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April 23rd, 2025 19:17
18 Area-51 AA18250, with a docking station?
My setup includes a Dell XPS laptop, dual 4k monitors and a Dell WD22TB4 docking station. The USB-C cable coming out of the unit powers my laptop and takes the laptop video back to the two monitors. Runs great. The Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 AA18250 laptop can dissipate 280 Watts according to the advertising on Dell's site. The most powerful docking port on Dell's site claims only 130 Watts. Thus running an Area 51 18" laptop would require the power supply that comes with it. It appears that the only video input to my docking station is the USB-C power cable. The other USB-C doesn't seem to work as a video input to send video to my monitors.
I would prefer using a docking port if I could, because I connect other laptops from time to time. I also connect desktops to the monitors, so those "other" ports on the two monitors may be already used.
Question 1: Would using the powered USB-C connection to the docking port to take the laptop video still work if I am powering the laptop with its own power supply? Would the competing power deliveries into the laptop cause trouble?
Question 2: Is there some other "normal" solution? What would you do if you were me?
ejn63
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April 23rd, 2025 23:07
Only one power connection is used at a time, so there's no harm in connecting both the power adapter and the docking station.
Using the unit's AC adapter (directly connected to the notebook) should not in any way preclude the video output over Thunderbolt from working. What you cannot do is power the system (at full speed anyway) with just a dock connection -- you need the OEM AC adapter.
ibuildthings
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April 29th, 2025 18:19
@ejn63 Thanks for your reply. I tried to respond last week, but the post seemed deleted. Is back now and VERY helpful.