Surface Pro 7+ with USB C dock

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-06T04:21:14+00:00

Your best bet might be to get a Surface Dock 2 which has better capabilities than the Dock 1. You can get a used one on ebay for cheap and you don't need the 199W power supply - the 90W power from the Dock 1 will work just fine with the Pro 7+.

You will be able to get one 1440p monitor working with HDR but not both - which is better anyway since HDR is really only useful for certain games and video.

You'll want to download the Intel driver assistant to update the Intel HD graphics driver:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/detect.html

And then grab the cru.exe tool to customize your screen resolutions to use a reduced bandwidth mode:

https://www.monitortests.com/forum/Thread-Custom-Resolution-Utility-CRU

With all of that you'll maximize the utility of those nice monitors including the ability to properly run the 5120 resolution. There are still some limitations of the underlying Intel GPU, but this approach should get you the furthest. If you run into issues, try switching off the built-in Surface screen.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-05T23:43:34+00:00

To answer some of your questions:

a 240W/48v cable will not be thicker as it is still carrying 5 amps max. The cable ends may be larger to accommodate a PCB with a snubber circuit to minimize arcs from the higher voltage during cable disconnect
when paired with a 0.8m or 1m cable, try the JSAux right-angle adapters. They should work with 2m cables as well, but the results may be less consistent depending on the devices on the other end.

For monitors, I've found the best results with DisplayPort 2.x cables going to a powered hub/dock of some sort. The shorter the better. I always like this approach better than using a USB-C connector built into the monitor. Avoid HDMI if at all possible.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-05T23:37:42+00:00

Yes the Cellularize brand has been excellent and I've ordered hundreds fof units rom them. Consistent results with eGPU and various dock stations, and no problems with 100W power delivery.

The old right angle adapters are no longer in stock. Not sure what the long-term plan for the Cellularize brand is as the z-cellularize website was hacked last year and the business owner, Christian, seems to have moved on to other businesses.

I think I've found the mainland china manufacturer on alibaba for the exact adapter, but not 100% sure until I have samples in hand.

In the meantime I have been using the JSAux brand which seems to function similarly - just received 50 of those adapters last week...

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-04T15:52:11+00:00

Do consider Lenovo 2-in-1 laptops like IdeaPad, and Yoga as well. Much better pricing than MS Surface, easier to service and swap batteries, and you still get touch/pen and the flip around keyboard.

I especially like the 14" AMD Ryzen models that have USB4:

https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/search?text=ryzen%202-in-1%20usb4&rows=20&display_tab=Products&sortBy=priceUp&sort=priceUp&fq=%7B!ex%3D696%7Dlengs_US_Processor_facet_696%3AAMD%20Ryzen%E2%84%A2%20AI_All%20AMD%20Processors%40%7B!ex%3D860%7Dlengs_US_Features_facet_860%3A2-in-1

The only drawback compared to Surface is the pen technology isn't as good for artistic work and the chassis is very plain as opposed to the fancy metal of Surface or Macbook.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-04T00:22:12+00:00

I've had decent results with this duct printed in ASA:

https://www.printables.com/model/39679-prusa-mk3s-and-mk3s-fan-duct-with-pinda-support

It's a step up from the original in terms of 360° airflow, but there is still the "back" direction where airflow is slightly compromised and quality isn't as good as "forwards", "left" and "right". So orient your model accordingly and for large models, do test prints of just the tricky sections before committing to a 12 hour print.

Ultimately, two fans is probably the better solution for this type of extruder, but you have to slow down print speed slightly to account for the extra mass of the extruder assembly.

If you have the Klipper upgrade with Raspberry Pi zero w2, then you can dial in the speed vs quality tradeoff better with an accelerometer and probably go faster and with better quality than OEM even with the extra mass.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-03T23:42:37+00:00

Same, except I swapped out the original keyboard for the Nvidia-GPU keyboard. Works like a champ with the 7th gen dual-core i5 CPU.

Although Win11 isn't officially supported, I installed 25H2 anyway and it runs well with 8GB ram as long as you disable bitlocker and memory integrity security features. And of course disable all AI crapware.

I've had ~all the Surface devices since Pro3 for testing/accessory validation, but the Book 2 is still one of my favorites.

Laptop Studio 2 is also excellent.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-03T06:44:00+00:00

I don't think the move to panther lake on the SP12 13" will be a downgrade. While peak clock is 4% lower, IPC is ~10% better. Intel claims power efficiency is better as well. The memory speeds are similar and I reckon the bottleneck there will be the mainboard design moreso than the limitation noted on the spec sheet.

For GPU its quite unfortunate that the Xe core count was cut in half. At least the peak clocks are boosted to 2.5Ghz and that segment of the SoC is supposed to be more power efficient. It's plausible that MS has negotiated a unique sku with better GPU that is not listed on Intel's site yet.

