Two common ways to connect a computer or docking station to a monitor. But which one should you use?
For most office setups, neither HDMI nor DisplayPort is automatically “better”.
What matters is what your computer, dock, cable and monitor can actually support.
HDMI
What does it look like?
HDMI has a distinctive tapered connector and is widely used on laptops, monitors, TVs and other displays.
Why does it matter?
HDMI can support single or multiple displays when the computer or docking station provides the necessary outputs. The HDMI specification also affects the resolution and refresh rate available.
Good choice when
You already have HDMI-equipped equipment and it supports the display setup you need.
DisplayPort
What does it look like?
DisplayPort is particularly common on PCs, business monitors and docking stations.
Like HDMI, it can be used for single or multiple displays. DisplayPort also supports high-resolution and high-refresh-rate configurations
So which one is better?
There isn’t a simple winner.
The connector itself doesn’t tell you what your setup can do.
A better question is:
What does the whole system support?
Laptop → Dock → Output → Cable → Monitor
Every part of that chain matters.
Your laptop needs to support the required display output.
Your dock needs to support the number of displays and the resolution you want.
Your cable needs to be suitable for the required signal.
And your monitor needs to support the resolution and refresh rate you’re trying to run.
Does resolution matter?
Yes — particularly when you’re moving beyond a basic office setup.
A 1080p office monitor is much less demanding than a 4K display running at a high refresh rate.
And a 4K monitor doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get 4K output.
The rest of the system has to support it.
This is why two cables that look almost identical can have very different capabilities. HDMI’s own guidance, for example, distinguishes cable categories according to the bandwidth and formats they support.
Buying a docking station?
Before buying, check these four things:
Laptop
What display outputs and capabilities does the laptop support?
Dock
How many monitors can the dock support, and at what resolutions and refresh rates?
Cable
Is the cable appropriate for the connection and required display performance?
Monitor
What inputs, resolution and refresh rate does the monitor support?
Get all four aligned and the setup becomes much easier to understand.
Single, dual or triple displays?
Energise & More supplies docking stations for different workspace requirements, including:
Single display
Straightforward laptop-to-monitor setups.
Dual display
Useful for expanding a working desktop across two monitors.
Multi-display
For larger workspace configurations where the dock and computer support the required number of screens.
Available display resolutions vary by the specific dock, computer, connection and monitor combination.
We don’t assume one dock fits every setup.
Not sure what you need?
That’s exactly where the specification matters.
Send us the laptop model and monitor models you’re working with and we’ll help you identify what to check before buying.
Energise your desk. Energise your day!