ZBook X 16 G1i charging issue with docks and monitors

[Direktor]

Hi everyone 🙂
I'm Ralf (the "Direktor") from Germany and I just became a new member in hope to find help here - a phone call to support didn't help at all...

I was a happy user of an Elitebook X360 1030 G3 for some years now but because of a major problem there (see another post) I replaced with a brand new Zbook X 16 G1i. Beautiful machine. 🙂

BUT: I'm not entirely happy because of charging issues via USB-C.

At the office I used the Elitebook with a HP-USB-C Universal Docking Station with no problems at all. So, as I connected the Zbook with the dock - and that didn't work (no monitor, no charging - but network connection) - I was quite disappointed. I tried to install drivers etc.. for the dock, but that did not help.

Ok - the docking station is not up to actual specs, but it should at least charge the ZBook?

So I took the ZBook home and connected to my Philips 499P9H Ultrawide Monitor. It has an integrated dock and works fine with the Elitebook and a MS Surface Pro 10.

So the disappointment with my ZBook grew, because it connected to the monitor (unfortunately with some resolution issues - but usable) and again: NO CHARGING??? The monitor has 90 Watts of Power Delivery and that should definitely be enough to - at least - keep the Notebook from discharging while doing simple office work? The ZBook keeps telling me, that the charger would not have enough power. (90 Watts...!!!).

I understand, that more power is needed for quick charging and maybe even for high workloads, but it SHOULD be able to charge at all (if slowly).

Now I thought about buying a new HP Monitor with integrated dock for the office, but even the HP Serie 7 Pro - 727pk will probably not be sufficient - or will it?

My question: Is there a problem with my ZBook and it should be charging (slowly) with Power Delivery from 65 Watts up - or is it really supposed to not charge at all with everything less than the 150 Watts of the original charger (in my opinion that would be really stupid...)

Sorry for the long text - and thanks for any help 🙂

[Jupitero]

Hello.

Your older Elitebook only requires 65W, so the power requirement delta may be too big for the Zbook the accept the "trickle" power delivery of your USB dock or monitor. Same with the MS Surface which is even lower power device.

You may be able to charge the laptop when it is shut down, however.

The HP 727pk monitor will most likely have the same problem. I wouldn't buy it for its power delivery feature unless you can return it to the store for free.

USB-C Power Delivery standard has evolved in recent years to support up to 240W, but HP has not produced laptops or power supplies that support more than 100W through USB-C connector.

The Specifications for Zbook G1i 16 inch lists only a single option for a dock, the HP Thunderbolt 280W G4 Dock. This is a dock that has both USB-C connector and a power connector. This is the only supported option and is guaranteed by HP to work with your Zbook. It will also work with your Surface and Elitebook 1030, or any other device charged with USB-C - you just don't connect the extra power connector.

[Direktor]

Hello Jupitero,

thanks so much for your reply 👍

I'm aware of the smaller power-requirements of my old elitebook and the surface.

I just couldn't believe, that HP would not allow the ZBook to be charged with anything less than the original power supply. The 90 Watts of my Monitor (and the older dock) should be plenty to run it with simple office tasks.

I bought the ZBook to have the computing power when I need it (and I love the thing) - but I don't need that power all the time - and I don't want to carry the power-supply around (or buy another ridiculously expensive new docking station) when I have monitors with decent power delivery, that should at least keep it from discharging while running in "office mode"...

Furthermore I like to keep my batteries healthy, so I don't want them to be charged will full power to 100 % all the time and I charge them slowly whenever I got the time and opportunity.  With that policy I kept the battery of my old Elitebook quite healthy for many (7?) years now (same for my mobile phone by the way...).

Why would HP not support that while they claim that they want to be the most climate-friendly band around (or similar).

I don't get it.

This is disappointing and I think about returning the ZBook...

[Jupitero]

Hello,

I understand your pain. I think the Zbook is designed to not accept power at all via USB-C since all the HP supported methods to power and charge the heavy duty Zbooks are using only the barrel connector.

Although USB-C allows for up to 240W of power in the latest power delivery specification ("EPR"), HP has decided not to produce laptops that support anything but the older 100W limited power delivery. This is probably because their current laptop & dock ecosystem are interchangeable and going for the newer spec would require a new set of both laptops and docks. I'm sure there are technical problems as well, since all laptops have so far worked with ~20V and the EPR power delivery raises the voltage up to 48V. Keeping the voltage at 20V would need to raise the current from 5 amps, which would mean much thicker and therefore more rigid cables which wouldn't be nice.

Some other manufacturers already offer USB Extended Power Range (EPR) laptops which are charged with a USB-C charger, but I cannot say whether your current monitor or hub can charge them. There are EPR capable displays as well, but I think they top at 140W - I could be wrong though. Some laptops have also offered their own USB-C chargers that go over 100W but are not following the specification.

Your options are to return the Zbook, or buy the proposed dock, or alternatively invest on another 150W power supply and use it together with the display dock. This will be cheaper than buying the dock.

