You’ve had two options to expand the port capabilities of your laptop: an inexpensive USB-C dongle or a more powerful, pricey Thunderbolt docking station. A third option is quietly emerging, trying to split the difference. A DisplayLink docking station (sometimes called a USB-C dock) uses data compression to offer the capabilities of a Thunderbolt dock over a standard USB-C or Thunderbolt cable.
With the popularity of USB-C ports, laptop manufacturers began to use these ports to replace HDMI, microUSB, SD card slots and USB-A ports to reduce the clutter of laptops. USB-C hubs, Thunderbolt desktop docks and DisplayLink docking stations came into being to meet users' needs for multiple ports and display connections.
2. How DisplayLink works
The DisplayLink docking station provides similar functions to the Thunderbolt docking station and can drive multiple high-resolution displays. Although USB-C ports usually only provide 10Gbps bandwidth, and Thunderbolt 3/4 can provide 40Gbps bandwidth, DisplayLink uses data compression technology to achieve display effects close to Thunderbolt connections through only a 10Gbps USB-C interface. This data compression technology has been widely used in daily video streaming such as YouTube and Netflix, and users can hardly notice its existence.
3. Advantages and Disadvantages of DisplayLink USB-C Dock
Advantages:
1. Drive multiple displays: DisplayLink (usually with the DisplayLink 4K logo) can connect to multiple displays, even more than the number of Thunderbolt connections. This provides office workers with more display space and improves work efficiency.
2. Stability: Compared with some older Thunderbolt 3 hardware, DisplayLink docks are generally more stable when connecting multiple displays, reducing the occurrence of failures.
3. Compatibility: DisplayLink can utilize existing USB-C or Thunderbolt ports without additional hardware upgrades.
Disadvantages:
1. Software driver required: Unlike USB-C and Thunderbolt, which work out of the box, DisplayLink requires the installation of specific software drivers to work properly. This may increase the difficulty of setup for some users.
2. Image stuttering: Although DisplayLink is suitable for static content such as email, Word, Excel and other applications, it may cause image stuttering when transferring large amounts of data, such as playing fast-paced games or copying large files at the same time.
4. Conclusion
The DisplayLink USB-C dock uses data compression technology to achieve the function of driving multiple high-resolution displays under limited bandwidth. Although there are some disadvantages, such as the need to install software drivers and possible image freezes in some cases, its stability and multi-monitor connection capabilities still provide convenience for many users. For users who need additional display space and stable connection, the DisplayLink USB-C dock is an option worth considering.
