@sergei.k There isn't great option here, so read to the end. Since the Inspiron 5570 doesn't have a suitable USB-C or TB3 port for a typical docking station solution, your best bet would probably be the Dell D6000. It can connect to a system over USB-C or USB-A "regular USB" using an adapter on the end of the cable that can be flipped up and out of the way when it isn't needed. When connected via USB-C, the dock can provide up to 60W of power to the attached system, which would cover the Latitude 7490 since that system is designed for 65W (the 5W shortfall won't make a practical difference in everyday use.) But when connected via USB-A, as would be necessary for your Inspiron, it won't provide any power at all. But potentially more importantly, the D6000 uses "indirect display" technology called DisplayLink (not to be confused with DisplayPort). This is how it can get video output from a system over a regular USB port, which doesn't natively support video output, but DisplayLink comes with some drawbacks that can be significant in certain use cases. I wrote in detail about those in the post marked as the answer in this thread. Unfortunately in your case, you don't really have a better option since the Inspiron 5570's only "normal" display output connector is a single HDMI output, so if you wanted to run more than one external display, at least one of them would have to be driven this way.
By comparison, the Latitude 7490 is in a much better position. It has a USB-C port that supports video output by having an actual GPU output wired to it. As a result, it would be able to use a dock like the Dell WD19, which would support dual external 1080p displays like you have, while simultaneously using the built-in display, and since the WD19 uses a native GPU output for video rather than "indirect display" technology, none of the DisplayLink drawbacks would apply with that dock. And in fact if your Latitude 7490 has Thunderbolt 3, which is optional on that model, you could get the WD19TB that could support dual displays up to 4K 60 Hz each or triple displays up to 1440p each. But the WD19 and WD19TB would be completely unusable with the Inspiron 5570.
If a docking station setup that won't charge your Inspiron and/or the drawbacks of DisplayLink are unacceptable to you, then unfortunately the Inspiron 5570 isn't a good laptop model choice for your purposes. It simply can't be charged via any docking station or drive more than one display natively from the GPU. It just doesn't have the right connectors.
You would have to find a dock that both notebooks support fully, then you would use one dock If switching notebooks disconnect one and connect the other. the dock will recognize whichever computers it is configured for. I can't think of any dock that supports two notebooks at the same time?
To get this information you need to log on to Dell Support, enter your model number, and most importantly Enter your Service Tag Number.
That will open all the hardware information on your Particular notebook, The specification Tab will show you the exact specification for your notebook. You can look up online the docks that dell Sells and see what requirement each has. They usually specify which notebooks are supported and supported fully
The Inspiron is my older personal laptop and the Latitude is my work laptop. I wanted to emulate my in-office setup as closely as I could: triple U2417H's, daisy chained into a WD19TB (or similar dock, I don't recall the exact model), going to the USB-C port of the Latitude. But, also be able to swap out the Latitude for the lesser Inspiron for personal use, utilizing the multiscreen-into-dock setup. The weakest link seems to be the older Inspiron. I did a little more research before I saw your answer and came across the D6000 dock and the D3100 (not sure I'd get what I need with the D3100 though...). Anyways, I appreciate the help. It looks like the D6000 or a similar universal DELL dock will be the answer, I'll have to do a little more digging to make sure it meets the requirements. Thanks again!
@sergei.k Happy to help! The D3100 is the predecessor of the D6000. The D6000 can support at least dual 4K 60 Hz displays (plus a third 4K 30 Hz display with systems that support native GPU output over USB-C), whereas the D3100 I think only supports dual 1080p + 4K. But perhaps more importantly, the D3100 only supports connecting to the system via USB-A, which means it can't EVER provide power to the attached system, whereas the D6000 can provide up to 60W when connected to the system via USB-C.
I just want to provide my experience on this one. I'm using the WD19 dock for work, with a desktop and both connected a DELl Monitor - one via USB-C and one via HDMI. I purchased a USB KVM switch from Amazon (ABLEWE USB 3.0 Switch) and connected the PC and the WD19 dock to the USB inputs. Wirelss keyboard, mice, drives, etc. all working perfectly. The newer unit from ABLEWE is very low profile, smaller than a Samsun phone.