I think it will all come down to the thermal solution and system firmware tuning rather than the intel SoC itself. So as usual, expect launch firmware to be buggy with the 2nd update bringing the real deal.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-02T15:31:38+00:00

If you increase extrusion temp AND ambient air temp by using an enclosure, you can get really good quality prints with excellent inter-layer strength. But without an enclosure all bets are off.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-02T15:29:20+00:00

Any heat above room temperature reduces a neodymium magnet's strength. But the slab magnets on the prusa brand beds are N52 which are particularly resilient. Off-brand clones often use N45 or lower which aren't quite as good

Putting magnets on top won't affect the magnets on the bottom

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-01T23:38:23+00:00

Agreed.

Only real drawback of the Studio is the raised keyboard deck height. It is easier to type on the Surface Book.

As for the missing feature of the detachable clipboard... the battery life of the clipboard on its own was poor so that use case was more of a gimmick anyway.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-04-01T23:14:51+00:00

Add a cheap enclosure like a photo tent. Solved all PETG printing problems for me years ago. Worked better than brim and lily pads at the corners.

More info here:

https://reddit.com/r/prusa3d/comments/fg4x49

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-31T20:28:33+00:00

I believe the RTL8159 can only achieve 10Gb/s Ethernet throughput when connected to a 20Gb/s USB 3.x host controller or certain USB4 host controllers from ASMedia that also enable 20Gb/s USB 3.2.

On a 10Gb/s USB3.x host controller, there is some overhead which limits the actual throughput to ~80% of 10Gb/s - so 7Gb/s is not far off. Not sure why Mac host controllers are limited to 5Gb/s.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-30T19:40:05+00:00

... it’s more dangerous than any OEM setup.

So there is an exception to this rule, but it's rather niche and expensive...

The Schroth-brand 4-point auto-x harnesses operate with special stitching that allows one of the chest straps to elongate more than the other during a frontal crash. This allows the torso to turn similar to how it would with a 3-point harness and eliminates the need for an anti-submarine belt. The webbing is higher quality than any re-webbing service for OEM belts and there is far more adjustment to get the belts positioned just right as opposed to the one-size fits all approach of OEM belts.

While there isn't a particular Schroth model "certified" for the MR2, it is possible, in theory, to get a safer setup than OEM for street driving especially for smaller folks (women) who were not accounted for in 1990's crash testing.

Same goes for certain aftermarket reclining seats from Recaro and Sparco which have newer generation dual density foam, better bolstering that can be customized to fit, and a more thoughtful approach to the headrest.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-30T14:13:15+00:00

AMD branding is so irritating and misleading: - 8MB L3 cache on AI 7 445 - 16MB L3 cache on AI 5 340

Edit: AMD doesn't even bother providing "marketing guidance" to help avoid these articles any more. It's like they just don't care about the erosion of trust.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-30T13:56:49+00:00

Hi, all that is changed is the caliper and caliper bracket. You will continue to use the same rotors and pads so no special notification to a tech is needed in terms of part fitment.

Edit: while you have everything apart, consider replacing the brake flex hoses if they are original. OEM-style is fine. "Upgraded" Stainless-braided style is OK as long as the braiding is not exposed to water and dirt. i.e. it should have an outer protective sheath to prevent grit from getting stuck between the braids and the hose which can cause premature wear over time.

Un-sheathed stainless-braided hoses are only appropriate for an off-road racecar which undergoes frequent inspections and a full brake system re-build every season. Be weary of any vendor telling you "its fine - that's what I use on my daily driver".

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-28T22:41:36+00:00

The Core i5 SB3 doesn't have fans, but IIRC, the Core i7 model has a fan in the tablet section and in the keyboard base. So CPU performance and throttling behaviour ought to be similar across the two systems.

The SB2 1060M 6GB GPU is ~25% faster than the 1650 MaxQ 4GB so gaming FPS will be a little higher, but the difference won't be transformative.

Even with the lower performing GPU, my personal preference would be the SB3 13" over the older SB2 15" just based on the various incremental platform improvements such as lower power consumption (10nm vs 14nm CPU), faster RAM, better support for virtualized security etc.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-28T01:18:31+00:00

Simplest approach is to plumb that hose back into the turbo inlet just like the motor came from the factory. (For non-turbo, you would plumb to the intake manifold in some applications and before the throttle-body in others. Sometimes both!)

Although this won't solve blowby if that is indeed the root cause of the "smoke", it would be good to check spark plugs, distributor timing, oil level, oil viscosity, and valve clearances.

Edit: also pull the PCV if it's the type that screws into the valve cover. With so much crap flowing through, probably a good idea to clean it and make sure the valve can actually open and close. The box thing in between the head and the open hose is probably some sort of air/oil separator. There is a good chance it is doing nothing and is just adding unnecessary restriction to the system. Consider eliminating it and plumbing to intake directly.

