Dual Monitor Setup with Acer Swift 3 S14-42

darrelang

Hi all, currently facing an issue with Acer Swift 3 S14-42 my dual monitor set-up as I have just came to realise that the USB-C port on the laptop only supports Display Port and my monitor only have a  VGA/ HDMI port.

I am not very well-versed with this area of knowledge, hence thought I could get some help from the community:

1. Can I use a USB-C to display port adapter + a Displayport to VGA cable? Will this still be considered as USB-C over DisplayPort?
2. Heard from some others that I can use a docking station too. Anyone tried this solution before?

​//Edited the content to add model name.   ​

William_mk2

darrelang

You can always connect the monitor to laptop using vga, dvi, hdmi cable and through the help of docking station if you have multiple monitors.

Please take a picture of the ports of laptop on your smartphone, take it to a nearby store and purchase the right docking station.

You can purchase a switch splitter.   It will be helpful if you have only one hdmi port on your computer and you need to use two hdmi ports. 

Kindly go through the details from link

https://www.recompute.com.au/blog/5-easy-ways-to-connect-a-laptop-to-a-monitor/

https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000801.htm

https://www.theverge.com/21436346/laptop-monitor-external-display-how-to-connect

https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/how-to-connect-two-monitors-to-a-laptop/

https://www.alphr.com/features/389164/how-to-connect-a-second-screen-to-your-laptop-1/

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/monitors-extended-desktop-3-check/



You can always purchase external usb adapter or docking station to connect multiple monitors.  

billsey

I am guessing you mean one of the SF314-42 models, since there isn't anything that I can find under S14-42... On the left side you have both an HDMI port and the USB-C with DisplayPort alternate mode. You can attach an HDMI monitor directly to the HDMI port or you can used a USB-C->HDMI adapter cable to access the DP alternate mode in HDMI format. You can use a dock to give you the ability to have even more monitors, and the advantage there is you usually just have one wire to connect to the laptop, but they do have an expense involved that's more significant than just the adapter cable.

PGrahamS

Hi Billsey (or anyone else),

Hoping you can help - I too am looking for a USB-C docking system for my SF314-42. It seems to be very confusing! Lots of features and wide range of prices.

I don't need to charge, but I'm investigating setting up two monitors, plus the usual array of extra USB ports, etc. For the displays, some docking station specs refer to DP 1.2 vs. DP 1.4. Do you know which is supported? Or is it totally different because it's "DP Alt Mode"?

Or maybe I could cut to the chase and ask, does anyone have any suggestions for a decent docking station (charging not needed)? 

Thanks!

~Graham

billsey

It's actually pretty easy with your SF314-42. Because it support DP alt mode even the cheaper stations will do some video, not need for the onboard video in the more expensive designs. Here's your spec:

So you can get video over the port (DP 1.2) and charge the laptop at the same time. You can't charge devices plugged into the port when the laptop is off, but you do get 3A of charging when the laptop is turned on.

PGrahamS

Thanks Billsey!

That's great to know. Will help tremendously as I try to track down a docking hub.

Much appreciated!

~Graham