docking station for XPS 9360

i'd probably go down the thunderbolt 3 route just for future proofing.
i currently use a Sabrent USB Type-C Dual HDMI Adapter to run the 2 monitors (albeit the monitors don't have HDMI ports, i'm using DVI-HDMI cables).

i run my laptop with 3 screens at the same time, the 2 monitors and the laptop screen.

@jphughan this would do the job? https://www.caldigit.com/usb-c-hdmi-dock/

@chenks76  That appears to be identical to the USB-C Pro Dock I mentioned earlier except it uses HDMI rather than DisplayPort outputs. So yes it should work well. The only potential issue is that last time I checked, CalDigit only made firmware update applications for Mac, so if that’s still the case and there isn’t some workaround, you may be unable to update the dock’s firmware from your XPS.

@jphughan i guess it comes down to which connection method would provide a better image.
the 2 monitors (https://www.hannspree.eu/product/he-225-dpb/) have only have DVI and VGA ports (no native HDMI or DP), so at the moment i'm using DVI-HDMI cables. would DVI-DP cables offer a better image or no difference at all?

@chenks76  No difference in image quality.  I personally prefer DisplayPort over HDMI outputs for a few reasons.  First, it's a more capable output.  A DP output can be used to feed a DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI, and VGA input.  An HDMI output cannot feed a DisplayPort input.  DisplayPort also supports daisy chaining, which isn't possible with any other output (except USB-C since it uses DisplayPort protocol for video).  And DisplayPort supported given display setups years before HDMI did.  For example, some early 4K 60 Hz displays only support receiving that over DisplayPort because an HDMI spec to support that didn't arrive until about 3 years after DisplayPort supported it.  And lastly, DisplayPort is more commonly found on displays, especially low-end displays, because it's a royalty-free port, whereas HDMI requires manufacturers to pay a royalty for ever HDMI port or connector they install on a product.  So for example, some of Dell's budget-oriented displays only have DisplayPort and VGA, but not HDMI.  If you have a product that only has an HDMI output, your only option there is HDMI to VGA, which results in reduced image quality because VGA is analog.  (I can't even count how many threads I've fielded here from people who had an HDMI output and a DisplayPort input and incorrectly figured that a DisplayPort to HDMI cable would work in that scenario.)

But if your current displays have DVI and you make sure any future displays you might buy have HDMI inputs, then the HDMI version will be completely fine.

@jphughan well i got the caldigit usb-c hdmi dock (TB3).

it seems to be all working as expected, however any time i connect it up windows prompts to say it isn't charging and to connect a power source., but when i look at the battery status is says "power mode (plugged in)"

@chenks76  Those two statements aren't necessarily contradictory.  It's possible for a system to run from a power adapter but not use any of that power to charge the battery.  If the battery was already at 95% or higher, I think Dell laptops deliberately don't charge the battery to 100% to avoid wear on the battery.  I believe you have to dip below 95% before the system will charge back up to 100%.  And of course if you have any custom battery charging parameters defined, those can cause this behavior too. I for example have my battery set to a max charge of 80% and a minimum charge of 50%, so if I connect a power adapter and my battery is above 50%, my system will only use wall power to operate, but won't charge the battery.  My battery has to drop below 50% before my system will start charging it again.  This setup can significantly increase the longevity of your battery, at the cost of some everyday convenience.

Another possibility is that the USB PD negotiation just took a moment and that message popped up briefly but then the system started operating as expected.

So I'd drain your battery a bit and then connect the dock to see what happens.

If you've ruled all of those possibilities out and do in fact find that the system won't ever charge the battery while connected to the dock, even though disconnecting the dock and immediately connecting the system's own power adapter results in battery charging, then I guess make sure your BIOS/firmware is current.  I'd also normally suggest making sure the dock firmware is current, but I believe CalDigit still only provides a firmware updater for macOS, not Windows.

As the OP asked for the XPS13 9360, I am wondering on which port the 9360 accepts charging from a docking station instead of the normal power plug?

Yes, it does support charging over Thunderbolt (the USB-C port).