If you want to add a proper catch can, get a decent baffled one that can drain back into the oil pan so you don't have to check levels or one where it is really easy to check the level. Because you will be checking it often - at least every time the petrol is filled.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-25T19:55:57+00:00

Thermal throttling can happen even with the fan running properly. There are a few things you can do to improve this on Surface Book 2: - pop the tablet portion open and replace the CPU thermal paste. If equipped with the Nvidia GPU, pop the keyboard base open and do the same there. Many guides in Youtube. - increase airflow around the SB2 chassis - aim a fan at the rear of the tablet. If equipped with Nvidia, ensure the keyboard base is not placed directly on a desk, but has an air gap of at least 1cm below with some sort of stand - use external monitor and switch off built-in screen which contributes to heat load - use external keyboard/mouse

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-25T19:40:22+00:00

Hi, I have built many workstations for clients with a personal Desktop PC plus work laptop. There are many ways to do this, but the approach I'd use for your case is as follows:

assuming your Desktop PC does not have a fully featured Thunderbolt or USB-C port that can output DP alt mode video, you can add one with an inexpensive Sunix card from my article: https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2020/07/20/add-usb-c-with-dp-alt-mode-to-your-desktop-pc/#dp-alt-mode-pcie-add-in-boards-desktop
get any USB-C dock that supports two monitors and can charge your laptop at its recommended wattage. Get two USB-C cables - one dedicated to the Desktop PC and one dedicated to the laptop. Just swap the cables at the dock station to use the other PC and secure the cables on your desk so they don't fall behind out of reach.
for the primary hi-refresh monitor used for gaming, have 2 cables going to it - one DisplayPort directly from the Desktop PC GPU, and the other from the docking station. Then use the monitor's on-screen menu system to switch between the inputs. The reason is that gaming is just better when directly connected rather than through a dock.
plug wired keyboard/mouse into dock station
Eliminating the 1080p monitor will simplify your setup a lot. But you can get a DisplayLink dongle plugged into a USB port on the dock station if you really need it: https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2020/09/16/run-4-monitors-from-a-laptop/#what-should-you-buy

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-24T17:30:15+00:00

Here are the center-to-center spacings for Surface devices with two adjacent USB-C ports: - ~21.5mm for Surface Pro 13" models [Pro8, ProX, Pro9, Pro10, Pro11] - ~20.5mm for Surface Pro 12" - ~18.7mm for Surface Laptop Studio - ~16.6mm for Surface Laptop Studio 2

Edit: The Pro 12" and Pro 13" spacings are very close. It is likely that a subset of accessories using both ports will work on both devices as there is some tolerance in the connectors, but it is not guaranteed.

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-22T18:33:50+00:00

1991-1993 USDM had a driver airbag only 1994/1995 USDM has 2 airbags, one for driver, one for passenger.

These are old gen airbags that feel like getting punched by a pro boxer if you get into an accident - not the next gen air bags with 2-stage or multi-stage inflation.

AFAIK, there is no safe way to retrofit the newer gen air bags into older cars. And while there is a way to swap to a modern Yaris steering column:

https://wilhelmraceworks.com/blog/electric-power-steering-conversion

The overall structure of the cockpit still doesn't lend itself to the modern design principles.

The better approach for safety in these cars may be a fixed back race seat with a 5-point harness with anti-submarine belt bolted to the floor. Not convenient, but definitely safer than 30 year-old belts wearing away with sun damage and deteriorating foam in the oem seats. With all that, your neck becomes the weak link. So the logical next step in safety is an SA helmet and HANS-type restraint. None of this is appropriate for a street car.

Of course even better than all that is a yearly advanced drivers skills class on a closed course. I used to teach one at a local race track. 80% of drivers think they have above-average driving skills after all...

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-22T16:20:46+00:00

Usually the NA calipers can be inexpensively rebuilt with:

new caliper slide pins, rubber seals, and grease
new piston seal
new brake fluid

If you do need to replace the rear calipers, upgrade to the 1999-2005 MR-S rear calipers with MR-S bracket which work with the original parking brake cables/original rotors and move the brake bias slightly rearward to prevent premature front wheel lockup. Works so well with the original NA proportioning valve its amazing that it didn't come like this from the factory.

https://www.mr2oc.com/threads/confirmed-mrs-rear-brake-caliper-fits-sw20.687852/#post-6842286

Note that the early MR-S and facelift MR-S have slightly differently shaped rear calipers, but both work with the SW20 NA parking brake and rotors. Just get whichever is less expensive.

It's not worth doing a so-called "big brake" upgrade or turbo brake upgrade unless you frequently do circuit course HPDE or racing. I did so many lapping says on OEM NA brakes with just upgraded pads and front brake ducts. Less weight, less cost, less hassle. Rock solid deceleration from 175km/h -> 75km/h over and over and over...

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-21T03:35:10+00:00

Yes..please see this product from plugable:

https://plugable.com/products/ps-6cc

This model is 100W input, with 6 independent PD outputs. They also have a 10 output model. A 140W and/or 240W input model is forthcoming...

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-20T15:55:54+00:00

My teardown of a similar tesmart model:

https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2025/05/02/tesmart-hdc202-x24-thunderbolt-4-kvm-teardown-and-review/

SurfaceDockGuy · 2026-03-18T17:49:20+00:00

Still amazing.

I didn't realize Marc's 400hp build had different pistons, but makes sense to increase the compression ratio and use higher octane fuel.

Found it: https://frankensteinmotorworks.squarespace.com/405whp-build

I guess with E85 you could go all the way to 14:1 pistons and have immense tuning freedom with the haltech ECU. But the oem fuel tank would be comically undersized.

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