Using Multiple displays or peripherals via a Thunderbolt, Display Port USB C dock or Hub displaylink and/or power delivery with my DSA awarded laptop.

Using Multiple displays or peripherals via a Thunderbolt, Display Port USB C dock or Hub displaylink and/or power delivery with my DSA awarded laptop.

Some DSA awarded laptops will be able to use a USB C hub or similar to display on multiple monitors or deliver power directly. Some will not.


It would be necessary for some laptops to use a slightly more expensive, Displaylink capable hub/dongle in order to use multiple displays.
Hub power delivery would not be advised in these instances.

If unsure, you should google your laptop model and find out for certain if it can support the simpler USB C hub method/use almost any USB C hub using the model number.


Multiple Peripherals
Typically, if a laptop has very few USB's multiple peripherals may cause power issues, especially if using a standard/cheaper USB non powered hub. Insufficient power delivery may mean issues with peripherals not working. If multiple peripherals are needed, a Dock is usually powered, and can then support one or more standard USB A or C hubs, though Two hubs and a dock would normally be the maximum.

In most instances, a powered Dock brand matching would be the first suggestion we should make. More generic powered  docks by Targus etc are a possibility, but only if the brand matching Dock designed by Microsoft, Dell, HP etc is not an option.

Just because a laptop has USB-C does not automatically mean it will support USB power delivery or video out.

DisplayLink and DisplayPort are related display technologies, but they serve different purposes. DisplayPort is a hardware interface, while DisplayLink is a software and hardware technology that extends display capabilities via USB. DisplayLink allows connecting multiple displays to a computer through USB, while DisplayPort uses a physical cable for direct display connections. 

DisplayPort:
A hardware interface and protocol for connecting displays to computers. 
Purpose: Provides a direct connection between a computer and a display device. 
Mechanism: Transmits video data directly from the computer's graphics processor to the display. 
Performance: Offers high performance and is well-suited for gaming, high-resolution displays, and other demanding applications. 
Advantages: Does not rely on external drivers, allowing for a seamless and potentially faster experience. 
Examples: Monitors, TVs, and projectors often have DisplayPort input/output ports. 
Note: DisplayPort can also be transported over USB-C cables using DisplayPort Alternate Mode, which can provide the same performance as a native DisplayPort connection. 

DisplayLink: 
A technology that allows a computer to connect to multiple displays using a USB data connection. 
Purpose:
Provides a way to extend display capabilities, often used in docking stations to connect extra monitors. 
Mechanism:
Uses a DisplayLink chip to encode and transmit the video signal over USB, requiring software and hardware support. 
Performance:
Generally considered suitable for office tasks and less demanding applications, not recommended for gaming or high-performance applications. 
Limitations:
Can be limited in terms of resolution and refresh rate compared to native DisplayPort. 

Many USB-A or C docks that support multiple displays use DisplayLink technology. 

For ease/to help:

Hp G9/Most HP/Lenovo G3 and older - The USB C port on the laptop cannot output display signals (some G3 and G2 hardware revisions can, but they are in the minority).

You would need to use the HP's own HDMI out and a displaylink compatible Hub/dongle from a USB A 3.0 port, such as these examples on Amazon.

Although there are/may be some fairly cheap options, and although we cannot recommend anything specific I would suggest spending a little more on a Ugreen/Glink/other known brand as opposed to anything cheaper.

On the other side, just because it is a Ugreen/Glink known brand does not mean it is displaylink. Be sure the adapter/hub specifically mentions a driver or displaylink as a feature.

Displaylink is also a little more finnicky than direct display via USB-C, so especially if you do opt to save a little it may require a few adapters to be tried first or google recommendations for your specific laptop.

That said, in theory, as long as the description specifically mentions that a driver would be needed, you should then have no issues/it should then work.

Lenovo G4 - USB C hub display out and power delivery should be supported.
Most Asus - USB C hub display out and power delivery should be supported.
Most MSI - USB C hub display out and power delivery should be supported.
Apple - USB C hub display out and power delivery should be supported.

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