BitWrangler wrote on 2025-07-29, 13:35:

So I feel like I am missing something, do "full" graphics adapters exist for USB C ??? I am just assuming that would be the best/fastest option. I may instead have to purchase one for USB 3.1 because at least it should be impossible to make the same mistake again.

In theory they do, because USB-C has all the same capabilities as USB 3.x (type A). But like you've discovered, most display adapters for USB-C will be assuming pass-through support from the host...

My only experience with "real" USB display output devices are with Fresco Logic 2000 (FL2000) adapters; they're very cheap on ebay and the plugs on them can be pretty bad quality (apparently some of them even turn up with their USB pairs wired backwards inside), but when they work they do exactly what they say on the tin: output a 1920x1080 framebuffer over USB3 (as long as you're running windows - no drivers for other OSes). They hog a fair bit of bandwidth so don't do well when run through a hub, and it's video only with no support for audio.

I still have an SIIG "USB 2.0 to VGA" which I've not actually used is years (I did fire it up a year or so ago and it still worked)
It does work quite well - specs say it supports up to: 1680 x 1050 / 32bit
but IIRC I mostly used it at: 1024 x 768
(and on systems old enough that they didn't have DP)

I've had it long enough that many would consider it "ancient" today!
but apparently they're still around:

https://www.siig.com/usb-2-0-to-vga.html?srsl … DJk24vFkm33cOvZ

It says "discontinued" but there is a replacement listed.

I thought any modern laptop would have DP mode on at least one USB-C port.

I own Felipmichael USB C to DisplayPort Adapter works fine, if your laptop USB Type C support it (tested with Eluktronics 5 years old laptop). You must connect it directly to USB Type C port, not thru the HUB.

We don't use it anymore, cause changed monitor to HDMI.

Can ship to Canada, if you'll cover shipping cost.

I have one of these.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01CSEEYGQ

I used it for a few years under Fedora Linux ( used this driver https://github.com/displaylink-rpm/displaylink-rpm ) . Never tried it under Windows, AFAICR, but that's probably even easier to get going .

The only "issue" I had with it was needing to recompile the driver after every kernel update. That wouldn't be an issue under Windows.

EDIT: This one does not rely on a Displayport alt mode to work. It just needs a USB 3.0 Superspeed or faster port (ideally), but can run on USB 2.0 If the laptop only has USB-C ports, you would need a USB 3.0 Superspeed capable passive adapter (or a USB HUB) .

EDIT2: If you would prefer a native USB-C adapter that does not rely on a Displayport alt mode to work , look for one which uses the same chipset as one of the USB A ones.

EDIT3: Here are some examples of adapters that should work https://www.pcworld.com/article/801587/best-d … link-docks.html .

In *theory*, 'usb-c to hdmi' exposes a real hdmi signal from the igpu.

This is because *usb-c spec* calls for this port to have this connectivity.

https://www.hdmi.org/spec/typec

In practice?

Ymmv.

I have such a cable that I use with broken tablets, to get native driverless hdmi from the builtin video chip.

I have used it on my gpdwin4 as well.

Assuming your machine implements full spec C ports, this is just another 'head' on the display.

wierd_w wrote on 2025-07-30, 15:12:

In *theory*, 'usb-c to hdmi' exposes a real hdmi signal from the igpu. […]
Show full quote

In *theory*, 'usb-c to hdmi' exposes a real hdmi signal from the igpu.

This is because *usb-c spec* calls for this port to have this connectivity.

https://www.hdmi.org/spec/typec

In practice?

Ymmv.

'USB-C to HDMI' CAN expose a real HDMI signal directly from the IGPU IF the source device (computer in this case) supports that ALT mode and IF the adapter cable is wired that way. AFAIU, it is in no way mandatory for a device to support that ALT mode. Many things in USB world are optional to implement.

Labelling and/or spec sheets for devices adapters and cables do not always make it clear what supports what.

EDIT:

Assuming your machine implements full spec C ports, this is just another 'head' on the display.

Even if that is supported, there is a limit (IGPU limitation) to the number of display devices that can be driven simultaneously in ALT mode and, AFAICR, that limit can depend on display resolution. My use case for the DisplayLink chipset based adapter was the inability to replace one of my two 2K displays (I was not using the integrated laptops screen) with a 4K one. That was a documented limitation of the hardware.

Yes.

'In practice? YMMV'

The one I have is such a beast.

wierd_w wrote on 2025-07-30, 15:29:

Yes.

