Has anyone used the Targus dock 720USZ on HP Spectre x360 15t-df000 laptop?

[southpaw07]

Hi, I'm looking for a dock to run at least dual monitors 4K @60Hz and also power my HP Spectre x360 15t laptop, which is the 15t-df000 CTO product # 4CJ41AV if you need to know all the specifics.

I was checking out the Targus dock 720USZ and I was wondering if anyone has used this Targus dock with a HP Spectre x360 15t laptop? Or does anybody know if the Targus dock 720USZ is compatible with a HP Spectre x360 15t laptop?  

[Sneha_01]

Hi @southpaw07,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I couldn't find specific information about the compatibility of the Targus dock 720USZ with the HP Spectre x360 15t-df000 laptop. However, for docking solutions compatible with your HP Spectre x360, the HP Thunderbolt Dock G2 was recommended as it can deliver up to 120W of power and supports multiple connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 3, USB-A ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, and RJ-45 Ethernet​​. For your needs of running dual 4K monitors at 60Hz while also powering your laptop, a Thunderbolt dock like the HP Thunderbolt Dock G2 or a similar model that offers sufficient power output and video connectivity would be suitable. If the Targus dock 720USZ supports these features (Thunderbolt or USB-C connectivity, sufficient power delivery, and dual 4K video output), it could potentially be compatible, but it's essential to verify these specifications against your laptop's requirement

You may check with the Targus support.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Rachel571 

HP Support

[southpaw07]

Hi Rachel, thank you for that helpful info. So, I contacted Targus Support and I'm just waiting for their reply, but I was wondering if docks with 100W PD are sufficient power to run my HP Spectre laptop or do I need a dock with 120W PD? And since my Spectre laptop has 2 USB type-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, is there any benefit of running a Thunderbolt 3 cable to my Spectre laptop instead of a USB-C cable if I did purchase a USB-C dock instead of a Thunderbolt dock?

And thank you for your HP Thunderbolt G2 dock recommendation, but I could only find the HP 120W Thunderbolt G2 Dock on Amazon or other online stores and not on the HP store's website so was the HP Thunderbolt G2 dock discontinued?  But on the HP store website I found the HP 120W Thunderbolt G4 Dock so is this the replacement for HP's 120W Thunderbolt G2 Dock, and would the HP Thunderbolt G4 Dock be compatible with my HP Spectre x360? 

I would also like to use the dock for my work laptop HP EliteBook, or if in the future I purchase a new laptop such as an Apple Macbook or  possibly a non-HP laptop, then are the HP docks considered Universal docks?

Below are the specs for the ports on my specific HP Spectre x360.

External 1/0 Ports:

2x USB Type-C™ Thunderbolt™ 3 (supports HP Sleep & Charge, DP1.4, PD 3.0, Data Transfer); 1x USB 3.1

Type-A (HP Sleep and Charge); 1 HDMI; 1 headphone/microphone combo

Again, I want to thank you for all your help and recommendations!

-Morgan 

[Sneha_01]

Hi @southpaw07,

Thank you for your response.

Let's address your questions one by one:

Power Delivery (PD) Requirements for HP Spectre Laptop: The sufficiency of a dock with 100W Power Delivery (PD) largely depends on the specific power requirements of your HP Spectre laptop. Most HP Spectre laptops are designed with power adaptors that range from 65W to 90W. If your HP Spectre falls within or close to this range, a dock with 100W PD should be sufficient to power your laptop. However, if your laptop requires more power for optimal performance or to support high-power demanding tasks, a dock with a higher PD rating like 120W might be necessary. You should check your laptop's power adapter for its wattage rating to make an informed decision.

Thunderbolt 3 vs. USB-C for Connectivity: Using a Thunderbolt 3 cable to connect to a Thunderbolt dock offers several advantages over using a USB-C cable with a USB-C dock, especially if your laptop supports Thunderbolt 3, which your HP Spectre x360 does. Thunderbolt 3 provides faster data transfer rates (up to 40 Gbps), which is significantly higher than what USB-C offers (up to 10 Gbps for USB 3.1 Gen 2). Additionally, Thunderbolt 3 supports daisy-chaining of multiple devices, including monitors, storage devices, and more, without a loss in performance. Therefore, if your workload benefits from high data transfer speeds and the ability to connect multiple high-resolution monitors or high-performance peripherals, then a Thunderbolt 3 connection would be more beneficial.