--

You can use HP Power Manager software to limit charging the battery to only 80% to prolong the battery life. HP Power Manager should come preinstalled with all computers, but I don't see a download for your model for some reason.

Nevertheless the latest version can be downloaded from https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp154001-154500/sp154179.exe

There should also be a BIOS setting for Battery Health as well, where you can set the 80% charge limit, without needing the HP Power Manager. Additionally the HP Power Manager also shows the battery wear level and a few other things but is not essential since you can get the same information from Windows Battery health report in command line with this command:

powercfg /batteryreport

[Direktor]

Thanks again @Jupitero,

I do see the technical (and other) problems for a decision to change the whole ecosystem (quite a big one in HP) to allow more power with USB-Charging.

But they don't need to!

The limitation to 100 Watts is ok - WHY NOT CHARGE WITH IT?

You were right about charging with the ZBook switched off. It's connected to the monitor-dock and charges quite quick (90 Watts) - the LED near the barrel-port is on.Then I open the lid, the LED turns off and the book tells me there is not enough power from the "smart charger"- while it's just idling. This is just stupid and really angers me, because there IS enough power to continue charging (if slow) - or at least to keep it from discharging wile in use.

But I repeat myself.

I think it's jut a "political" decision to not allow slow charging with their hi-power models and I don't like it.

Maybe I'm wrong.

--

I do know the Power Manager from the Elitebook - with the ZBook they changed that to a section called "Battery Manager" in an App that's just called "HP". Settings are the same: HP controlled, Full charging, Limited charging. I set that to full charging, because I want to run a few full cycles (as the Book is still only a few days old) and I'm going to change that to Limited Charging soon. This new "Battery Manager" - well it's "Akku-Manager" in German, so I don't know the original name, doesn't say where the limit is set - I know it was 80% with the Powermanager in the Elitebook (as you said).

There is the possibility to change that in the BIOS directly - and the "Manager" states that, if deinstalled, the  latest settings persist in the BIOS and would have to be changed there.

--

I don't know what I'm going to do, I don't want to sell it (return it - what I still could), but this - in my opinion completely unnecessary - hassle with charging really annoys me. I just hope for a firmware-update to allow (slow) USB-Charging while switched on - so it could be used with their own hi-end monitors with integrated dock.

Thanks anyways

[Direktor]

Addition...

Jupitero, you mentioned the Quick Specs in your first reply - and that the HP Thunderbolt 280W G4 Dock would be the only one mentioned.

I just took the time to read the specs completely and found the following:

Page 3 "At a glance":

• Designed to support all HP docking options (that includes monitors and Power Delivery I assume...).

Page 7 "Features"

• Docking station model #1  HP Thunderbolt 280W G4 Dock - (as mentioned)

Page 62 "Options and Accessoires"

• Docking
• HP Thunderbolt 280W G4 Dock w/Combo Cable 4J0G4AA
• HP Thunderbolt 280W G4 Dock w/Combo Cable 4J0G4ET
• HP Thunderbolt 280W TAA G4 Dock w/Combo Cable 4J0J9AA
• HP Thunderbolt 4 Ultra 180W G6 Dock 9X481UT
• HP Thunderbolt 4 Ultra 180W TAA G6 Dock 9X4A1AA
• HP Thunderbolt 4 Ultra 280W G6 Dock AW5M5UT
• HP Thunderbolt 4 Ultra 280W TAA G6 Dock AW5N3AA

So I think, at least the mentioned docks should be working - the ultra 180s probably without the additional barrel connector.

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @Direktor 

The Zbook ships with 120W and 150W power supply from HP.

The supported docks are indeed these mentioned above -> TB Dock G4 280W  &  the new TB Dock4 G6 180 and 280W

The Zbook device you have is considered a mobile workstation, quite powerful device with high end specs (CPU, GPU, etc) and does require more power for all the functions to work well so that HP can guarantee you the best possible experience. The minimum power supply HP recommends is 120W for your device and therefore your Philips monitor and/or old power adapter (e.g. 40 - 65W) will not work with this new Zbook.

Here are the quick specs details >> HP ZBook X G1i 16 inch Mobile Workstation PC

I see you may have plenty of follow-up questions. I can help you answer these by organizing a brief call with you at a time convenient for you. Let me know if you prefer this.

Thank you for your trust in HP

[Jupitero]

---

@Direktor wrote:

Addition...

Jupitero, you mentioned the Quick Specs in your first reply - and that the HP Thunderbolt 280W G4 Dock would be the only one mentioned.

I just took the time to read the specs completely and found the following:

---

You are right, my mistake. For some reason I didn't spot all the other docks.

Hope you find a working solution.

[Direktor]

Hi @IT_WinSec,

thanks so much for taking part in this 👍
Believe me - I do know exactly about the specs and parts of my ZBook - I took a long time comparing models, before I decided to buy this one - and not a fully equipped Fury (for example).

