What usb c docking station with Ethernet are compatible for Acer Swift X SF114

ChasK
ChasK Member Posts: 5

Tinkerer

I recently purchased an Acer Swift X and would like to get a USB C docking station for additional ports, an external monitor and Ethernet.  I’ve purchased and sent back two so far - not compatible.   Does anyone know of a USB C docking station that does work?   I know Acer sells a powered docking station for over $200 (I think) but I was hoping to get something less costly and don’t need a powered docking station to charge through USB C.  

Answers

  • @ChasK

    Please visit the website - support.acer.com - chose your country - click on shop.   You can buy desktop, laptop, monitor and accessories.  Alternatively,  on the top right corner you can find the phone no to contact Acer store.   For the parts which are not available on Acer store, you have to contact local store.

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  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,912 Trailblazer
    Since you have a Swift X, I'm going to assume the model number is SFX14-41G, rather than the SF114 line. Here is the spec on your model:
    Which leads me to believe the docks you have tried should be working... In what way do that fail? They should be able to give you a DP port for a monitor, and accept charging as long as they output 20V at 65W.
    If you instead have the Swift (non-X) model SF114-xxx-xxxx let me know and I'll look the specs up for it as well.

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  • ChasK
    ChasK Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    My Acer is an SF14-41G-R1S6.  It has a single USB C 3.2 port plus two other USB ports - think one is USB 3.0 and the other USB 2.0.  The two USB hubs I purchased that did not work were not powered.  I tried both in the USB C 3.2 port on the Swift X.  Both appeared to “light up” - green light came on both, but when I plugged an external SSD into a USB C port on the hubs my Acer did not find it.  I called Acer support and was told by the 3rd party support person I would just have to keep buying and trying until I found one that did work.   I really don’t want to keep purchasing and returning hubs so I was hoping someone knew of a hub that does work.  Like I stated I was hoping to not have to spend $200 plus on the powered Acer hub which I am assuming does work with my Swift X but don’t know if that’s true either.  The other reason I’m looking for a different hub than the Acer one is size.  I’m trying to find something a little more portable as I travel a lot and briefcase space is always at a premium so something small that does not require another charging cord s what I’d really like.  
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,912 Trailblazer
    I believe what you were running into wasn't an issue with the hub/dock, but instead with the power requirements for the external HDD. Many of the older ones require external power, either directly to the device or to the hub, in order to function. The USB-C port on your SFX14-41G supports providing up to 15W of power (5V @3A), and external HDDs with 3.5" drives usually need quite a bit more. They usually have a power port for an external supply. Which external drive do you have?
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  • ChasK
    ChasK Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    The SSD I tried is a Samsung T5 and it works just fine plugged into the USB C port on the Acer, but it doesn't get recognized when using a hub - at least not with the hubs I've tried so far.  Thanks for the tip on the power requirements.  It gives me another thing to look for in a USB C hub and it's possible the first two hubs I tried weren't passing through enough power.  Getting specs on the hubs isn't easy as most of the descriptions I'm reading are sketchy - like they work with Macbooks and any PC with a USB C port, but not a lot else about the specs on power from any of the ports they have.   
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,912 Trailblazer
    It looks like the T5 should work. It should even get close to the correct speed, since your port is USB 3.1 gen2. There has to be some issue with the hubs, perhaps not supporting gen 2 or not providing enough power...
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  • ChasK
    ChasK Member Posts: 5

    Tinkerer

    Thanks - as I investigate the hubs I try to glean as much technical spec info as I can but many descriptions are pretty sparse beyond "works with a PC with a USB C port".   Some list the laptop models they support, but I still haven't found any that list any  Acer laptops let alone the Swift X I purchased which was just recently released.  
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,912 Trailblazer
    Yeah, they do their wording to sell the maximum product, not to define where it won't work. :(
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