jphughan
9 Legend
•
14K Posts
1
July 22nd, 2020 18:00
@sergei.k There isn't great option here, so read to the end. Since the Inspiron 5570 doesn't have a suitable USB-C or TB3 port for a typical docking station solution, your best bet would probably be the Dell D6000. It can connect to a system over USB-C or USB-A "regular USB" using an adapter on the end of the cable that can be flipped up and out of the way when it isn't needed. When connected via USB-C, the dock can provide up to 60W of power to the attached system, which would cover the Latitude 7490 since that system is designed for 65W (the 5W shortfall won't make a practical difference in everyday use.) But when connected via USB-A, as would be necessary for your Inspiron, it won't provide any power at all. But potentially more importantly, the D6000 uses "indirect display" technology called DisplayLink (not to be confused with DisplayPort). This is how it can get video output from a system over a regular USB port, which doesn't natively support video output, but DisplayLink comes with some drawbacks that can be significant in certain use cases. I wrote in detail about those in the post marked as the answer in this thread. Unfortunately in your case, you don't really have a better option since the Inspiron 5570's only "normal" display output connector is a single HDMI output, so if you wanted to run more than one external display, at least one of them would have to be driven this way.
By comparison, the Latitude 7490 is in a much better position. It has a USB-C port that supports video output by having an actual GPU output wired to it. As a result, it would be able to use a dock like the Dell WD19, which would support dual external 1080p displays like you have, while simultaneously using the built-in display, and since the WD19 uses a native GPU output for video rather than "indirect display" technology, none of the DisplayLink drawbacks would apply with that dock. And in fact if your Latitude 7490 has Thunderbolt 3, which is optional on that model, you could get the WD19TB that could support dual displays up to 4K 60 Hz each or triple displays up to 1440p each. But the WD19 and WD19TB would be completely unusable with the Inspiron 5570.
If a docking station setup that won't charge your Inspiron and/or the drawbacks of DisplayLink are unacceptable to you, then unfortunately the Inspiron 5570 isn't a good laptop model choice for your purposes. It simply can't be charged via any docking station or drive more than one display natively from the GPU. It just doesn't have the right connectors.
Clintlgm
3 Apprentice
•
1.5K Posts
0
July 22nd, 2020 16:00
You would have to find a dock that both notebooks support fully, then you would use one dock If switching notebooks disconnect one and connect the other. the dock will recognize whichever computers it is configured for. I can't think of any dock that supports two notebooks at the same time?
To get this information you need to log on to Dell Support, enter your model number, and most importantly Enter your Service Tag Number.
That will open all the hardware information on your Particular notebook, The specification Tab will show you the exact specification for your notebook. You can look up online the docks that dell Sells and see what requirement each has. They usually specify which notebooks are supported and supported fully
sergei.k
2 Posts
0
July 22nd, 2020 18:00
Thank you for the comprehensive answer @jphughan
The Inspiron is my older personal laptop and the Latitude is my work laptop. I wanted to emulate my in-office setup as closely as I could: triple U2417H's, daisy chained into a WD19TB (or similar dock, I don't recall the exact model), going to the USB-C port of the Latitude. But, also be able to swap out the Latitude for the lesser Inspiron for personal use, utilizing the multiscreen-into-dock setup. The weakest link seems to be the older Inspiron. I did a little more research before I saw your answer and came across the D6000 dock and the D3100 (not sure I'd get what I need with the D3100 though...). Anyways, I appreciate the help. It looks like the D6000 or a similar universal DELL dock will be the answer, I'll have to do a little more digging to make sure it meets the requirements. Thanks again!
jphughan
9 Legend
•
14K Posts
0
July 22nd, 2020 19:00
@sergei.k Happy to help! The D3100 is the predecessor of the D6000. The D6000 can support at least dual 4K 60 Hz displays (plus a third 4K 30 Hz display with systems that support native GPU output over USB-C), whereas the D3100 I think only supports dual 1080p + 4K. But perhaps more importantly, the D3100 only supports connecting to the system via USB-A, which means it can't EVER provide power to the attached system, whereas the D6000 can provide up to 60W when connected to the system via USB-C.
MacDaraC
12 Posts
1
February 27th, 2021 07:00
Hi Guys,
I just want to provide my experience on this one. I'm using the WD19 dock for work, with a desktop and both connected a DELl Monitor - one via USB-C and one via HDMI. I purchased a USB KVM switch from Amazon (ABLEWE USB 3.0 Switch) and connected the PC and the WD19 dock to the USB inputs. Wirelss keyboard, mice, drives, etc. all working perfectly. The newer unit from ABLEWE is very low profile, smaller than a Samsun phone.
I hope this helps. Regards, Dara