunderbolt video adapter, or get one that has two video outputs natively.
  
• USB 3.0 Video out to HDMI. Many options available, link goes to example only.
  
• USB 3 Dock or multi-output adapter Example. Similar to above but can handle both screens on the same device, and may offer other features.
  
  With whatever you choose, make sure it will output the correct resolution and is suitable for use with OSX.
  
  

You're going to need a Thunderbolt hub like this https://www.amazon.com/Akitio-T2D-THSB3IAS-AKTU-AKiTiO-Thunder2-Dock/dp/B00UN70DFC/

Thunderbolt hubs have existed since TB1, definitely not a new, untested concept you should be doubtful about.

I think it’s a power or throughput issue. The only time I’ve seen a USB-C hub that has more than one USB-C port always have two USB-C connectors back to the MacBook Pro.

Aluminum Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C 2016/2017 MacBook Pro Hub Adapter Dongle with HDMI. 1-year Warranty. 40Gbps TB3, 4K HDMI Video Output, USB-C, microSD/SD Card Reader, 2x USB 3.0(Space Gray) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075ZTQ895/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Kd2IAb8RA23ZD

USB C Hub, Nicetech NT-10 USB C hub 3.1 with Type C Charging Port, 40Gbs Thunderbolt 3, 4K HDMI Video Output, SD TF Card Readers, 2 USB 3.0 Ports for MacBook Pro 2015/2016, USB C hub now in Space Grey https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076Z2C8T6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ue2IAbDW4P81P

I did find this one hub, which may work. Mixed or insufficient reviews:

USB C Hub,NIGI USB C Multiport Adapter 3.1 with Power Delivery Type C Charging Port ,Micro sd Card Reader,2 USB 3.0 Port,1 USB C Port for MacBook Pro 2015/2016, Google Chromebook 2016 - Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MY96CWH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7e2IAb2QZV6XH

You could always try the reverse with this adapter, if the device doesn’t require too much power or speed:

USB C to USB Male Adapter, Acessorz Mini Hi-speed USB C Female (Type-C) to USB A Male (Type-A) Fast Charging Sync Connector Converter OTG Adapter for Laptop / Wall Car Charger with USB A Interface https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075LHXVNV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mh2IAbRB8Y075

Then there’s always the big guns:

Wavlink Aluminum USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station & Vertical USB-C Display Dock Dual Video Display HDMI/DVI/VGA, Gigabit Ethernet, 2 USB-C Ports, 4 USB 3.0 Ports, Audio Supports Windows & Mac https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7PP31E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_6n2IAbTR3534X

Wavlink USB 3.0 & USB C Ultra HD/5K Universal Docking Station, Dual 4K Dual Video Monitor Display with 2xDisplay Port, 2xHDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, Audio out and Mic in,4 USB 3.0 Port, 2 Type C https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076BG9YVQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ek2IAbQW6VHXF

StarTech.com TB3DKDPMAW Thunderbolt 3 Dock - 4K - Laptop Docking Station - Thunderbolt to USB-C / USB 3.0 / Gb Ethernet - Mac / Windows https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSEKBNM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Yk2IAbFJX2S8X

Looks like its the mini dock

Been using https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M1VEEWM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and it's $130. Decent price and works well.

There is no technical reason. I own and run a small engineering firm with about 60 employees and deal with several hardware vendors, I'd asked a similar question last summer. General feedback is that the DP>HDMI conversion is easily addressed with an inexpensive adapter, and to be fair none of the 150 displays in my company are solely HDMI as they have multiple I/O ports with only a few having HDMI 2.0 ports.

As for options, I offer a suggestion to broaden your search a bit, offering this since you didn't indicate what else you're looking for in a dock. Several reputable companies like StarTech offer "video/networking" docks that have USB-A and dual HDMI 2.0 or dual DP 1.2 with an Ethernet port. A less desirable option is to use a dock with DP or mDP-to-HDMI cables but here you'll be limited somewhat to 30Hz at higher resolutions. That link has no affiliation, just a straight product listing.

My vendors tell me that when HDMI 2.0 becomes more ubiquitous we'll see more options, requested DP options are driving about 95% of their solutions.

So you would need something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-comThunderbolt-Dock-Windows-DisplayPort-Docking/dp/B07BJJX47G

Not sure about that dell though, I haven’t used windows with displays connected via thunderbolt.

I bought a lenovo displaylink usb hub for 60 bucks. It works flawlessly on my 2014 macbook pro 13 inch. Except the monitor part, sometimes it glitches since apple has bad support for displaylink. Everything else, including ethernet, worked well. It even has a powered USB port

The version im linking to you has 2 dvi, try to look for the 1 dvi version since that is the one I got for 60 bucks.

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-Docking-Station-0A33970/dp/B008ABKADI

Actually, I am looking for something similar at Amazon too. This one for example:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PRJJNGF/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1QTGXAMH2TVVP&psc=1

StarTech.com Mini Dual 4K Monitor Thunderbolt 3 Dock with DisplayPort - Mac & Windows (TB3DKM2DP) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BJJX47G/

StarTech.com Mini Dual 4K Monitor Thunderbolt 3 Dock with HDMI - Mac & Windows (TB3DKM2HD) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DB5DSXX/

I use the HDMI one at my home office and DP one at my work office. They both work fine but these are slightly cheaper options without power delivery. I don't have a shortage of TB3 ports so I don't mind also plugging in the AC adapter

I have a Lenovo Thinkpad dock station that I use everyday - connect and disconnect like 30 times per day - no issues.

