I now have a mix of notebooks with and without USB-C. I'd like a dock that supports both USB-C and USB type A/3 or whatever its properly called.

Is there any magic to this? Most of the better USB-C docks support power delivery over USB-C. If I were to use a type A to type C cable with one of those, would (a) everything work fine or (b) the type A port emit sounds/smells/smoke that it shouldn't?

Or am I better (safer) getting an older dock without power delivery, and using an appropriate cable to go between that and PC. My current one uses USB Micro B super speed (again, if that's it's right name?) for the dock side of the plug, and you can get microB-USB-C cables. I appreciate that won't provide power.

I'm not super fussed about performance, so long as the dock supports ethernet, two monitors and keyboard and mouse.