'In practice? YMMV'

The one I have is such a beast.

The way you phrased it suggested to me that you were implying it was out spec for a device to not implement a video ALT mode. This is not the case, AFAIU.

That being said, I agree with the YMMV aspect due to, IMHO, bad or incomplete documentation to a large extent.

OP wants to use 3 displays in total. Even if the laptop support direct video from the IGPU through a USB-C ALT mode, (and very likely does), there are limits to the number of displays supported simultaneously by the IGPU and that limit can be affected by resolution (as mentioned in the EDIT to my previous post).

If OP can use the IGPU for all three displays, great, that would be preferable, but my understanding was that OP was specifically looking for something that would not be driven by the IGPU. I could be wrong, of course.

Not 'out of spec', just not 'full spec', because optional functionality was omitted.

It's a quibble, but I did not intend to convey 'out of spec'. I meant to convey 'not full spec', because full spec includes the optional functions, which might (and in some cases, even likely) be omitted.

Thus, 'in practice, ymmv'

with the addendum that 'I have such a USB C dumb HDMI cable, and have used it with several android devices without issue, and with my gpdwin4 gaming handheld'

It's an optional feature, and needs to be kept in mind as such, but i've had a surprising amount of success with the one I have.

If that's more clear?

wierd_w wrote on 2025-07-30, 15:53:

Not 'out of spec', just not 'full spec', because optional functionality was omitted. […]
Show full quote

Not 'out of spec', just not 'full spec', because optional functionality was omitted.

It's a quibble, but I did not intend to convey 'out of spec'. I meant to convey 'not full spec', because full spec includes the optional functions, which might (and in some cases, even likely) be omitted.

Thus, 'in practice, ymmv'

with the addendum that 'I have such a USB C dumb HDMI cable, and have used it with several android devices without issue, and with my gpdwin4 gaming handheld'

It's an optional feature, and needs to be kept in mind as such, but i've had a surprising amount of success with the one I have.

If that's more clear?

Absolutely crystal clear and no disagreements. Hopefully the rest of what I wrote makes sense to you (and everyone else).
Apologies if I managed to make myself annoying in the process.

Now, all we need is to wait for OP to chime in.

<s>And we can also wait for the USB-IF to mandate meaningful labelling of ports adapters and cable types so we don't need to go through guesswork/trial and error.</s>

Seriously, I doubt there is even a thereotically feasible way out of this mess of a "mystery meat" of a standard that can do just about everything in theory but leaves you guessing at what any given implementation is actually capable of in practice and I doubt the USB-IF has any will to try to find one.

Per Dell, spec of the port is USB C 3.1 5Gbps data only.... Other models they say 3.2 DP 1.4 Thunderbolt 3 and 4 but not this one. It's a puzzling omission since this chipset is used on other machines that do the full lot. It also only has a USB symbol next to the port where supposedly there should be a DP symbol if it does DP.

Anyway... only thing proposed so far that looks interesting are the displaylink ones, thanks darry, everything else needs the DP (After you click through the replaced by, replaced by etc )

I dug deeper and only ended up with more questions...

That's supposed to be what chipset supports... with DP 1.2 and 1.4 rolled into DP Alt mode.

Though with further info from this https://www.cablematters.com/Blog/USB-C/what-is-dp-alt-mode

Seems like it still should have DP by the port...

So wondering if what is going on is that I have an old standard hub, that has the separate DP 1.2, 1.4 support and at time of system design Dell couldn't see anything that supported DP Alt mode, so told people it wouldn't work with older standard DP.

So is DP Alt backwards incompatible with a lot of the DP 1.2, 1.4 peripherals??? Is it possible that if I get an adapter that supports DP Alt specifically it will work??
Or did Dell really really cripple this port and I'm back to needing previous previous gen that works with USB A connector or basically the USB A solution with USB C plug on it.

Edit: Or am I looking at the wrong part of that chart and the GPU part only supports a DP 1.4a class output OR one HDMI not both???

Edit2: Just started wondering if Win11 will actually tell me if the adapter/output is adaptive but the monitor ain't playing ball. Because preferred monitor works with DVI to HDMI adapter on other stuff, but I am wondering if that has incompatibility with this HDMI port.

How many USB-C ports does the laptop have and what are the models of the laptop and USB-C hub/dock?

Maybe only some (or only one) of its USB-C ports support DP ALT mode.

EDIT: My understanding is that you have one working external monitor and the integrated one. Please confirm and share their resolutions and how the working external one is connected.