Using an DP-to-USB-C adapter to allow a desktop GPU with DisplayPort 1.4 port to connect to a USB-C portable monitor?

[CB27044]

Hi All,

 

First post, apologies if this is in the wrong forum --- I have a bit of a potentially odd display configuration and looking for help to determine if this configuration might work or if I have it totally wrong.  Trying to validate before I pull the trigger on a monitor purchase and must admit that I am quite confused by the whole physical connector vs. protocol part of USB-C. 

 

I'm looking to get a USB-C portable monitor such as the Dell 14 Portable Monitor - C1422H to use with my work laptop (IBM ThinkPad T14 Gen 2i) when I am on the road.  I know that the laptop will work with this USB-C monitor as I use a large monitor connected via USB-C when I am at the office.

 

In order to justify the purchase to myself, I am also wondering if I might be able to use the portable monitor with my desktop when I am at home as an additional monitor as well (unfortunately it looks like most of these portable monitors are strictly USB-C with no legacy HDMI or DisplayPort connections) --- the problem is that my desktop that I'd want to use at home is quite old and doesn't have any USB-C ports, however it does have an EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 SC Gaming card with 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 ports.

 

These adapters look like they're designed to work the other way round (IE: connecting a PC with USB-C port to a monitor with DisplayPort connection) --- does anyone know if this likely to work in the opposite direction (IE: to adapt a DisplayPort connection on my video card to a USB-C port on the monitor)?  Thinking that this will not work, but want to ask for help to confirm.

 

Example of such adapter from Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Cable-Matters-DisplayPort-USB-C-Supporting/dp/B01J6DT070/

 

If this won't work - does anyone have any recommendations for something similar to the Dell 14 Portable Monitor - C1422H that might also have some legacy ports for power and HDMI or DisplayPort?

[circeseye]

i found this
https://www.delock.com/produkt/63928/merkmale.html

and this

https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Bidirectional-Type-C-DisplayPort-Cable/dp/B084HP1DZY

 

theres a lot of usb c to dp. but i dont think they will work dp to usb c unless they say they are bidirectional

[CB27044]

May have just answered my own question with some additional Amazon searches.  The cable linked above doesn't appear to be bidirectional, but I found another one (https://www.amazon.ca/DisplayPort-CableCreation-Thunderbolt-Compatible-MacBook/dp/B08BY78C42) that specifically indicates that it *is* bidirectional and can use the DP end on a PC as a "source" and a USB-C connected monitor.  Hmmm.  Might give this a shot...

[CB27044]

14 minutes ago, circeseye said:

i found this
https://www.delock.com/produkt/63928/merkmale.html

and this

https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Bidirectional-Type-C-DisplayPort-Cable/dp/B084HP1DZY

 

theres a lot of usb c to dp. but i dont think they will work dp to usb c unless they say they are bidirectional

Thanks @circeseye.  Should have done some more searching before posting.

Thinking a cable specifically marked as "bidirectional" should work, but just thought of another potential issue.  Most of these portable monitors have two USB-C ports with power pass-through --- two ports are good since I'll need to provide power to the monitor since I doubt that the DisplayPort does this.  I have a spare power adapter with a USB-C cable that will power the monitor, the only thing I am wondering if these "bidirectional" cables would somehow pass-through the power back to the video card (DP connector).  Think this is my last question to answer before I give it a try --- I would hate to fry the desktop or video card.

...back to the Google internet machine to search for someone that may have actually done such a strange configuration.

[CB27044]

Just to update --- using a bidirectional DP to USB-C adapter worked perfectly for my use case (video card to USB-C monitor).

 

I purchased this one from Amazon.ca.  Did the trick - was able to use one of the DP 1.4 ports on my EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 SC Gaming graphics card and connect it to a USB-C monitor.  The monitor was detected immediately and worked perfectly as an additional display

 

If, by chance, anyone else out there has the same challenge - hope this info helps!

[SprtnSierra117]

Is there a way with either a cable or an adapter can push signal and power to a portable monitor while using only one cable? I recently upgraded my Asus strix 2080super that had a usb-c port to an Asus strix 4070 ti that does not. I like the ascetics of just one cable. I'm looking for: source hdmi 2.1 or dp 1.4 to input usb-c. Is there anything out there that will supply both?