@Jupitero already posted the Quick Specs - that's where I found the things (docks etc.) in my last post.

I only have one question (regarding the topic of course 😆😞

When shut off the ZBook charges perfectly from the dock "inside" my Monitor via USB-C.

The specs state, that, while idling, the ZBook consumes 6.79 W (very specific I think)...

SO: Why does HP not allow to continue charging when I switch it on?  While idling there are 83.21 W left from the 90 W Power Delivery of my Monitor - that should be plenty...

In case, that I have a heavy workload for 3-4 hours, the 90 Watts would not be enough to keep it fully charged - I know that. But: The battery would slowly drain and - for sure - not be empty in a few hours, and, when the heavy load is done, start charging again. Where is the problem? (BTW: If really needed, I could always plug-in the power-supply.)

Instead of that - to prevent unnecessary battery-cycles - I have to always crawl under the desks to unplug the power-supply, put the cables together und carry also the power supply from home to work (I use the Book on both desks), connect again (need a socket), put cables and the supply on the desk etc...

To prevent exactly that I bought expensive Monitors with powerful PD - and now I can't use them as supposed, because HP doesn't want me to???

My "trust in HP" took a little damage - maybe you understand my frustration...

I really hope for a firmware-update that allows the nominal possible 100 W charging via USB-C (20V 5A).

No offense - and sorry for the bold parts, but the frustration is real...

[IT_WinSec]

Thank you for your detailed message and for sharing your experience so clearly. I can absolutely understand your frustration, especially after investing in high-quality monitor and carefully selecting your ZBook model. You’ve clearly done your homework. It’s always a pleasure for me to see such a well-informed and prepared user or customer.

@Direktor wrote:

The specs state, that, while idling, the ZBook consumes 6.79 W (very specific I think)...

SO: Why does HP not allow to continue charging when I switch it on?  While idling there are 83.21 W left from the 90 W Power Delivery of my Monitor - that should be plenty...

---

Plenty for a regular notebook like Elitebook or less powerful Zbook model like Firefly but not for your Zbook X model.

USB-C Power Delivery (PD) is standardized, but HP ZBook models (particularly your Zbook model) requires 120W or 150W for full functionality, especially when powered on. While your monitor provides 90W, which might be sufficient for charging when the laptop is off, HP’s firmware and hardware are designed to prevent under-powered charging while the system is on to avoid:
- Performance throttling
- Battery degradation
- Unexpected shutdowns under load

Even though the system might only draw ~7W while idling (I am not sure about that particularly, I trust you),
HP’s firmware doesn’t dynamically adjust charging acceptance based on real-time power draw. It checks the maximum available power and compares it to the required minimum, and if it’s below spec, it disables charging to protect the system.

Even if the system is idling, HP’s firmware checks for available max power, not current draw, and disables charging if it’s below spec to avoid performance issues or battery wear. It’s not about the actual wattage used at the moment.

---

@Direktor wrote:

In case, that I have a heavy workload for 3-4 hours, the 90 Watts would not be enough to keep it fully charged - I know that. But: The battery would slowly drain and - for sure - not be empty in a few hours, and, when the heavy load is done, start charging again. Where is the problem? (BTW: If really needed, I could always plug-in the power-supply.)

---

Your computer's specs require more power especially when working at their peak. The power adapter needs to be one that will guarantee top performance and stability under all PC conditions with the specs you have inside (CPU, GPU, etc). You can check details about each or most components (e.g. Intel's website for processor, GPU). There is no way for HP to know under what conditions a user would operate a given device (low load 1 minute, might be max load next minute).

Your logic is absolutely sound: in theory, the battery could slowly drain under heavy load and recharge when idle. However, HP’s design prioritizes system stability and battery health over flexibility. This is a common approach among workstation-grade laptops, especially those with very high-performance components.

---

@Direktor wrote:

Instead of that - to prevent unnecessary battery-cycles - I have to always crawl under the desks to unplug the power-supply, put the cables together und carry also the power supply from home to work (I use the Book on both desks), connect again (need a socket), put cables and the supply on the desk etc...

To prevent exactly that I bought expensive Monitors with powerful PD - and now I can't use them as supposed, because HP doesn't want me to???

---

It is not what HP wants. It's about the technical specifications or requirement of the sub-components, the device's best and stable performance and overall experience. If HP was able to create such a device with this vision, mobility and technical capability and with a battery that requires charging only once a week - such a thing would already be created and available on the market, please, trust me. Or with a 15W power adapter to charge such a beast ...

Possible Workarounds:

## Dual Power Setup

or

## HP Thunderbolt Docks G6 or G4: These docks are designed to deliver up to 280W and may offer a more seamless experience.

Your feedback is incredibly valuable for HP. I’ll make sure it’s passed along internally to Quality Product Managers and product designers. You are absolutely right to expect a premium experience from a premium product. I will also send you a private message (PM) for additional information.