Docking Station For Predator Helios 18 PH18-93VM

I'm looking for another docking station for my Helios 18; currently, I'm using the Acer 14-n-1 Triple Display (USB-C); I new a few more ports; for example, I use external microphone (dongle), external keyboard (dongle), external mouse (dongle), Acer's USB 4.0 card reader (I know my unit has an internal card reader but the SD is micro); previously using Predator 17, I used a 7-port USB for these devices; I'm plugging this 7-port USB into the Acer docking station, but time to time, I get a lack of power, or one time I got an too many hubs connection (or something like that); I'm figuring the solution is to use a docking station with more ports; can anyone offer some suggestions..? TJ

Accepted answers

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/727826/docking-station-for-predator-helios-18-ph18-93vm

Hi tjtonytj,
If you're using a 100W USB-C dock or Thunderbolt 4 setup with the Helios 18, you'll eventually hit a power ceiling. The laptop draws up to 230W, but TBT4 is capped at 100W PD, so Windows 11 24H2 with Modern Standby will throw a “low power” warning. You’ll need to use the original barrel adapter for full power and plug your external monitors into their own power sources. TBT5 will support up to 240W PD, but Acer will need to release a BIOS update and Intel a TBT5 driver before it works properly.

tjtonytj

Also, is the last BIOS update 1.10..? TJ

All comments

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/727826/docking-station-for-predator-helios-18-ph18-93vm

Hi tjtonytj,
If you're using a 100W USB-C dock or Thunderbolt 4 setup with the Helios 18, you'll eventually hit a power ceiling. The laptop draws up to 230W, but TBT4 is capped at 100W PD, so Windows 11 24H2 with Modern Standby will throw a “low power” warning. You’ll need to use the original barrel adapter for full power and plug your external monitors into their own power sources. TBT5 will support up to 240W PD, but Acer will need to release a BIOS update and Intel a TBT5 driver before it works properly.

tjtonytj

Its the 15-n-1 and its 130W; still, obviously its not enough power; by the way, did you mean 330W, at least that's what my power supply is; this unit, Predator Helios 18 is nice, but I'm having to get caught up with new standards on everyone, power supplies, cables, ports; I've certainly missed it on the Acer docking station, a $179 in my gut; alrighty, thank you so much for your help..TJ