Dock for Quad Monitors?

[jyl]

Some of you have lots of tech chips and Google-Fu so I’m asking here, after I’ve failed myself to find the answer.

What is the smallest, currently in-stock, USB-C dock that will allow me to drive four monitors from a laptop? Monitors have USB-C and HDMI inputs.

Working on streamlining my portable workstation, ahead of going to Europe in December!

[stomachmonkey]

Personally I've not seen any what I would refer to as mobile docks that have 4 USB C ports and not in the several hundred dollar range.

How many USB C ports does the laptop have?

If two run two of something like this

https://www.amazon.com/Docking-Station-Adapter-Multiport-DisplayPort/dp/B08B3NV1BY/ref=pd_lpo_3?pd_rd_i=B08B3NV1BY&psc=1

[Por_sha911]

My work requires 3 monitors and another 4 USB devices to be connected - I'm told we use a powered docking station for maximum speed and reliability.

[jyl]

Great idea - why I didn’t think of it, well, that’s why I come here for help.

My laptop has 1 HDMI, 2 USB-C, as well as USB-A. I will run two of the cheap docks with 2 HDMI out. Perfect!

My large, very heavy mobile workstation kit has a 4 HDMI powered dock that is bulky and $400 and out of stock. For this mobile workstation kit, I’m trying to get everything to fit in a carry-on.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jyl

Great idea - why I didn’t think of it, well, that’s why I come here for help.

My laptop has 1 HDMI, 2 USB-C, as well as USB-A. I will run two of the cheap docks with 2 HDMI out. Perfect!

My large, very heavy mobile workstation kit has a 4 HDMI powered dock that is bulky and $400 and out of stock. For this mobile workstation kit, I’m trying to get everything to fit in a carry-on.

Most of those little docks also have USB C so you won't even lose the port.

[jyl]

Well, poop. I bought some 17.3" portable monitors for my "air travel" portable workstation kit, but they are unusable for me - text is too small for my (old, bad) eyes, and for application reasons increasing text size is problematic (not enough info will fit on screen).

I don't think there are 21" portable monitors and they wouldn't be much smaller than the 21"s I currently use in the "ground travel" portable kit.

Anyone tried using micro projectors to create computer displays on hotel walls?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by jyl

Well, poop. I bought some 17.3" portable monitors for my "air travel" portable workstation kit, but they are unusable for me - text is too small for my (old, bad) eyes, and for application reasons increasing text size is problematic (not enough info will fit on screen).

I don't think there are 21" portable monitors and they wouldn't be much smaller than the 21"s I currently use in the "ground travel" portable kit.

Anyone tried using micro projectors to create computer displays on hotel walls?

When you say make text bigger are you referring to increasing the font size in app, windows default zoom which is almost never 100%, or switching monitor to lower resolution.

[Brando]

If you're using 4x external monitors that could be a lot of pixels to move. What kind of video card is in your computer/laptop? You might want something like this which is powered and has 4x HDMI/DP outputs. The only down-side is you may be capped at a 60Hz refresh rate at anything over 1080p per screen.

I ran a similar KVM/dock and was stuck at 60Hz with a high-refresh rate monitor. It was not fun. I decided to ditch multiple monitors and go with a single 34" monitor - so consider 2x 3440x1440 monitors instead of 4x 1920x1080 monitors.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Brando

...You might want something like this...

He already has that.

Originally Posted by jyl

My large, very heavy mobile workstation kit has a 4 HDMI powered dock that is bulky and $400 and out of stock. For this mobile workstation kit, I’m trying to get everything to fit in a carry-on.