Applies to: EliteBook 840 G5, 850 G5, 840 G6 and 850 G6. Healthcare editions, 840r and later generations are outside this four-model comparison.
Two documented choices, different evidence
| Choice | Evidence | What remains unresolved |
|---|---|---|
| USB-C Dock G5 | HP’s July 2020 model list | Exact laptop display-link capability, dock mode and requested monitor combination |
| Thunderbolt 120W G2 | HP legacy list; Michigan names all four in a two-monitor deployment | The deployment’s screen resolutions, exact firmware and your workplace requirements |
HP: USB-C Dock G5 datasheet, July 2020, compatibility on page 2 · University of Michigan: HP Thunderbolt 120W G2 deployment compatibility
Choose around your existing monitors
If both monitors have DisplayPort, either dock has two suitable physical sockets, subject to the combined mode check. If both have HDMI, the G5 has one built-in HDMI output and the G2 has none. That changes the adapter list and total cost. Read the G5 mode table or G2 port guide before buying.
A repeatable two-screen check
- Find G5 or G6 in the laptop’s complete name and identify 840 versus 850.
- Keep the laptop charger available and connect one monitor to the powered dock.
- Set a normal office mode, then add the second monitor and choose extended desktops.
- Select each screen in Windows display settings and record its resolution and refresh rate while both are active.
- Check keyboard, Ethernet, charging and wake from sleep. If a required function fails, record the exact symptom before changing the dock.
When replacement is justified
A new dock can be useful when the current one cannot supply the documented display combination, necessary ports or sufficient supported charging. A missing HDMI socket may only call for one suitable adapter. A second screen that fails only at a high resolution calls for a bandwidth check first. Neither the HP brand nor the number of sockets alone settles that decision.
Sources & scope
These instructions combine published references with our proposed diagnostic sequence. This setup has not been physically tested by Connect Your Dock. Manufacturer documents can change; use the exact model and scope linked below.
- HP: USB-C Dock G5 datasheet, July 2020, compatibility on page 2
- HP: Dock Solutions c04168358 v6, September 2019, G2 ports and compatibility on page 39 (HP-authored PDF mirror)
- University of Michigan: HP Thunderbolt 120W G2 deployment compatibility