WFH Setup: Dual Monitor 4k & 1440p (Please Suggest a USB C Dock or Hub or Something Else or Not Possible?)

AncientWisdom on 06/02/2023 - 15:59
Last edited 06/02/2023 - 16:00

Hi,

I currently have one 4k monitor that I'm running through HDMI from the work laptop. I'm thinking of getting another 2k monitor because other people complain when I share my screen - something about it being too small to see or something? Weird! (get a 4k screen people…)

Anyways, the market for these types of gadget is really confusing. What are my decent options, assuming I want both to still output 60hz? AND without breaking the bank?

USB C / Thunderbolt -> 2 monitors? Possible? I'm reading conflicting reports.
HDMI + USB C -> 2 monitors?

Something else?

Also would really appreciate if you could recommend a product you know works well for such a scenario.

Bonus: If I could also connect my new Macbook Pro 14 m1 to it that would be super duper swell.

Cheers!

Computing Docking Station USB Hub

Comments

  • thatonethere on 06/02/2023 - 16:00

    You could always share your laptop screen - unless that is 4k too?

    • AncientWisdom on 06/02/2023 - 16:01
      +1

      Yes that's what I am doing at the moment, it's a bit of a pain ergonomically speaking.

      • thatonethere on 07/02/2023 - 07:41

        Heh yeah. You can get stands to lift up the laptop so the screen is more aligned with your external one

        • AncientWisdom on 07/02/2023 - 13:38

          More about distance from my sitting position, I found myslef leaning in a lot to see what's on the screen.

  • Hybroid on 06/02/2023 - 16:01
    -1

    1440p is NOT 2K. They are completely different resolutions with 2K being a cinema standard close to 1080p.

    There's a lot of misleading marketing by some companies but worth pointing out.

  • andrek on 06/02/2023 - 16:12

    If the sole purpose is to share a screen - get one of these https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/lenovo-15-… And it's small enough to pack in your backpack when you need to visit a customer or come to office.

    If you are on Mac - this is the best thing you can get to connect multiple monitors through thunderbolt: https://www.macfixit.com.au/products/caldigit-ts4-thunderbol… From there - feel free to get the largest second and third screen, that dock will handle it

    • AncientWisdom on 07/02/2023 - 21:06

      That dock looks great - but it is not cheap!!! (I'm on PC for work and mac for personal)

  • kekw on 06/02/2023 - 16:21
    +1

    Unpopular opinion. Scale it

  • baronorder on 06/02/2023 - 16:32
    +2

    Get whatever you want and just share the window rather than the screen as you have plenty of space on 4K to window sub fullscreen - people can then zoom it as much as they like. This was a problem at work with our ummmm "more experienced" executive's that love having their scaling (or god forbid resolution…) set to grandpa forgot his glasses spec until people started to learn to use the zoom (ctrl+mouse wheel) functionality on Teams etc.

    • AncientWisdom on 07/02/2023 - 13:40

      Yes that doesn't work for me as I usually share multiple windows in each meeting and it becomes cumbersome when switching back and forth. Will however let my team members know about the zoom function in Teams!

  • ihfree on 06/02/2023 - 16:46

    MBP 16" - I use a Dell WD22TB4, but most TB4 Docks should work. I use two 1440p monitors - one connected by HDMI from the dock, the second one connected by a USB-C to HDMI cable. I'm using HDMI as my desktop is connected to Displayport. If you can't share an individual app, you could set display scaling or change resolution in Windows.

    Prior to that, I was using a USB-C Hub and the USB-C to HDMI Cable.

    • AncientWisdom on 07/02/2023 - 13:41

      Yes that's one of the directions I was thinking of going, thanks for confirming it will work.

  • trongy on 06/02/2023 - 19:26

    What I use is Display port over USB-C for the first monitor and then daisy chain to a second display port monitor with DisplayPort Multi-Stream Transport (MST).

    Those links are to Dell pages, but it's not a Dell specific technology, I'm using Lenovo equipment.

    • AncientWisdom on 07/02/2023 - 13:48

      Great, that's good to know - thank you.

    • spasto on 08/02/2023 - 16:06

      I couldn't get the display port to work over usb-c on my MBP. The screen on my monitor is just "corrupted". Which cable do you use?

      • ReaperX22 on 08/02/2023 - 17:08

        I believe Macs dont support daisy chaining like this.

        MacOS does not support "DisplayPort MST", which is required for DisplayPort daisy chaining. DisplayPort MST allows a single DisplayPort interface to be carved up to run separate displays, but macOS doesn't allow that.

        • spasto on 08/02/2023 - 17:13

          Bummer. Thanks.

  • xuqi on 12/02/2023 - 19:53

    What make / model is your laptop? USB-C only or does it have Thunderbolt 3/4 support?

    I use a Dell TB4 dock (picked up for $250 locally in Perth) to drive a couple of 4K screens, with a new work laptop (Latitude 5330):

    https://www.dell.com/en-au/work/shop/dell-thunderbolt-dock-w…

    Dock also works fine with MBP Mx.

    • AncientWisdom on 19/02/2023 - 07:47

      Yes should have TB3, how did you get the dock that cheap?

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