In this post I’d like to provide a complete DELL D6000 universal dock review. Including product features, minimum system requirements, advantages and disadvantages of the dock.
The DELL D6000 universal dock is the ideal solution for a three monitor laptop workstation. Few docking stations on the market offer this feature. Connected to desktop peripherals. Such as printer, keyboard, mouse and Ethernet connection. That is compatible with wide range of laptop brands.
- Height: 3 cm
- Length: 16.8 cm
- Width: 7.8 cm
- Weight: 0.84 lb or 380 g
- External Monitor Support: Runs up to three 4K displays or a single 5K display
- USB Ports: 4 x USB-A 3.0 (1 x USB-A Powershare), 1 x USB-C (Powershare)
- Graphics Display Ports: 2 x Display Ports, 1 x HDMI
- Headphone and speaker jack
- Ethernet network port
- Requirements: Windows 7 or later. Ubuntu OS 14.04.2 or later. Chrome OS Build 58 or later
Table of Contents
- Product specifications
- DELL D6000 universal dock review key features
- Minimum system requirements
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Conclusion
Product specifications
The following is a summary of the DELL D6000 universal dock features and specifications.
- Runs up to three 4K displays or a single 5K display
- Four USB-A 3.0 ports (One USB-A 3.0 Powershare)
- One USB-C port Powershare
- Ethernet port
- Audio output (Speaker and headphone)
- Charges a 65W laptop via USB-C Powershare
- Lock Slot (Kensington )
Product Dimensions
- Width 7.8 cm
- Depth 16.8 cm
- Height 3 cm
- Weight 380 g
Connectivity / Interfaces
- 1 x HDMI port
- 2 x DisplayPort
- 4 x USB-A 3.0 (1 x USB-A Powershare)
- 1 x USB-C (Powershare)
- 1 x headphone and speaker jack
- 1 x Ethernet network port
DELL D6000 universal dock review key features
Supports up to three 4k monitors
The key feature that makes the DELL D6000 universal dock my favourite docking station is the ability to support up to 3 additional monitors.
There are few docks on the market with this feature.
Most docking stations support one or two additional monitors. This feature really sets the DELL D6000 universal dock apart from its competitors. This alone makes it a great choice for anyone looking to build a multi monitor setup.
Three 4k monitors are supported by 1 x HDMI and 2 x DisplayPorts.
If you’d like to learn more about setting up a 3 monitor laptop workstation. Check out my post ‘How to connect 3 monitors to a laptop using a docking station’.
Compatible with a range of laptop brands and operating systems
Another great feature is the brand compatibility. The DELL D6000 universal dock is compatible with almost all PC brands that support Windows OS. The dock also supports linux and chrome operating systems
For more detail on the minimum system requirements see section below.
Is the DELL D6000 universal dock compatible with Mac?
The dock is not fully compatible with Mac computers.
DELL doesn’t include Mac OS on their list of compatible operating systems.
The DELL D6000 universal dock was tested with a Macbook Pro laptop running Mojave OS. Whilst the dock did get power and network connectivity. It only displays one additional monitor via the HDMI port. There have also been reports of no power delivery with Catalina OS upgrades.
If your a Mac user your better off going for a fully compatible docking station.
Single cable for connectivity and power supply
The DELL D6000 universal dock has a simple and elegant solution for connectivity and power supply.
A USB-C cable allows users to transfer data, video, audio and power via a single connection.
A USB-C connection eliminates the need for an additional power adapter and supply.
This is an elegant solution that keeps your workstation clear and cable free.
The USB-C and USB 3.0 Adaptor allows the dock to to be compatible with USB-C and USB 3.0 laptop docking systems.
The USB-C and USB 3.0 Adaptor
Minimum system requirements
The following system requirements have been sorced from the DELL D6000 universal dock user guide found at dell.com/support.
Minimum requirements for general use.
- Processor – Intel Core i3 2+GHz / Intel Core M / AMD Trinity or better
- RAM – 4GB or better
- Video Card – Intel HD 4000, ATI Radeon HD7xxx, NVidia GeForce 5xxM or better (use drivers released specifically for the Windows version).
- Minimum of USB 2.0 but USB 3.0 recommended
Minimum requirements for video intensive tasks
- Processor – Intel SkyLake i3 or Intel Core i7 2+GHz / AMD Richland A10-575x / AMD Kaveri A10-7400P or better
- RAM – 8GB or better
- Video Card – Intel HD 4000, ATI Radeon HD 8650, NVidia GeForce 7xxM or better, with drivers released specifically for the Windows version.
- Minimum USB 3.0
- For 4K resolution computer should be capable of decoding the 4K in the GPU.
- Hard Drive – 7200RPM HDD or SSD
Operating system requirements
- Wins OS (Win 7, 8, 8.1, 10); 32/64 bits (with DisplayLink Driver version: 8.2 onwards).
- Ubuntu OS 14.04.2 or greater.
- Chrome OS Build 58 onwards
Advantages and disadvantages
After testing and using the DELL D6000 universal dock. The device performs well. It has proven to be a reliable dock packed fully of great features. Many not found on comparable docking stations.
Pros
Three additional monitors
The main advantage of the DELL D6000 universal dock is the support for three 4k monitors. Few docking stations on the market offer this feature.
Multi monitors are perfect for productivity and creating a more usable computer workstation. It’s great for productivity work and traders wanting a three monitor display setup.
Easy setup
The dock is also really easy to setup. After installing ALL the drivers from dell.com/support and displaylink.com/downloads. Plug in the dock to power and your PC via the USB-C or USB-A. Now your ready to go!
Simple single cable connectivity
The single USB-C peripheral connectivity and power supply cable. Is an elegant solution that allows users to create a clear and clutter free work space.
Elegant design
The DELL D6000 universal dock is a beautiful looking device. Its a great solution for creating a clean, simple and stylish desktop workstation.
DELL D6000 universal dock review – Check price on Amazon
Cons
Running 3 monitors not suitable for gaming
The DELL D6000 dock uses DisplayLink technology. DisplayLink uses a driver to have the CPU and GPU to compress video data for transmission via USB. The chip in the dock decompresses and relays the data to the displays.
This setup is fine for low intensity tasks. For high intensity tasks, such as gaming, the performance drops considerably.
The DisplayLink compression allows the D6000 to handle more displays at higher resolution but this is delivered at the compromise of a display data lag for high intensity tasks. Making the dock not suitable for gaming application on 3 monitors.
Linux driver compatibility
The dock is compatible with Linux operating systems but users may encounter driver compatibility issues. This is likely driver issue and not a problem with the dock hardware.
Power supply limitations
The DELL D6000 universal dock power supply is limited to 65 W. If your laptop draws more power to run and charge. You’ll likely encounter slow or insufficient charging.
| Pros |
- Connects 3 x 4k monitors
- Easy installation
- Single cable connectivity
- Elegant design
- Compatible with most computer brands
| Cons |
- 3 monitor connectivity not suitable for gaming
- Linux driver compatibility
- Power supply limitations
Conclusion
The DELL D6000 universal dock is ideal for creating a three monitor workstation.
Few docks on the market offer the option for three additional 4k monitors.
This dock is a good option for productivity work and traders wanting a three monitor display. The dock is an elegant solution for a laptop workstation setup.
The dock is compatible with a wide range of laptop brands. It is best suited for laptops with a USB-C connectivity.
Reduced performance for high intensity graphics tasks is the comprise for triple 4k monitors.
