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Super Sticky Thread for USB-C Docks, Cables and Accessories [MERGED]

shaun.au

shaun.au

macrumors member
Mar 3, 2009
39
48
Sydney, Aus
allensmart

allensmart

macrumors newbie
Feb 2, 2018
1
1

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wecksell

wecksell

macrumors newbie
Feb 4, 2018
5
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Can anyone recommend a USB-C dock with the following:

SD Card Reader, DisplayPort (or mini Display Port), and a few USB 3 ports? The big thing I can't find is a hub with displayport output, and I've got a 1440p monitor that, over HDMI, will only support 1080p. Hence, my need for DP. Thank you.
 
shaun.au

shaun.au

macrumors member
Mar 3, 2009
39
48
Sydney, Aus
wecksell said:
Can anyone recommend a USB-C dock with the following:

SD Card Reader, DisplayPort (or mini Display Port), and a few USB 3 ports? The big thing I can't find is a hub with displayport output, and I've got a 1440p monitor that, over HDMI, will only support 1080p. Hence, my need for DP. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Maybe skip the DP/mDP requirement on the dock, and get a DisplayPort-to-USB-C cable instead - then the dock just needs USB-C passthrough.

I'm using those cables on my work & home monitors via the MBP HyperDrive.
 
M

MrX8503

macrumors 68020
Sep 19, 2010
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1,615
Admiral said:
A while ago I bought the OWC USB-C dock for my 2015 MacBook 12" (and now 2016 MacBook 12") and was disappointed to find that the dock, as well as Apple's own HDMI/USB-A dongle, only supports HDMI 1.4 — which can only refresh a 4K monitor at 30Hz. Ugh.

Since then I have searched for something that will support 4K at 60Hz. I considered the CalDigit USB-C dock — no joy — and other dongles.

Cruising eBay last week I saw, for US$33 all in (shipping included) a USB-C to Mini DisplayPort and two USB-A ports plus power dongle from Xiaomi. It showed up today. Works great — now enjoying my 4K monitor at 60Hz.
Click to expand...

That's why I prefer Displayport over HDMI. You're guaranteed 4K @ 60hz with Displayport.
 
D

deepakvrao

macrumors 6502
Oct 16, 2011
335
29
India
Was about to order one of those 40 dollar hub thingies, and I saw that they will power only one external hard drive at a time. I need to power 2 hard drives at a time. Any suggestions?
 
A

apiro

macrumors regular
Oct 23, 2017
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M

MrX8503

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Sep 19, 2010
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A

apiro

macrumors regular
Oct 23, 2017
169
104
MrX8503 said:
Why would a company make such a dongle with DP that doesn’t support 4K @ 60hz? It’s more likely to work like you expect with DP than HDMI.
Click to expand...
I explained why - with USB 3.0 ports not enough bandwidth in USB-C 3.1 gen 1 for 4K@60Hz.
 
tofagerl

tofagerl

macrumors 6502a
May 16, 2006
983
428
Then get a damned Thunderbolt 3 dongle... Wait, are there dongles? I know there are docks, cause the one guy at work who gets all his requests approved who we all hate has one, but I haven't actually seen a dongle.
 
A

apiro

macrumors regular
Oct 23, 2017
169
104
MrX8503 said:
Show me a handful of USB C dongles that has USBA and DP.
Click to expand...
What for? This is irrelevant to proving me wrong or proving you right.
MrX8503 said:
Why would a company make such a dongle with DP that doesn’t support 4K @ 60hz? It’s more likely to work like you expect with DP than HDMI.
Click to expand...
As I explained earlier, the problem is in the bandwidth and not the interface for video output.
If vendor chooses to provide USB 3.0, he cannot provide 4K@60Hz. There is no such thing as "more likely to work" with DP than HDMI or vice versa. It's physically impossible with both.
If vendor chooses to provide USB 2.0, he can provide 4K@60Hz and it's up to him to choose HDMI or DP - they will both work like you expect. Existence proves this to be right and not something being common. Something being common proves demand, not work quality.
 
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MrX8503

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Sep 19, 2010
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apiro said:
What for? This is irrelevant to proving me wrong or proving you right.

As I explained earlier, the problem is in the bandwidth and not the interface for video output.
If vendor chooses to provide USB 3.0, he cannot provide 4K@60Hz. There is no such thing as "more likely to work" with DP than HDMI or vice versa. It's physically impossible with both.
If vendor chooses to provide USB 2.0, he can provide 4K@60Hz and it's up to him to choose HDMI or DP - they will both work like you expect. Existence proves this to be right and not something being common. Something being common proves demand, not work quality.
Click to expand...

Yes it’s physically impossible with both if it’s a hub with other ports. The point is a DP dongle is more likely to support 4K@60hz than HDMI because many vendors choose not to add that support for HDMI for whatever reason. Then you have to have the right HDMI cable. There’s a reason why many people are having a hard time with HDMI in getting 4K @60hz.

DP has been supporting it for much longer and is more mature.
 
