Dell Precision 5500 Multiple 2k monitors

Question

I'm having trouble getting my new laptop to push QHD through to my two QHD capable monitors. Using a Bon Elk capable 9 in 1 hub. (can handle 2x4k screens). Using brnad new high quality hdmi cables. Even had a HDMI to DP cable that wasn't even being recognised by the hub.

Unfortunately I'm only getting resolutions for max 1080p in display settings. I have even tried disabling the laptop screen. I'm just powering the hub using a fast charge usb-c port. It's running a Quadro T2000 so I know it can high resolution displays. What's the likely problem here? better hub with straight display port plugging in?

Thanks in advance.

jphughan · Accepted Answer

@Burna_  First check the underside label of the dock to confirm it is a WD19TBS, since I remember helping three people in a two-week period who all ordered a WD19TBS but incorrectly received a WD19S. If you do in fact have a TBS, then make sure your system BIOS and TB3 controller firmware are updated, and also update the dock firmware, which would not require a Thunderbolt connection. Then see what Thunderbolt Control Center shows. The dock should be listed there. Lastly, you have to use one of the left-side ports. The right side is only regular USB-C.

jphughan · Answer

@Burna_ I'm going to assume you meant to type "5550" as your system model rather than "5500". If so, dual QHD displays (or dual 4K 30 Hz displays) through a USB-C hub is only possible when the system and display both support DisplayPort 1.4/HBR3 over USB-C. It sounds like the hub does, but the Precision 5500 only supports DisplayPort 1.2/HBR2, which doesn't offer as much bandwidth. It can run dual 1080p (or 1920x1200) or single QHD, but not dual QHD. To run dual QHD from an HBR2 system over a single cable, you'd either need an MST hub that only ran video without any USB 3.x data (which cuts video bandwidth in half on a USB-C link) or a Thunderbolt-based device. I wrote an explainer post about all of this here if you're curious.

Also, the Quadro T2000 has no bearing on this because on that system, all display output are controlled by the Intel GPU. The Quadro GPU acts as a render-only device when needed, passing completed video frames to the Intel GPU for final output to the display(s). This technology is called NVIDIA Optimus, and its purpose is to save battery life by offering a design where the NVIDIA GPU only needs to be active when its performance is actually needed. If it had direct control of the display outputs, it would need to be active even when its performance wasn't needed. But the Intel GPU built into the CPUs used by the Precision 5550 only support HBR2 over USB-C. HBR3 support arrived in the following generation of CPUs incorporated into the Precision 5560.

And typical HDMI to DisplayPort cables/adapters can only be used to connect a DisplayPort source to an HDMI display, not the other way around. But that wouldn't have solved the issue even if it had worked, because your issue is bandwidth to the hub.

And lastly, avoid using the term "2K", especially incorrectly as you did. 2K is technically a film resolution of 2048x1080, but when used in the consumer space it actually refers to the nearest and slightly lower resolution of....1920x1080, i.e. 1080p -- just as 4K is a film resolution of 4096x2160 but in the consumer space refers to the nearest and slightly lower resolution 3840x2160. Unfortunately, lots of people have adopted the incorrect practice of using "2K" to refer to 2560x1440, as you did. The end result is that if someone just says they're trying to use a "2K" display, it's never going to be clear what the person meant or how it will be interpreted, and confusion is bad when it comes to technical discussions. 2560x1440 is rightfully and unambiguously called QHD or 1440p. The former is only one extra character to type compared to 2K, but it helps avoid confusion.

Burna_ · Answer

5550* QHD* Thanks heaps mate, really helpful albeit confusing af. First laptop, always been a desktop guy. Really missing the simplicity right now.   So what dock/usb-c combo would work for sure?

DELL-Cares · Answer

Hi there!
I'm sorry to keep you waiting. We're currently experiencing high incoming volumes. I'll try and be as quick as possible to reply.

I’m Naman from the Dell Social Media team. I see that that the community has engaged and already provided you with the answer to your question. Is there anything else I may help you with?

jphughan · Answer

@Burna_  Happy to help, and sorry if it was a bit overwhelming. The dock you want is the WD19TBS. It can run dual displays up to 4K 60 Hz each or even triple displays up to QHD each if you disable the built-in display (since the system only supports three total displays). And as an added bonus, the WD19TBS is capable of delivering 130W over USB-C/TB3, which is what your system requires for optimal performance, so you’d free up your system’s own power adapter to be parked elsewhere, or you could at least avoid having to unpack and repack it as you come and go.

Burna_ · Answer

So I got that exact dock. I'm getting an error that I'm not plugged into thunderbolt and only one screen is 1440p. Is this a common error? have tried all ports.

Burna_ · Answer

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly and apologies for replying so late!

After giving up on the night I sent the previous message it simply.... worked!

Dock has been great. All the money I spent on it and peripherals was actually well worth it. My home set up is so neat with just one cord and I'm using all my pixels!

Thanks so much.

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Dell Precision 5500 Multiple 2k monitors

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