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https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-UltraDock-40A90090US-Packaged/dp/B01N9RW2A3/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1536341018&sr=8-2&keywords=lenovo+thinkpad+usb-c+dock

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What there talking about is the pro dock. It works sort of like usb to display port. https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Mini-Dock-Plus-433815U/dp/B0085MQLGC?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0085MQLGC

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07PRJJNGF?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Thinkpad-Mini-Dock-433710U/dp/B002DUD36S

I haven't tried it myself, but this looks good as a non-portable dock https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F2VRRJ9/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1AMUYYA3CT6HJ&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008ABKADI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

USB dock?

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Display-Docking-Station-D3100/dp/B012DT6LIA/

This. It just works.

Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 Docking Station (0A33970) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008ABKADI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_p5qPDbPA2DC6A

With charging:https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-ThinkPad-UltraDock-40A90090US-Packaged/dp/B01N9RW2A3?keywords=usb-c+dock&qid=1535833937&sr=8-7&ref=mp_s_a_1_7


Without charging:https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Topoint-Adaptor-Converter-MacBook/dp/B073J79QWF?crid=2YPA7XURYWB58&keywords=usb-c+vga+multiport+adapter&qid=1535834027&sprefix=usb-c+vga&sr=8-5&ref=mp_s_a_1_5

This hub has more than one Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C port. It's also insanely expensive.

Anker

Unitek

Unitek 2

Doesn't use the proprietary connection, but it'll do what you're looking for.

The cheapest one I was able to find is this by CalDigit for $200

4 usb2, 2 usb3, Gb ethernet, powered.

https://www.anker.com/products/68ANDOCKS-BA

http://www.amazon.com/Anker-Display-Universal-Ethernet-Supports/dp/B00C631EYU

I just ordered this one:

CalDigit USB-C Docking Station (USB-C-Dock-US10) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01M1VEEWM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_E1pVBbYCEY8EE

Plan to use it for power (13inch, and External SSD/HD) hookups

Couldn't justify the price of a TB3 dock. Will drive displays with a seperate dongle (although this USBC dock does 4k @30hz)

You will need a USB dock.. something along the lines of this: https://www.amazon.com/Anker-AK-68ANDOCKS-BEA-Display-Universal-Docking/dp/B00C631EYU/

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There are cheaper and more expensive options, just gotta google for 'em. (I'm currently at work using that exact Anker dock for the last 2+ years)

Lenovo Thinkpad Mini Dock Series 3 (433710U) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DUD36S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_sy1ilJIoAfwaR

For whatever it's worth, I have this dock plugged to a 4k monitor and it drives it at 60hz no matter which port it's plugged into.

I highly suggest the Lenovo USBC dock.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9RW2A3/

While I cannot for sure say they work in Linux (I can't see why not, especially for Ubuntu), we use these at work and rarely have any issues with them.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-AK-68ANDOCKS-BEA-Display-Universal-Docking/dp/B00C631EYU/

I've been using this for about 3 years.

just 1 windows laptop with two 23" monitors

this docking station comes with a power adapter and MUST connect to your laptop via USB-A. you might need a dongle to connect to your macbook air.

I needed a driver to get it to work with windows and the instructions didn't say anything about drivers. I thought the unit was defective until I went browsing on the anker website.

anker claims the dock outputs to 2 monitors (1x DVI, 1x HDMI), but I've never been able to get 2 monitors to run smoothly via the dock at the same time. instead, I use:

• laptop > dock > DVI > monitor #1
  
• laptop > HDMI > monitor #2

Hi everyone --

I'm learning as I go here and figuring this out I didn't realize I needed to know. I have a Thinkpad X1 for work that charges via thunderbolt (it only has one thunderbolt port).

I ordered these two monitors that connect via HDMI, and ordered this docking station with HDMI-to-display adapters so I could use the two monitors as two screens for the Thinkpad X1 (and close the laptop's lid).

That's when I realized I didn't have a way to charge the Thinkpad X1 when I had the docking station plugged into the thunderbolt port (the docking station is powered by the thunderbolt port which, if plugged in, eliminates the battery charger opportunity).

What do I do? I looked in this forum and found that Lenovo makes a few docking stations that may work (the thunderbolt dock 1 or 3). But the amount of research I can do has come to an end, and it is time to ask some questions.

No worries man. Just in case you were curious. [This] (http://www.amazon.com/Display-Universal-Docking-Ethernet-included/dp/B00C631EYU/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1395981774&sr=1-3&keywords=USB+Docking+station) is what I was talking about.

I had 2 HDMI's running from 1 Thunderbolt with this, but one with HDMI and another one with VGA. Returned it and purchased this. To this ANKER dock connected both monitors, the mouse and Ethernet. I disable Wireless since I find non-sense having two Networking sources at the same time, however over WiFi I got no problems at all. The dock is permanently close to my MacBook.