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apiro

macrumors regular
Oct 23, 2017
169
104
MrX8503 said:
Yes it’s physically impossible with both if it’s a hub with other ports.
Click to expand...
No, only if ports are USB 3.0. If ports are USB 2.0, it's possible both with DP and HDMI. I've even sent a link to an HDMI 2.0 dongle with additional ports above.
MrX8503 said:
The point is a DP dongle is more likely to support 4K@60hz than HDMI because many vendors choose not to add that support for HDMI for whatever reason. Then you have to have the right HDMI cable.
Click to expand...
We were initially talking about multiple ports dongles and not cables/adapters. Obviously, with a cable or adapter, where there are no other bandwidth eating ports, 4K@60Hz is physically possible thus it's up to vendor to choose whether to support it or not and using which interface - DP or HDMI - considering just the demand from users. The fact that there are cables/adapters with both DP and HDMI for that matter shows us that both technologies are mature enough.
MrX8503 said:
Then you have to have the right HDMI cable. There’s a reason why many people are having a hard time with HDMI in getting 4K @60hz.
Click to expand...
Didn't notice this. For tens of pages of this thread people are having problem in not understanding why USB-C 3.1 gen 1 interface cannot have both USB 3.0 ports and 4K@60Hz. Similarity of USB-C 3.1 gen 1 interface on MB, which cannot, and USB-C Thunderbolt 3 on MBP, which easily can, adds to the confusion.
MrX8503 said:
DP has been supporting it for much longer and is more mature.
Click to expand...
This is irrelevant in current discussion, especially considering people ask for dongles with other ports and not cable/adapter.
 
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M

MrX8503

macrumors 68020
Sep 19, 2010
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apiro said:
No, only if ports are USB 3.0. If ports are USB 2.0, it's possible both with DP and HDMI. I've even sent a link to an HDMI 2.0 dongle with additional ports above.

We were initially talking about multiple ports dongles and not cables/adapters. Obviously, with a cable or adapter, where there are no other bandwidth eating ports, 4K@60Hz is physically possible thus it's up to vendor to choose whether to support it or not and using which interface - DP or HDMI - considering just the demand from users. The fact that there are cables/adapters with both DP and HDMI for that matter shows us that both technologies are mature enough.

Didn't notice this. For tens of pages of this thread people are having problem in not understanding why USB-C 3.1 gen 1 interface cannot have both USB 3.0 ports and 4K@60Hz. Similarity of USB-C 3.1 gen 1 interface on MB, which cannot, and USB-C Thunderbolt 3 on MBP, which easily can, adds to the confusion.

This is irrelevant in current discussion, especially considering people ask for dongles with other ports and not cable/adapter.
Click to expand...

What I’m saying is there are more DP adapters that support 4K @ 60hz than HDMI so people are more likely to be confused and not get what they’re expecting. Then there’s the possibility of getting the wrong HDMI cable.
 
iPlodder

iPlodder

macrumors member
Apr 18, 2008
60
5
Does anyone know of, and even better recommend, a USB 3.1 adapter hub with USB Type-C ports rather than USB Type-A ports?

All the ones I've seen have two or three USB Type-A ports and a single USB Type-C port for passing through power to the laptop.

Ideally I'd like 1 or 2 USB Type-C ports in addition to the Type-C power pass-though port, 1 or 2 USB Type-A ports and a 4k HDMI port. Anything-else, a Gigabit Ethernet port, SD card reader, Displayport would be an advantage.

The Vistar.io hub is the nearest I've found so far, but it doesn't seem to be available yet.

It's for a 12" MacBook and needs to be available in the UK.

Thanks is advance.
 
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Tensakun

Tensakun

macrumors 6502
Jan 21, 2008
337
29
Akashi, Japan
Here's a super basic Q, but I've never had a USB-C I/O Mac, now thinking about getting a MacBook. I have many old USB-A Ethernet LAN adapters from my older Macs, so could I recycle those by plugging it in, say, to Apple's multiple adapter for USB-C to USB-C pass-through (for power)/HDMI video out/USB-A (for LAN adapter)? Theoretically, this should be now problem, but just want to confirm that this double-adapter solution can provide dependable high-speed LAN. Thanks!
 
J

JTToft

macrumors 68040
Apr 27, 2010
3,447
796
Aarhus, Denmark
Tensakun said:
Here's a super basic Q, but I've never had a USB-C I/O Mac, now thinking about getting a MacBook. I have many old USB-A Ethernet LAN adapters from my older Macs, so could I recycle those by plugging it in, say, to Apple's multiple adapter for USB-C to USB-C pass-through (for power)/HDMI video out/USB-A (for LAN adapter)? Theoretically, this should be now problem, but just want to confirm that this double-adapter solution can provide dependable high-speed LAN. Thanks!
Click to expand...
- Yes, that should not be an issue. The only thing to consider would be power draw, but those Ethernet adaptors probably don't require very much.
 
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Mannaerts

macrumors regular
Dec 2, 2010
110
53
Belgium, Antwerp
Nepherte said:
I guess it all depends on what you are looking for. Many docks are in the 300EUR price range. I would not compare it against the linked Belkin for the simple reason that it is provides only usb, but not video, network, power, full tb3 transfer rates or anything else for that matter. But again, if that's what you're looking for...
Click to expand...
Is that Elgato any good actually? Seen some mixed reviews of it
 
Nepherte

Nepherte

macrumors newbie
Sep 26, 2017
16
0
Mannaerts said:
Is that Elgato any good actually? Seen some mixed reviews of it
Click to expand...
Works pretty good for me. Charges my macbook pro 13" 2016. Currently plugged in are: network cable, lg ultrafine 4k display, logitech 4k brio and the occasional usb thumb drive. Haven't tried the headphone jack or the display port. As a nice bonus, the finish of the enclosure is marvelous.
 
C

Conza

macrumors member
Mar 20, 2018
61
14
Australia
MBP 2 port model, not a bad price I thought, has charge pass thru, micro/SD, importantly USB-A
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/392001094540

Also bought a 2 pack of these, so I don't have to plug in my entire dock if I want to plug in 1 USB-A device (of which I have several).
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/142530688807

This is my favourite, its not the full blooded MagSafe 2, but it'll do, charge indicator, part of the reason I got the hub as well so I can plug this into the hub and not directly into the MB, but I may get over that.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/282892095581
 
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