Docking Station Finder

Connect This With That.

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Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Let's start with your computer. Which operating system are you using?

Windows

macOS

ChromeOS

Next, which port are you connecting to?

USB 3.0

USB-C

Thunderbolt/USB4

Since you're running macOS, can you tell me if your Mac uses Apple silicon (M1, M2, or M3) or an Intel CPU?

Not sure? You can check by clicking the Apple icon at the top-left of your screen, choose About This Mac, and inspecting the Processor or Chip fields, or by referring to Apple's support guide.

M1, M2, M3
Base
Apple Silicon

M1, M2, M3
Pro/Max
Apple Silicon

Intel
Core
Pre-2020 models

Almost there! Let's look at the display (monitor, TV, projector, etc.) you want to connect. Select which video port you'd like to use, as well as any other display and feature preferences down below.

HDMI

DisplayPort (DP)

DVI

VGA

USB-C

Number of Displays Maximum Resolution

Additional Features

Laptop Charging

Ethernet

SD Card Reader

3.5mm Audio

Portable for Travel

USB-A Ports

USB-C Ports

Thunderbolt ports

If you're using a Mac with the M1 chip, please note that these systems are limited to a single native external display through any Thunderbolt docking station. For connecting more than one display, please refer to our USB-C or USB 3.0 docks which use DisplayLink USB graphics technology, or see our blog post and video to learn more about these solutions.

Our USB 3.0 and USB-C docking stations use DisplayLink USB graphics technology which requires the manual installation of the DisplayLink Manager App on macOS in order for the device to function as expected. More information can be found on our product pages, or detailed instructions for macOS 11 and 12, as well as macOS 13 are available in our knowledgebase.

See results

Looking for something specific?

Check out our other products below!

Audio
Bluetooth
Data Storage
Docking Stations

Hardware Development Tools
Power Devices and Batteries
Thunderbolt™
USB Graphics Adapters

USB Hubs, Cables, and Switches
USB Peripherals
Video Port Adapters and Cables
Plugable Performance

Legacy

USB 3.0 on Laptops

What it looks like

USB 3.0 is the standard thin rectangular USB port called a Type-A connection.

Be careful, not all Type-A connections are 3.0. Look for a USB icon (trident tipped with a circle, triangle, and square) with the letters SS (SuperSpeed). If you don't see an icon, look in the port, you should see blue.

What to expect

A USB 3.0 connection has a maximum bandwidth of 5 Gbps. That should be more than enough to drive multiple displays, and peripherals. It is worth noting that a USB 3.0 port will not supply charging power to your laptop, so you'll still need your own power cord.

What if I'm not sure

Still have questions on connections? No worries, this stuff can get confusing. Just email us at support@plugable.com.

USB-C on Laptops

What it looks like

The newest connection type, USB Type-C (USB-C) is a thin oval-shaped port.

This one can get tricky. Just looking at the shape of the port might not be enough, as not all USB-C ports are the same. Just because a laptop has a USB-C port, doesn't mean that the port supports video and charging.

What to expect

USB-C ports are designed to deliver a lot of performance. Depending on your computer, a USB-C port is capable of charging--so you don't need an extra power cord--and data-transfer speeds between 10 Gbps and 40 Gbps. That's more than enough power to drive extra screens and peripherals.

It's worth noting that not all USB-C ports support video (Alt Mode) or charging (Power Delivery). Some USB-C ports support data transfer only, so you'll want to double-check with your computer manufacturer.

What if I'm not sure

Still have questions on connections? No worries, this stuff can get confusing. Just email us at support@plugable.com.

Thunderbolt 3/4 on Laptops

What it looks like

The newest connection type, Thunderbolt 3 and 4 share the same thin oval-shaped port.

This one can get tricky. Just looking at the shape of the port might not be enough, as Thunderbolt 3/4 ports share the same Type-C connection as USB-C. Look for the Thunderbolt icon (lightning-bolt tipped with an arrow). If you see a trident topped with a circle, triangle, and square it's a USB-C port. If no icons are present, you may need to check with the manufacturer.

What to expect

With Thunderbolt 3, you always know you're getting incredibly fast 40 Gbps data-transfer speeds. That's going to give you enough power to drive even the most high-end monitors and external drives, not to mention any other peripheral you need to connect.

With Thunderbolt 4, you can rest assured that the port suppports two 4K displays by specification. Thunderbolt 4 shares many of the other benefits of Thunderbolt 3.

What if I'm not sure

Still have questions on connections? No worries, this stuff can get confusing. Just email us at support@plugable.com.

HDMI on Monitors

The most common video connection, HDMI carries a high-resolution digital video signal with support for audio. HDMI can be converted to DVI by using a separate adapter, or specialized cable.

DisplayPort on Monitors

A connection common on high-definition monitors, DisplayPort carries a high-resolution digital video signal with support for audio.

DVI on monitors

DVI or Digital Video Interface supports resolution of up to 1900x1200. Look for a large rectangular port with a grid pattern and a “plus” shaped pinhole.

Remember, DVI is video only. You'll still need to account for audio.

VGA on Monitors

The oldest of the video connections, VGA is a trapezoid shaped port capable of carrying an analog signal up to 1920x1200.

Remember, VGA is video only. You'll still need to account for audio.

USB-C on Monitors

For monitors with a USB-C input, these still appear as a thin oval-shaped port, just like a USB-C port on a computer.

Depending on the monitor, this connection can support additional features, such as power to the host and data transfer (through a USB hub on the monitor). Certain USB-C monitors may also rely on the USB-C connection to power the monitor itself (bus-powered).

Number of Displays

How many external monitors are you looking to connect to your configuration? Choose between 1, 2, 3, or any number of displays.

Are three displays not enough for you? Take a look at our USB graphics adapters, which allow you to drive additional monitors over a USB connection (up to six on Windows, up to four on macOS). For example, we're able to add an extra two displays to one of our dual display USB 3.0 docks—video demo available!

Maximum Resolution

What is the maximum resolution you're looking to drive through your docking station? You'll want to double-check the monitors that you own, to see if they are standard 1920x1080 (1080p) office monitors, or perhaps fancy 3840x2160 (4K) displays.

For any monitor resolution in between, make sure to select the the maximum resolution one step higher than what is listed. For example, a 2560x1080 display is only supported on docks that support 2560x1440 or above.

You'll want to also pay attention to the refresh rate supported. For those with high-refresh rate gaming monitors that supports up to 144Hz, please be aware that our docks only officially support up to 60hz.

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