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    Docking Station question...

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by rj_koolio, Dec 3, 2012.

  1. rj_koolio

    rj_koolio Newbie

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    Hey guys, I recently purchased a sony duo 11. I plan on setting this up with multiple monitors do some work at home, and once in a while i would like take it out of the house, or maybe into a different room. So I began thinking of docking stations. Now this doesn't have one built specifically for it, so i had to look for a universal one, which targus has. It has hdmi out, usb 3.0 all the good stuff. Now im totally new to the docking station scene, but my question is, how is it able to connect all of your stuff via a simple usb port? Are there going to be any limitations in terms of speed, resolution etc...what am i missing here? I mean, worse case scenario i could just plug and unplug everything when i have to, but if the docking station will do the same in terms of performance then i dont mind dishing out some money for a good one. Thanks guys!
     
    rj_koolio, Dec 3, 2012
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  2. Vogelbung

    Vogelbung I R Judgemental

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    The biggest hit is in the monitor connection.

    The display port on the USB dock is powered by a tech called Displaylink (not to be confused with Displayport). This basically virtually emulates a graphic chip in software and then slings the results down the USB cable. What you get therefore is the most rudimentary of 2D acceleration, at not inconsequencial CPU cost (since it's all being done by the CPU, not your GPU), and no 3D acceleration. Therefore, even HD Youtube can bog this down depending on what your CPU is, let alone anything more complex. However regular 'Office-type' duties should be fine and that's kind of who it's aimed at.
     
    Vogelbung, Dec 3, 2012
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  3. rj_koolio

    rj_koolio Newbie

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    Hey, thanks for your reply...

    Thats what i was thinking. But what if its using usb 3.0 which i believe it is...
     
    rj_koolio, Dec 3, 2012
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  4. Vogelbung

    Vogelbung I R Judgemental

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    Same thing. USB3.0 just means it has the bandwidth to address 27" WQHD monitors, but with once again a (greater) CPU hit in the process. The 'GPU' is still being rendered in software.
     
    Vogelbung, Dec 3, 2012
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  5. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

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    Don't mean to hijack the topic, but why is Displaylink so bad? Parallels and VMware have been doing the graphics emulation thing, with full 3D acceleration, for years now. I don't see why there should be any technological limitation to Displaylink doing the same thing, especially with USB 3.0's additional bandwidth.

    Or is it just laziness/incompetence?
     
    Peon, Dec 3, 2012
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  6. Vogelbung

    Vogelbung I R Judgemental

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    Not the same thing.
     
    Vogelbung, Dec 3, 2012
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  7. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

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    Care to elaborate?
     
    Peon, Dec 3, 2012
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  8. Vogelbung

    Vogelbung I R Judgemental

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    The VM acceleration is carried out by piping the commands through the GPU - i.e. in the same way as you would normally use a PC.
     
    Vogelbung, Dec 4, 2012
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