Third party docking stations and power - What do you use?

Hello Spiceworks,

We recently bought a few HP Zbook Studio G3 laptops for running CAD software. We didn’t buy the docks that HP says works with them because they are over $300. We were trying to find a good alternative off-brand docking station that would work. I was looking at something like this . The only thing I’m not sure is if this can supply enough power for the laptop. It says 100w power delivery, 85w for charging. The AC adapter for the laptop itself is 150w. Would it even be able to charge if docked and only getting 85w? My gut says no. What do you all use for docking stations?

Thanks

Check out Kensington devices, pretty inexpensive and do the job

Personally, having purchased a quality laptop like the Zbook, I would purchase the actual HP unit just to ensure compatibility and ensure access to all functions.

I have used these with great success.

I agree with The Repairatrooper. If you dropped the money on a ZBook, then don’t cheap out on the dock. If you don’t supply the right amount of power to the laptop two things will happen. You will kill the battery way faster than normal and the laptop won’t function as advertised. Those ZBooks have nice graphics cards in them that rely on that extra power its demanding.

We generally use Targus or Star Tech USB Docks but don’t use them to charge the laptops. The Startech’s tend to just take the power over USB and if they’re somewhere it’ll be a pain chasing in a charger we get a second charger.

We used to use Dell E-Series laptops and chargers but found it more flexible to just use the USB variant

When buying a Lenovo ThinkPad P52s a couple of weeks ago I looked around for docking stations the recommended Lenovo docking station was £358 from Lenovo directly but shopping around I found it for £158. The offical docking station comes with a rather beefy 135w power supply rather than the 100W units the generic Targus docking stations come with. If yuo are already paying £1500-2000 for the laptop I would recommend the offical docking station for best performance. The generic displaylink docking stations really do not like working with the Quadro p500 graphics cards and AutoCAD.

I would just pay for correct unit in the long run going cheap is not going to save you much. having said this I too would also do a search for the hp doc see if another vendor has then cheaper.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I wanted to go with the official HP dock but I’ve read nothing but complaints with it on Amazon and YouTube videos. I’d prefer that whatever dock I go with it supplies the power too, that way users aren’t plugging in a charger and a dock cable. It just seems to me like none of them are able to put out the wattage that (I think) it needs?

This is the one i’m using with the HP EliteBook 1050: https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-thunderbolt-dock-g2-with-combo-cable

It’s been working fine and I don’t really have any complaints. Like your ZBooks, mine comes with a 150w power brick as well.

As far as a single-cable solution goes, I’ve only seen HP provide the combo cables for their docks, anything third party I for as beefy of a machine it is would require a separate power cable.

If you have a vendor you go through I would try to see if they can offer a discount for ordering more than one.

You definitely need to match the power delivery wattage to the power requirements of the laptop. If you don’t, you’re going to see no or slow charging at best, and at worst could kill the battery, overheat the dock, etc. You’re best bet is to go with the manufacturer’s recommended product, a third party solution that will meet the power requirements, or go with a third part dock for the ports and use the laptop’s dedicated power supply.

At work I’ve got a Dell with a D1000 USB port replicator, and plug in the standard laptop power adapter. At home, I do the same with a Lenovo Yoga 720 and a WavLink USB 3.0 and USB-C Dock…again…using the dock and separate power adapter. It’s not a big deal plugging in two connectors…unless you’re users are exceptionally rough and irresponsible with their company equipment.

Thanks Dan.

I will probably try to find a third party solution that just does the ports. At my previous job we had Dell Precision 5520 laptops which I believe came with a 130w supply. We ran them off the official Dell dock (can’t remember model #) and we could add any wattage supply to the dock. The dock used a USB-C connector, can you push more than 85w over that cable? I’m guessing it never charged the laptops at full speed but we never noticed because it’s unlikely anyone ever was using that much juice all the time.

@tamouq , thank you for your post and a warm welcome to Spiceworks. Since I have been checking into docking station options for my work and home EliteBooks I called on the very resourceful consultant for feedback which appears below. Let us know if you have questions or require additional information.

HP ZBook Studio G3 Mobile Workstation QuickSpecs
"Supports multi-display, including up to three displays without the use of a docking solution, with hybrid graphics enabled.
Supports up to five with HP ZBook Dock with Thunderbolt™ 3 (sold separately), with hybrid graphics enabled.
Two (2) Thunderbolt™ 3 ports (supporting DP 1.2, USB 3.1, PCIe Gen 3 devices) on the new USB-C™ connector, for high speed data/video/audio transfer support."

