"1-cable-experience" and Docking Station Selection Guide for 2024

1.2 What is DP?

USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode, often shortened to DP Alt Mode, refers to a feature of USB-C specifications that allows a USB-C port and cable to deliver full DisplayPort Audio/Video (A/V) performance while using a USB Type-C connector.

This means that a single USB-C cable can simultaneously transfer data, video and audio signals. It allows you to connect your device to an external display, like a monitor or TV, using an adapter or a cable that supports DP Alt Mode.

1.3 What is PD?

PD in USB-C stands for Power Delivery. It's a specification for handling higher power and allows a range of devices to charge quickly over a USB connection. It is designed to be universal, charging not just smartphones and laptops, but also other power-hungry devices like monitors and printers.

USB Power Delivery can supply power in both directions, so a host device can either send or receive power. Meanwhile, it also enhances the functionality of cable connectors. It supports multiple voltage levels and can deliver power up to 100W, making it a handy solution for different types of electronics.

Furthermore, USB-C with Power Delivery has the ability to negotiate the direction of power, allowing it to power an external device while also receiving a charge. This differential factor is what enables features like laptop docking stations, where a single cable can power peripheral devices and charge the laptop simultaneously.

However, not all USB-C ports or cables support PD. Always ensure that your devices, adapters, and cables are all compatible with USB-PD to take advantage of its features.

2. How Do I Choose?

First, let's check the display, since they are the biggest.

2.1 Display

A. MacBook (Air/Pro) user with 2 Extended Monitors

For MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, if you plan to use two more extended mornitors, we recommend Thunderbolt 4 Docks. Only M1/M2/M3 Pro/Max and M1/M2 Ultra chips can support 2 extended monitors. Intel-based Mac models can support up to 2 extended monitors.If you need further checking its resolution and fresh-rate, Thunderbolt 4 docks can deliver 4K 60Hz.

Please note that MacBook M1/M2 cannot support more than 1 extended monitor.

B. Mac (Macbooks and desktops) users with 1 extended monitor

Options are all yours, you can select USB-C 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 or 4 docks. You can verify different options with ports, features and costs.

C. Windows users with 1-3 extended monitors, even more

Options are all yours too. Please be noted that your Intel chipset needs to support MST (multi-stream transmission) for multi-extended-monitors. If your Intel chipset only supports SST (single-stream-transmission), please check if that CPU/GPU supports DSC (Display Stream Compression). If yes, it may go up to 4K 60Hz on dual displays. If not, it may only go 4K 30Hz with only 1 extended display.

More about DSC

DSC stands for Display Stream Compression. It's a standard from VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) that is mainly used in display interfaces such as DisplayPort and HDMI. DSC is a visually lossless compression technique that can lower the data rate required to display high-resolution video content, allowing more data to be sent over the same amount of bandwidth.

In terms of Intel CPUs/GPUs, DSC is supported by certain Intel Graphics hardware. According to Intel (link) Display Stream Compression (DSC) is supported starting with 11th Generation Intel® Core Processor Graphics (also known as Tiger Lake) and newer.

To know if your Intel CPU/GPU supports DSC, you will need to check the technical specifications of your particular processor model. These details can be found at Intel's official website, in product manuals or datasheets. Look for a mention of Display Stream Compression or simply DSC under the graphics or display specifications. If it's not stated, then it is likely not supported.

Another method is to check what generation your CPU/GPU is. If it's earlier than 10th generation, it most likely will not have DSC support. Always check the manufacturer's documentation for the most accurate information.

2.2 Power Delivery and chargers

This is important for laptop users, it creates a single cable experience which is magical: think about you come to your lovely desk, plug in one cable, Bing, you get everything: monitors, keybaord, mouse, audio, network, webcam...

Selecting PD is simple. Check your laptop power spec. It can be either 65W, 86W or 96W, 100W. Select the docking station that is capable of.

It is also important to charge your mobile devices, since we all have too many gadgets to bring with: Airpods, Tablets and smartphones. So other USB (A or C) ports can output power too. One tip is not every port can output power when the device is not connected to computers (bus powered devices or bus powered USB ports). You may need to pay attention to ports that are always charging. This means this port can charge your mobile device even without the computer is connected. HiDock H1 has such a port on its side, it supports up to 18W, perfect for charging smart phones.

2.3 Ethernet

Ethernet can often be better than Wi-Fi for desktop video conferencing for several reasons:

• Stability: Ethernet connections are more stable than Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi connections are prone to interference from other devices and physical barriers like walls and floors which can result in packet loss, whereas Ethernet is not affected by any of these.
• Speed: While modern Wi-Fi can theoretically match Ethernet speeds, real-world conditions often result in Wi-Fi being slower. Ethernet is capable of maintaining its top speed consistently.
• Reduced Latency: Ethernet connections experience less latency (delay) than Wi-Fi connections, which is crucial during a video conference because it can affect the call’s quality. Less delay means a smoother and clearer conversation.
• Bandwidth: Ethernet networks usually offer better bandwidth than Wi-Fi, meaning you can transmit more data per second. This is particularly important in video conferencing where high-quality video can demand a lot of data.
• Security: Ethernet is also generally more secure than Wi-Fi, as access to the connection is limited to devices that can physically connect to the network. In contrast, a Wi-Fi signal can be accessed by any device in range unless precautions such as password protection are put in place.

In a work setting where you might have back-to-back meetings and conferences, the reliable, secure, and high-quality connection provided by Ethernet gives it a significant edge over Wi-Fi.

2.4 USB and Card readers

USB connections, especially in the more current version (3.2 gen 2), allow for very quick data transfer speeds. This can be beneficial if you need to take data from an external source and present it during your video conference.. You don't want to copy a family video folder for tens of minutes.

Appendix. A comprehensive list of docks

*Please be noted that the display resolution and fresh-rate is dependent on host computer configurations.

Generic USB3/4 Docks