G15 5515 Dual Screen Setup

Question

hey guys, this laptop has usb c + hdmi. I want to know if i can run 2 screens off it? One off usbc and one off the hdmi?

OR if its somehow supported two off one hdmi but i doubt it.

Seems that the hdmi is connected to the rtx card and the usb c may not be and is to the ryzen onboard controller?

jf6900 · Accepted Answer

Ok I figured out how to set it up. Basically it seems that by default it only allows auto setup of one extra screen. I had to go into the Nvidia control panel > display > Setup multiple displays. Plugged in both, one was blank, then went and ticked them both on within the area that says 'select the displays that you want to use' then hit save and then bang, both came on. Silly it doesnt just set them both up when you plug screens in but at least I got it sorted! Thanks guys.

jphughan · Answer

@jf6900  According to the Setup and Specifications document for that system on the Dell Support site, the USB-C port supports DisplayPort 1.4.  I would fully expect you can use the USB-C and HDMI outputs simultaneously, and in fact while you’re correct about HDMI not being able to run multiple displays (other than in mirrored mode), USB-C uses DisplayPort, which means you COULD use that port to run multiple independent displays, using either a daisy chain setup or a USB-C MST hub — so long as the total bandwidth requirements of the displays didn’t exceed the bandwidth available on that port.

jf6900 · Answer

thanks buddy. do you know if there is a way to find out what the supported hz of the outputs are on these machines? id like to get it over 60hz for the external monitors!

jphughan · Answer

@jf6900 Docks that rely on DisplayPort Alt Mode, which is the native GPU output(s) wired to USB-C/Thunderbotl ports, shouldn't impose any limitations on refresh rate beyond what the GPU itself can handle and what can be driven using the video bandwidth available to the dock. A USB-C dock has two DisplayPort HBR2 or HBR3 lanes available, depending on what the system and dock support. Two lanes is half of a full DisplayPort interface, fyi. The XPS 13 9300 supports HBR3, but in order to use that, you'd need a dock that also supports it, like the WD19 dock family models. A Thunderbolt dock would have access to either five HBR3 lanes or eight HBR2 lanes.

If you want to do a bit of math, this page from the WD19 User Guide may be useful. It notes that each HBR2 lane is 4.3 Gbps and each HBR3 lane is 6.5 Gbps and the provides the bandwidth requirements of some common display resolution and refresh rate combinations. Even if your specific resolution and refresh rate combination isn't listed, you may be able to figure it out what it would require. For example, an ultra-wide 3440x1440 display would have 34% more pixels than 2560x1440, and a 120 Hz refresh rate would be twice as much as 60 Hz, etc.

In terms of what the system supports, I know the Intel GPU in that system supports up to 120 Hz refresh rates. I'm not sure one way or the other if it supports higher refresh rates at any resolution, even if bandwidth wouldn't be a constraint.

McSwiggins9 · Answer

The G15 5515 is a Ryzen CPU, and therefore doesn't have thunderbolt.

I have mine connected to a USB- Dock with dual displayport monitors off that. My experience shows that when gaming on the docked monitors, it still uses the RTX 3060 GPU as expected. As a secondary test I get the same FPS readings when using the docked monitor or the laptop screen.

jf6900 · Answer

hey mate can you tell me what usb c dock you have? are you running more than 60hz on the screens? Im keen to get it up over 60 hz if possible.

Apok40 · Answer

I have a question regarding framerates your are seeing. This laptop does not have a MUX so while on the laptop display exclusively there is a general performance hit as everything goes though the iGPU before getting to the laptop display. Reviewers and users alike have said that using a single usb-c to display port allows for direct dGPU access removing the overhead and getting better performance.

When you say you see same framerates, is it because using the hub or MST/ALT mode type adapters still force it through the iGPU?

emcommer · Answer

I used a stardock.com usb-c dock with triple monitor output and connect that to two DisplayPort monitors.  The usb-c port on the 5515 supports it just fine with no issues.

barakine · Answer

hey everyone, i just managed to fix the problem by reinstalling the gpu driver while the usb c adapter is connected to the computer, and after the installation was done it worked perfectly, please try it too to see if it fix the problem for everyone

mrprajesh · Answer

@jf6900 wrote: Ok I figured out how to set it up.  @jf6900thanks, your answer was helpful. Could you clarify if you were able to extend the screen on two monitors and the Laptop display as well?

FiLiFLiP · Answer

Per the manual, its only USB-C to DisplayPort, could I theoretically convert this to an HDMI? I have tried multiple USB-C to HDMI cords and they don't seem to work, so i'm wondering if i need to convert the DisplayPort part of the equation.

RobinOz · Answer

Thank you for these interesting replies. I'm sorry for the noob question, as I have never used a dock before. I have the same laptop and wanted to run 2 monitors, too. I am considering a Dell WD19. If I understand correctly, I can connect the USB-C port to a dock, then use the 2 DisplayPort or 1 DisplayPort and 1 HDMI port to connect the monitors.

Can I then plug in a keyboard and/or mouse into the dock, and will it communicate with the laptop via the same USB-C connection? If so, will it affect the bandwidth of the connection, affecting the Refresh rate?

What amount of power would be recommended? There are options between 90W and 180 W.

If I understand correctly, there is no point buying the WD19TB for this laptop?

Out of curiosity, the dock looks like it has an attached power cord. Yet, there is a Power In connector as well. What would that be used for? Hmm... Is the attached cable a USB-C cable? Seems it may be.

Thanks for helping out this noob.

https://www.amazon.com/Thunderbolt-Dock-connectivity-Precision-Compatible/dp/B07RYZTFYD

vs

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Dock-WD19S-Power-Delivery/dp/B091BKNHJV/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2H5O6BZXDLNII&keywords=wd19&qid=1658323155&sprefix=wd19%2Caps%2C534&sr=8-6

FiLiFLiP · Answer

verified and the answer is no. It has to be USB-C to DisplayPort and nothing else.

FiLiFLiP · Answer

I have not been able to use a dock on this PC. I bought one from Dell w/my Laptop and they sales person said it would work. Only to find out when I got home that the dock (WD19TBS) did not work. I would be very cautious. I've called Dell many times for troubleshooting and the ultimate answer was "not compatible". Frustration

Lucky for me, my work laptop is a Dell.

Littlevincent · Answer

I am very much a noob.  I would like to just add a monitor to my laptop and I do not know how to do it.  I have seen you put 'USB-C to DisplayPort' multiple times but when I type that in Amazon, I get a million different cables to choose from.  Is there a particular one to buy and how does it work.  Can I use the monitor from old laptop?  I am just a boring teacher so I am not looking for graphics.

Inspiron

G15 5515 Dual Screen Setup

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