HP Spectre x360 - 15t-df100 CTO USB ports

[Whabamdo]

Hi, can you tell me what usb ports I have on my pc?  external displays work intermittently.  So are both usb c ports able to support video?  only one?  how much data and power can they transmit?  are both able to be used for charging?  

also, my headphone jack does not work seemingly.  i've never used this computer until now and this is the first time i tried to use the headphone jack.  is there something i need to do to turn it on?

[erico · Accepted solution]

You did not mention what OS is installed in your laptop. That is an important detail.

It is not simple to answer your audio port question without knowing which OS is present.

The ports your laptop has

Ports

● Combination audio-out (headphone)/audio-in (microphone) combo jack
● High-deƭnition multimedia interface (HDMI) V2.0a
● HP Smart AC adapter
● USB Type-A port 3.1 Gen 2
● USB Type-C port 3.1 Gen 2 with Thunderbolt™ Gen 3 technology (1 or 2, varying by computer model)
● USB Type-C port 3.1 Gen 2 (varies by computer model)

The Maintenance & Service guide for you laptop model series

https://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c06422405.pdf

The User guide gives more specific information about the ports. (see pages 4-6 of chapter 2)

https://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c06457348.pdf

You can charge your laptop by use of the USB Type-C Thunderbolt port with sleep and charge. This will require a 90 Watt USB Type-C power adapter. A cell phone charger just doesn't have the power required.

[Whabamdo]

Thank you for the fast response!

windows 10

For the usb ports, now I'm even more confused.  The thunderbolt port will not work on my external monitor.  When I plug it in, nothing happens.  When I plug it into the plain usb-c usb port, it both powers and delivers signal to the external monitor

[erico]

If "When I plug it into the plain usb-c usb port, it both powers and delivers signal to the external monitor" is true then take a closer look at the symbol by the " plain usb-c usb port".

It is likely to be the thunderbolt 3 port. Look for a lightning bolt and a PD symbol.

https://www.thunderbolttechnology.net/blog/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-does-it-all

A  normal USB Type-C port will not provide video output at 40 GB/s.

[Whabamdo]

There are no markings at/on any of the usb ports.   Or on any of the peripheral ports for that matter. the only one that has a marking is the switch that shuts off the camera.  

Looking at the user manual you sent me, it shows clearly that the thunderbolt port is the diagonal one on the corner of the computer.  This port does NOT work.  The other usb-c port between the usb A & the supposed thunderbolt port is the only one that turns the monitor on

[erico]

That is interesting. The port that provides the video output expected has to be the USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 PD port.

[Whabamdo]

how many external monitors can I run off of the thunderbolt & usb-c ports?  is it only one monitor?  they can't each run one? maybe that's some of the issue.

also, can you tell me how many nits of brightness the built in display is?  i don't see that in the manual anywhere

[erico]

If you have one Thunderbolt port, it will be a single display, unless you find a compatible docking station.

"how many nits of brightness the built in display is"

You provided the generic product name as identification for your laptop. The product number is specific to the hardware.

[Whabamdo]

ok, and then can i run a second, different display off of the other usb-c port?  so i could run 2 different external monitors at the same time?  one of of each usb-c port?

[erico]

"one of of each usb-c port?"

No.

Why would you ask that when you already stated that only one port is providing a connection to a display and the other port does not work?

For two display, you can use the HDMI port  for one and the  USB Type-C Thunderbolt that you said works with the display for the other.

You should read my previous post one more time.