Page 6: Multi-Display Support

HP Docking Solutions for HP ZBook G3/G4 Mobile Workstations QuickSpecs
HP ZBook Studio G3 Mobile Workstation Compatible Docking Stations
HP ZBook 150W Thunderbolt 3 Dock, P5Q58AA
HP ZBook 200W Thunderbolt 3 Dock, P5Q61AA
HP Thunderbolt Dock 230W G2, 2UK38AA
HP Thunderbolt Dock G2 w/Combo Cable, 3TR87AA

=======================
HP ZBook Studio G3 Mobile Workstation
Max Operating Power: < 200 W

HP 150W Slim Smart AC Adapte r
Input AC voltage: 100 to 240 VAC
Input AC current: 2.9 A at 90 VAC, 1.45 A at 180 VAC
Output DC voltage: 19.5V
Output DC power: 200W

StarTech Dual-Monitor USB-C Multiport Adapter - 2 x 4K DP - 100W PD 3.0, DK30C2DAGPD
Power Consumption Multiport Adapter: DC 15W
Laptop Charging via Power Delivery USB-C: max. DC 85W
"Power both the adapter and your laptop with 100W Power Delivery 3.0 (85W laptop charging) using a USB Type-C™ power adapter.
… with up to 85W charging available for laptop charging."

=======================
Allow me please first to rectify confusion in your question.
The power 150W in HP 150W Slim Smart AC Adapter designation refers to Alternate Current (AC) power.
While the power 85W in StarTech Dual-Monitor USB-C Multiport Adapter specifications refers to Direct Current (DC) power. You are comparing oranges and apples, which obviously is not a good idea especially when electricity is involved. It does not produce good results never ever.

1st issue:
HP ZBook Studio G3 max. operating DC power is < 200 W. StarTech Multiport Adapter can supply maximum DC 85W.
You are short of DC 115W.

2nd issue:
USB Power Deliver (USB PD) is an optional feature in USB-C standard and so it is a manufacturer’s choice to implement this feature or not.
Moreover USB PD is limited to max. 20 VDC and max. 5 ADC, that is max. DC 100W.
The laptop must be USB-C Power Delivery chargeable.
HP ZBook Studio G3 doesn’t implement USB PD charging for an obvious reason as it requires DC 200W while USB PD can deliver max. DC 100W .
So the HP ZBook Studio G3 will not charge at all from the StarTech USB-C Multiport Adapter via its USB Power Deliver feature .

3rd issue:

As some of other IT Pros have pointed out, you may encounter compatibility problems by combining HP and non-HP products. Some features may work, some not at all, some may exhibit strange behaviour.

On the other hand HP docking stations have been tested with HP laptops and thus compatibility is guaranteed .

4rd issue:

HP and likewise all other manufactures don’t support third party systems. HP is providing support for its own products but you can’t expect support for non-HP docking station or issues arising from the HP laptop combination with non-HP accessories.

@though

These are more port replicators than they are actual ‘docks’, like the old-style ones. I echo the sentiments of most above. Put aside the ‘pro-HP’ bandwagon for a second, these are anything but your ‘average’ notebook. Get the Thunderbolt G2 dock from a place you can return them to if they don’t perform to your expectation.

Whatever you decide to go with do not get the HP 3005pr. We got a bunch of them at the place I work and have had nothing but issues with them. Audio issues, display issues, ect. Hopefully you find what you’re looking for and can use this advice when shopping around.

We have quite a few of the very nice Lenovo Thunderbolt docks with the 135W power for our Lenovo Carbon X1s, they run about $235 USD and have run flawlessly.

Is this one that has the port on the bottom or the side?

I am using this and love it.

Dustin1046 Feb 5, 2019 at 10:02 PM
“Whatever you decide to go with do not get the HP 3005pr. We got a bunch of them at the place I work and have had nothing but issues with them. Audio issues, display issues, ect.”

Follow please this posts
Priscilla@HP Nov 8, 2016 at 4:32 PM
Priscilla@HP Nov 11, 2016 at 4:11 PM
to resolve your issue with HP 3005pr USB3 Port Replicator.

Especially paragraph:
Check for compatibility issues: DisplayLink software Compatibility with 3rd party USB graphics solutions

“ 3rd party USB graphics solutions are not compatible with DisplayLink software. It is not possible to use USB graphics from different vendors with DisplayLink software and devices.”

All 3rd party docking software MUST be completely removed from the laptop prior installing HP 3005pr USB3.

Also it is a must to use high quality USB3 cable for the docking station and plug the cable into the USB3 socket on the laptop. All chipset and USB drivers must be installed on the laptop prior connecting the docking station.

@dustinpede

Thunderbolt docks are not cheap. If you’re trying to do dual 4k displays on a laptop you pretty much need one. Great thing about buying an HP branded one is lots of firmware updates for them when they start doing weird stuff… That’s the problem with Thunderbolt docks… They’ve been out for two years, but still working the bugs out. Lots of driver updates, lots of firmware updates.

If you want a port replicator for a mouse and keyboard and a plain VGA screen by all means buy a $80 port replicatior.