How to turn your laptop into a desktop workstation

The massive distinction between laptops and desktops is that the latter are, effectively, massive. You want a desk or a desk and equipment like a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to make use of them. But when you have a laptop computer already, you’ve all of the parts of a desktop after which some. If you’re not going wherever for some time, why not chill and get the complete desktop expertise?

Here’s why: You in all probability don’t have all of the stuff you want for a full desktop setup. But getting that stuff is comparatively straightforward, and so is assembling it in such a approach that getting your laptop computer out and in is a cinch. That approach you get the most effective of each worlds: a full, snug desktop setup whenever you need it, and an on-the-go laptop computer whenever you want it. This information explains all the pieces you might want to know to show your laptop computer right into a desktop workstation.

The great things: Desktop parts

The massive benefit to constructing this setup is that you simply get to make use of your laptop computer with superior, easy-to-use desktop parts. (Oh, and also you’ll additionally want a desk or a desk, and a chair, clearly.) You can use as many or as few of those as you want, however listed here are the massive ones:

Monitor: A bigger exterior display screen to offer your eyes a relaxation and make motion pictures and video games actually pop. You can use your laptop computer’s display screen and an external monitor on the similar time, or in case your {hardware} helps it, multiple monitors for a full “battlestation.” Here are the best monitors on the market right now.

Mouse: Most laptop computer customers are an ace at a trackpad, however even the most effective of them will agree that a mouse is the way to go. Get a USB mannequin if you’d like pace, or Bluetooth if you’d like a connection that gained’t take up a USB port. Here are the best wireless mice you can buy.

Logitech

Logitech

Logitech

Keyboard: Loads of customers simply persist with their laptop computer keyboard whereas utilizing it at a desk station. But for those who discover yours notably uncomfortable, or if you wish to get into the rising mechanical keyboard scene. Here are the best wireless keyboards out there. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

Michael Crider/Foundry

Michael Crider/Foundry

Speakers: Again, the audio system in your laptop computer will stay practical when you work at a desk, however for larger, bolder sound, get a set of dedicated speakers. I just like the Edifier R1280T bookshelf speakers, however you too can discover cheaper ones on a budget as well. If you like, a nice headset or a pair of true wireless earbuds work too. 

Alaina Yee / Foundry

Alaina Yee / Foundry

Alaina Yee / Foundry

Other peripherals: Here’s the place all the pieces else goes. Maybe you wish to add on a high-quality exterior webcam and microphone for conferences, or join a recreation controller or an external hard drive. Maybe you desire a hardwired community connection, a DVD drive, or a card reader on your digital digital camera. You can use virtually any exterior accent made for a desktop PC with a laptop computer, as long as yow will discover a option to join it.

Note that it’s doable to shut the lid in your laptop computer, maintain it working, and have it related to an exterior monitor, keyboard, and mouse. You’ll wish to alter your energy settings in order that the laptop computer “does nothing” when the lid closes as a way to allow this. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

Michael Crider/Foundry

Michael Crider/Foundry

Unfortunately this isn’t accessible but in Microsoft’s redesigned Settings menu in Windows 10 and 11 — it’s again within the old school Control Panel. But for those who press the Windows button and seek for “Close Lid,” it ought to take you proper to the related menu — search for “Change what closing the lid does.” 

Michael Crider/Foundry

Michael Crider/Foundry

Michael Crider/Foundry

Here you’ll wish to set the “When I close the lid” choice to “Do nothing” for the Plugged in column. Here are the directions if you’re using a Macbook.

Basic connectivity wants 

How straightforward or exhausting it’s to increase your fundamental setup with none further {hardware} will rely on what kind of ports your laptop has, and how many. If you’ve a 10-pound Dell Latitude with each port below the solar, odds are fairly good you’ll have the ability to run all of your peripheral gadgets, no drawback. If you’re rocking super-light ultraportable laptop computer with only one USB-C port, effectively, it’s going to get difficult fairly quick.

Let’s break this down into connection varieties, lets?

Video connections

Most laptops in the previous few years connect with exterior screens over USB-C — see the sections beneath. If all you’ve is a USB-C port, you’ll want a video adapter (normally HDMI) or a dock of some type. 

Larger laptops even have a devoted HDMI port, and that makes issues tremendous straightforward. Just plug the HDMI cable into your laptop computer and the monitor or tv, and also you’re finished. Here’s an article on the best kind of HDMI cable for your setup. 

Older laptops or these with non-standard setups might need one thing slightly extra esoteric, like VGA or mini-DisplayPort. In these circumstances you’ll be on the lookout for some type of an adapter to get to a extra common video cable. Check what you’ve in your laptop computer, what you’ve in your monitor, and get a cable that works with each, like this VGA-to-HDMI number. If you wish to join your laptop computer to a number of displays, issues change into extra difficult.

USB-C has made this loads simpler: See the sections additional down for extra technical information. If your laptop computer doesn’t have USB-C, you’ll must depend on a particular adapter that may ship video over a USB cable, like this one. These aren’t very best, as a result of they take up certainly one of your USB ports and their efficiency is poor in comparison with a normal video cable.

Audio connections

This one is straightforward: Most laptops, even these that may slot in a manila envelope, embody a headphone jack. If you’re holding it easy and never utilizing a dock, plug your audio system or headphones into the jack and also you’re good to go. Alternately, you may join headsets, headphones, or audio system wirelessly by way of your laptop computer’s Bluetooth connection.

Foundry

Foundry

Foundry

If for some purpose your laptop computer doesn’t have a headphone jack (or yours is damaged), you may as soon as once more rely on a USB adapter to make do.