HP Thunderbolt G2 Dock Discontinuation and G4 Compatibility: If you're unable to find the HP Thunderbolt G2 Dock on HP's official website but have found the HP Thunderbolt G4 Dock, it's plausible that the G4 model is the successor to the G2 dock. While I cannot confirm the discontinuation without current access to HP's product listings, it's common for manufacturers to update their product lines with newer models. The HP Thunderbolt G4 Dock should be compatible with your HP Spectre x360, given that it has USB Type-C™ Thunderbolt™ 3 ports. Thunderbolt docks are typically backward and forward-compatible within their generations. Still, for the best performance and compatibility, it's advisable to check the dock's specifications and compatibility list provided by HP.

The universality of HP Docks: HP docks, especially those with Thunderbolt or USB-C connectivity, are designed to work with a wide range of laptops, not just HP models. The key factor for compatibility is the presence of Thunderbolt or USB-C ports on the laptop. However, the level of functionality can vary depending on the specific laptop's support for certain features like Power Delivery, DisplayPort, and data transfer rates. For use with non-HP laptops or future laptops, you should ensure that the dock supports the necessary standards (e.g., Thunderbolt 4, USB4) for compatibility with future devices.

In summary, for your HP Spectre x360 and potential future laptops like an Apple MacBook or another non-HP laptop, a Thunderbolt dock like the HP Thunderbolt G4 Dock would offer the best flexibility and performance, assuming it meets your power delivery and connectivity needs. Always check the specific requirements of your devices and the specifications of the dock to ensure compatibility and optimal performance.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Rachel571 

HP Support

[southpaw07]

Hi Rachel, thanks for breaking down each question and then answering it in such detail!

My HP Spectre x360's power-brick which I'm assuming is the power adapter says 135W so then does that mean a dock with 100W  PD wouldn't have sufficient power for powering on and charging my Spectre x360 laptop? Therefore, I would need to purchase a dock that provides 120W PD, or would my laptop power on but just charge more slowly with a dock that only can support 100W PD?

Also, I'm pretty new to Thunderbolt technology and I would just USB-C cables so thanks for giving me the detailed explanation on the difference between Thunderbolt and USB-C ports.  My plan was to connect 2 separate external monitors that have 4K high resolution with 2 separate HDMI 2.0 cables or through 2 DisplayPort cables using the DP 1.4 ports. Or is there an advantage of daisy-chaining the external monitors together and  would both of these external monitors need Thunderbolt ports in order to daisy-chain the monitors together?

Also, I've been more interested more in the USB-C docks because I read Thunderbolt 5 is going to be released sometime in 2024 so I was concerned that docks with Thunderbolt 3 ports might not be supported in the next 2 to 5yrs. I would think as newer Thunderbolt versions are released-Thunderbolt 5 in 2024 and probably newer versions in the next few years, then Thunderbolt 3 will become less supported on docks, laptops, and external monitors, etc.? 

Lastly, I couldn't find a HP compatibility list for the HP Thunderbolt 120W G4 Dock or a HP compatibility list for docks, etc. for my specific HP Spectre x360 model, but a compatibility list would be very helpful with my decision on which dock to purchase and also to know which HP docks or other accessories are compatible with my particular HP Spectre x360 model. Since I can't find any HP compatibility lists for HP Docks or my Spectre x360on HP's website or even when I try searching on Google, then would you be able to send me the compatibility lists?

Thanks for your continued help!

-Morgan 

[Sneha_01]

Hi @southpaw07,

Thank you for your response, I will surely check the detail for you.

Please help us with the laptop serial number or the product number on a private message for further assistance.

Here is the link to find the product number:- Click here

https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/ish_2039298-1862169-16

In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile Name.

Rachel571 

HP Support

[southpaw07]

Hi Rachel, I tried to PM you but I kept getting the error message that there's an Invalid HTML in the message body and then says it removed it and then informs to try and send again. I'm not sure what I included that's an Invalid HTML because I only include the Product# and Serial#. Please advise because I'm not even sure what Invalid HTML even means in this context. Thank-you!

-Morgan

[Sneha_01]

Hi @southpaw07,

Thank you for your response.In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile Name.

I hope this helps.

Rachel571 

HP Support