[Q] Are an external USB-C dock's HDMI outputs driven by the dock or the laptop?

[blastoffmax]

Hi all, I have a question I can't seem to find answer to for the life of me!

 

I have a Dell wd-15 External USB-C dock that I use with my XPS 9550 laptop.   I am looking to downsize to a smaller dock, and I am wondering about display outputs.

 

On the wd-15 I use the HDMI port to connect an external display.  Does this use any of the GPU power of the laptop to drive the display?  Or does the wd-15 dock act as a gpu-of sorts?

 

I am looking to replace the wd-15 with this: https://www.amazon.com/VANMASS-Ethernet-Charging-Compatible-Chromebook/dp/B07DNTZVD6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

 

My worry is that the new dock will cause my laptop to use more GPU-power to run the external display than it currently does.

 

Thank You!

[jefire411]

I'm pretty sure your monitor should have it's own source of power. Your computer would only be sending a digital signal.

[blastoffmax]

1 minute ago, jefire411 said:

I'm pretty sure your monitor should have it's own source of power. Your computer would only be sending a digital signal.

You're right on that!  Typo there.  I meant the GPU of the laptop itself.

[jefire411]

Just now, blastoffmax said:

You're right on that!  Typo there.  I meant the GPU of the laptop itself.

That would depend on the reolsution of the monitor, are you using both at the same time or mirroring?

[blastoffmax]

On 9/21/2018 at 9:50 PM, jefire411 said:

That would depend on the reolsution of the monitor, are you using both at the same time or mirroring?

The XPS is running 4k and the monitor is 1080 acting as a secondary display

[jefire411]

6 hours ago, blastoffmax said:

The XPS is running 4k and the monitor is 1080 acting as a secondary display

Your laptop may use more GPU power but it won't compare to the 4k panel built in.

[iKingRPG]

17 hours ago, blastoffmax said:

The XPS is running 4k and the monitor is 1080 acting as a secondary display

no. they ment are you duplicating it or extending it?

[iKingRPG]

On 9/21/2018 at 8:40 PM, blastoffmax said:

Hi all, I have a question I can't seem to find answer to for the life of me!

 

I have a Dell wd-15 External USB-C dock that I use with my XPS 9550 laptop.   I am looking to downsize to a smaller dock, and I am wondering about display outputs.

 

On the wd-15 I use the HDMI port to connect an external display.  Does this use any of the GPU power of the laptop to drive the display?  Or does the wd-15 dock act as a gpu-of sorts?

 

I am looking to replace the wd-15 with this: https://www.amazon.com/VANMASS-Ethernet-Charging-Compatible-Chromebook/dp/B07DNTZVD6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

 

My worry is that the new dock will cause my laptop to use more GPU-power to run the external display than it currently does.

 

Thank You!

maybe ask the question on the amazon product in the q and a section.