Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Are there still a problems with hubs/docks that can brick a Mac?
- Thread starter somuchfun
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I have an old OWC Thunderbolt 2 dock connected to my M1 Mac Mini and have no issues with it; what "problem" are you referring to?
I also have a couple of OWC Thunderbolt 3 docks and I thought I would be putting one on my M2 Max Studio, but it turns out there is enough I/O that I don't feel the need for it right now. But I would not expect to have any issues if I did.
I also have a couple of OWC Thunderbolt 3 docks and I thought I would be putting one on my M2 Max Studio, but it turns out there is enough I/O that I don't feel the need for it right now. But I would not expect to have any issues if I did.
Thanks for reply. The problem when macs were bricked while being charged via dock.
If I'm not mistaken, that wasn't an issue with the Macs themselves, but the circuitry used in the affected docks. For whatever reason those docks did not fully support USB Power delivery, which is what the USB-C spec defines for charging devices, whether a tablet, smartphone, or laptop.
Apple did release an update to fix the problem. This was shortly after the release of the M1 MacBook Pro and Air. As far as I can tell, there were no further reports of damage to the charging ports after the software update. This was on Big Sur in 2020.
MBP M1.
Anyway, I don't want to use pass through. I have an external display connected to USB-C. This Huawei monitor gives me no benefit using it via USB-C as it only powers 10w. So now I want to get a thunderbolt dock with HDMI, and I will still power my mac in an available USB-C socket. But more importantly I want a dock with ssd enclosure. So ssd + hdmi sounds like a heavy load. Won't it break anything? I'm scared.
I have tracked this issue year ago but now I dont know anything about this. What was the problem, was it fixed, etc.
FWIW I’ve been using a Caldigit USB-C dock with passthrough charging with my original M1 MacBook Air and then a M2 MacBook Air with no problems. It’s fixed and any dock from a reputable company will be fine.
No, for me a pro user (on an Air) who came from a computer with literally every port, I quickly adapted to just needing HDMI, and my monitor is old.
I have one of the dozens of interchangeable, inexpensive, no-name Chinese OEM USB-C docks available on Amazon that I use with my 16" MBP, including occasionally for pass-through power, with zero issues, at all. If you're really that nervous, get a Caldigit or OWC Thunderbolt dock, but just know they're wildly expensive for what you get. Not at all saying they're bad products—they're excellent products. Just overkill for all but the most top-tier users and priced to match.
Quote: @somuchfun
"...importantly I want a dock with ssd enclosure. So ssd + hdmi sounds like a heavy load. Won't it break anything?"You can have anything, but you can't have everything
If you want to have a dock with HDMI and an NVMe slot, then it has to be Thunderbolt 3 to achieve NVMe speeds. This only supports HDMI 4k 60fps.
If you want a higher resolution/frame rate monitor then you need a Thunderbolt 4 dock.
This only supports internal SSD data speeds of less than 1000MB/s - so will allow USB 3.2 Gen. 2 transfer rates.
But Thunderbolt 4 docks are still in their early days, and the Chinese are inventing workarounds they call 'TB 4" but don't always play well with Macs.
I don't know whether there are any TB 4 docks with SSDs inside.
USB-C docks won’t do HDMI and a SSD at better than USB 3 speeds.
Last edited:
The fix for this came in an early Big Sur update in 2020. It hasn’t been a problem since.
Quote: @somuchfun
"...importantly I want a dock with ssd enclosure. So ssd + hdmi sounds like a heavy load. Won't it break anything?"
You can have anything, but you can't have everything
If you want to have a dock with HDMI and an NVMe slot, then it has to be Thunderbolt 3 to achieve NVMe speeds. This only supports HDMI 4k 60fps.
If you want a higher resolution/frame rate monitor then you need a Thunderbolt 4 dock.
This only supports internal SSD data speeds of less than 1000MB/s - so will allow USB 3.2 Gen. 2 transfer rates.
But Thunderbolt 4 docks are still in their early days, and the Chinese are inventing workarounds they call 'TB 4" but don't always play well with Macs.
I don't know whether there are any TB 4 docks with SSDs inside.
USB-C docks won’t do HDMI and a SSD at better than USB 3 speeds.
Sonnet has a TB4 dock with dual NVMe slots and 1500 MB/s transfers (3000 in Raid 0), and at least one other TB4 dock with NVMe support as well.
Echo Dual NVMe Thunderbolt Dock
Thunderbolt docking station with internal M.2 NVMe SSD storage expansion, fast USB (10Gbps) charging ports, Thunderbolt daisy-chaining, and up to 5K display support. For Mac, Windows, and iPad Pro.
Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock
Thunderbolt 4 super docking station with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, M.2 SSD slot, HDMI 2.1 port, 2.5GbE port, eight 10Gbps USB ports and more. Compatible with Mac, Windows, Chromebook, and iPad Pro.
Quote: "Sonnet has a TB4 dock with dual NVMe slots and 1500 MB/s transfers (3000 in Raid 0), and at least one other TB4 dock with NVMe support as well."
The first has the specs of a TB3 dock with half (2 lanes) of the PCIe 3x4 bandwidth going to each NVMe SSD (<1500MB/s). It's compatible with TB4 because that's part of the TB4 spec - TB3 compatibility. So it's a TB3 dock.
The Echo 20 TB 4 Superdock has this spec on Sonnet’s webpage: 'Transfer and access data at up to 800 MB/s...'
So its as I described it in my post above.
Limited to 1 lane of PCIe 3 = <1000MB/s. Whatever NVMe SSD you put in it.
Thanks for the heads up on that.
The first has the specs of a TB3 dock with half (2 lanes) of the PCIe 3x4 bandwidth going to each NVMe SSD (<1500MB/s). It's compatible with TB4 because that's part of the TB4 spec - TB3 compatibility. So it's a TB3 dock.
The Echo 20 TB 4 Superdock has this spec on Sonnet’s webpage: 'Transfer and access data at up to 800 MB/s...'
So its as I described it in my post above.
Limited to 1 lane of PCIe 3 = <1000MB/s. Whatever NVMe SSD you put in it.
Thanks for the heads up on that.
Last edited:
The problem fixed since macOS 11.2.2
What's new in the updates for macOS Big Sur - Apple Support
macOS Big Sur updates improve the stability, performance, or compatibility of your Mac and are recommended for all macOS Big Sur users.