I have an HP Pavilion 15 with only one HDMI port, and I'd like to use two external monitors. I bought a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter, but it doesn't work because the laptop's USB-C port supports data only and doesn't output video. What's the most affordable reliable setup for connecting both displays?
4 Answers
You’ll need a USB video adapter or dock that uses DisplayLink. These devices create the video signal through software, so they can work through a regular USB-A or data-only USB-C port. You could keep the existing HDMI port for one monitor and use a DisplayLink-to-HDMI adapter for the second.
Another option is a monitor with a built-in docking station or DisplayPort daisy chaining, but both monitors need to support the necessary DisplayPort features. That tends to be more expensive than using a USB DisplayLink adapter, so it probably isn’t the budget choice here.
The cheapest setup is likely one monitor connected directly through HDMI and the other connected with an active USB-to-HDMI DisplayLink adapter. Make sure the adapter explicitly says DisplayLink; a passive USB-C-to-HDMI cable won’t work with a data-only USB-C port.
A USB docking station with DisplayLink is probably the cleanest solution, especially if you also want extra USB ports, Ethernet, or audio. HP, Plugable, and similar manufacturers sell docks with support for multiple monitors, though a single DisplayLink adapter will usually cost less.
That’s different from a normal USB-C video adapter, which requires DisplayPort video output from the laptop. Look specifically for DisplayLink support.