DockLynxDockLynx

How We Test

Our lab is designed to answer one question: will this dock deliver your exact ports, power, and pixels in the real world—today and after the next update?

Test Matrix & Platforms

We test across macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), Windows (Intel/AMD), and representative Linux distros. Each run specifies laptop model/CPU/GPU, OS build, dock firmware/driver versions, cable types/lengths, and monitor models. Matrices map these variables to verified outcomes: display counts/resolutions/refresh rates, sustained PD wattage, Ethernet throughput/latency, and stability states (boot, hot‑plug, sleep/wake).

Display Pipeline Validation

  • Thunderbolt 4 vs USB‑C Alt Mode: confirm bandwidth headroom and lane mappings.
  • MST/DSC behavior: verify how multi‑monitor chains negotiate; log DSC use, compression ratios, and pixel clocks.
  • DisplayLink scenarios: measure CPU overhead, color depth/HDR constraints, and USB bus contention.
  • Color workflows: verify 10‑bit pipelines, HDR, and calibration stability.

Power & Thermals

We instrument PD with analyzers to confirm negotiated profiles and sustained delivery under CPU/GPU load. We test long‑duration stability, thermal throttling, and brownout behavior. Pass requires meeting or exceeding target wattage (e.g., ≥100W sustained) without link instability.

Networking & I/O

We measure Ethernet throughput and jitter under concurrent display and storage loads. USB storage tests check lane contention, and audio latency is sampled under docking load.

Sleep/Wake, Hot‑Plug, and Firmware

We cycle sleep/wake and lid/AC states across OS versions, logging link renegotiations and failures. Firmware/driver baselines are recorded, with retests after meaningful updates.

Scenario‑First Pass/Fail

We judge against practical goals:

  • M‑series dual displays without unreliable workarounds
  • Triple‑monitor Windows with mixed 4K/1440p panels
  • Hot‑desking with one‑cable certainty (power, network, audio, displays)

If a dock meets the scenario under stress—unchanged after sleep/wake and across reboots—it earns “known‑good” status. We then specify acceptable alternates to preserve outcomes amid supply changes.

Artifacts We Publish

  • Compatibility matrices per laptop/OS and dock
  • Port Map diagrams with lane allocation and display routing
  • Step‑by‑step setup flows and troubleshooting trees
  • Firmware/driver baselines and update guidance

Limits & Retest Triggers

We document environmental limits (cable length, panel caps, host GPU constraints) and trigger retests for OS major updates, firmware changes, or new host silicon.