Network connections

If you’re establishing your desk in a spot that makes use of Wi-Fi, nice — simply connect with it in your laptop computer the identical approach you at all times do. If you need quicker or extra dependable networking, you may plug an Ethernet cable from the router or the jack on the wall straight into your laptop computer’s Ethernet port.

But numerous thinner, lighter designs are omitting the Ethernet cable today. Once once more, assuming that you simply don’t wish to step as much as a dock, you will get a USB adapter for your Ethernet connections, or depend on an Ethernet port in a USB-C dock.

USB gadgets

Boy, we’re connecting numerous stuff to USB, huh? If your laptop computer has simply three, or two, or (perish the thought) one USB port, you would possibly end up working out fairly rapidly.

For an inexpensive answer, a basic USB hub can deal with numerous knowledge and connections directly. So lengthy as you’re utilizing it for extra normal peripherals — mice, keyboards, flash storage drives, et cetera — you shouldn’t see any type of slowdown. Try to ensure you get a USB hub with not less than USB 3.0 speeds, and join it to a suitable USB port in your laptop computer; some are nonetheless utilizing the older 2.0 ports in some locations.

Power

Well this one’s straightforward: To maintain your laptop computer powered up and working, simply use no matter adapter it got here with and plug it in close to your desk. That is, until you’ve a more recent laptop computer with a USB-C connection. This is the place issues begin to get actually fascinating!

USB-C makes your laptop computer a powerhouse 

Most newer laptops include at least one USB-C port. That’s the one which’s formed like an oval, and doesn’t want trial and error to see for those who’re plugging it in the other way up or not. On most of those newer designs, the USB-C port additionally doubles as the ability enter that costs the battery.

Twelve South

Twelve South

Twelve South

See, USB-C is designed to be actually common. On that one cable, it’s doable to switch not simply knowledge, however energy on your laptop computer (and something it’s related to), video to an exterior monitor (or displays), sound to audio system, and even hardwired community knowledge. A USB-C port can, in the suitable circumstances, be your energy enter and your USB ports and your HDMI port and your Ethernet port, multi functional.

This makes it doable, with the suitable laptop computer and gear, to attach as much as a dozen or so desktop parts by plugging in a single cable. It’s the Holy Grail of mixing laptop computer portability with desktop consolation.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

To get the fundamental advantages of a USB-C port, you may use an inexpensive dongle so as to add a bunch of ports in a single, with energy pass-through on your laptop computer charger. But for those who’re able to step it up, it’s time to have a look at USB-C docks. These add in highly effective choices for a number of exterior displays and tons of ports for just about something you’d want.

Here are the best USB-C docks on the market right now. 

There’s a neat different right here, too: Because USB-C can deal with video, some newer displays combine a USB-C hub proper into the display screen. These displays can connect with a laptop computer straight over USB-C, energy it as much as 90 watts, and increase it with a number of USB, USB-C, and ethernet connections, all on a single cable. Some may even “daisy chain” to different displays, creating a real multi-monitor setup over a single cable with out even needing a devoted dock.

Here are the best USB-C monitors on the market right now.

Dell

Dell

Dell

Living the dream: USB-C eGPU docks

But what about video games, I hear you cry? Can I nonetheless use my gaming laptop computer with a USB-C dock? Well, sure and no. USB-C docks are wonderful, however they’re not miraculous. Loads of gaming laptops can’t get energy over USB-C, because their charging needs are just too high, and plenty of docks aren’t suitable with the type of high-speed, high-resolution efficiency displays avid gamers personal.

In these circumstances, it’s nonetheless finest to plug your gaming laptop computer straight into the wall, after which plug your monitor in over HDMI. A bit old school, however crucial.

But what if there was one other approach? A option to maintain a svelte transportable laptop computer on the highway, however a beast of a gaming or workstation PC at house, all working on the identical {hardware}, and all related with a single cable? Gamers, let me introduce you to a little-known gadget known as the exterior GPU.

An eGPU enclosure, or “external graphics dock” because it’s additionally recognized, is mainly slightly field that holds a full desktop-class graphics card. You join a number of displays on to the GPU, then plug your laptop computer into the enclosure by way of USB-C. Not solely does this considerably enhance the gaming energy of a thin-and-light laptop computer, it means you need to use large, high-res, high-refresh displays with a laptop computer with out sacrificing pace by going via a hub.

Adam Patrick Murray/Foundry

Adam Patrick Murray/Foundry

Adam Patrick Murray/Foundry

Some of those enclosures embody further USB ports for connecting much more peripherals, and so they ship loads of energy over USB-C to maintain your laptop computer juiced up. Plug in your laptop computer and you’ve got a massively highly effective gaming PC, unplug it and also you’re able to take all of your information and applications with you on the go. The better of each worlds!

But there’s a draw back. External graphics docks are nonetheless very area of interest, in order that they’re slightly exhausting to search out. They’re additionally very costly — rather more so than a normal USB-C dock. We’re speaking multiple hundreds of dollars just for the enclosure, not counting the graphics card that truly goes into it. (Some are sold with the GPU already installed, for the commensurate improve in value.) 

And after all none of that features the price of your laptop computer, monitor, and different add-ons. So an exterior GPU setup is expensive. It’s additionally complicated: While it might probably do some actually wonderful issues, it’ll by no means beat the efficiency of a desktop PC with the identical GPU put in. You’ll additionally desire a highly effective laptop computer to benefit from it, with a high-end processor, quick storage, and loads of RAM.

But in case your price range is aware of no restrict, and also you wish to do completely all the pieces doable with only one machine and one cable, it is likely to be the way in which to go.