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Super Sticky Thread for USB-C Docks, Cables and Accessories [MERGED]
- Thread starter Truefan31
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My plan's to connect this 16-port USB 3 hub with four hard drives and various peripherals.I was really hoping for something with more, not less ports:
CalDigit USB-C SOHO Dock
Universal USB-C Gen. 2 10Gb/s Dock with 4K 60Hz Monitor Support & Up to 100W Power Deliverywww.kickstarter.com
I can then connect a 4K/60hz monitor via HDMI.
What more do you need?
Depends for the user is an older geek with still functional older Equipment and needs a speedy hyper for older hard drive/cd/bays and expensive audio gear in my situation!
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It strikes me that a 16-port USB 3 hub should support older equipment pretty well?
Which ports are you missing?
OWC is coming out with something close:
OWC Thunderbolt Hub - Add Three More Thunderbolt (USB-C) Ports
Add three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port to your Mac or PC and connect more storage, displays, and accessories.eshop.macsales.com
OWC Announces Mac Compatibility for New Thunderbolt Hub
The OWC Thunderbolt Hub is now available for M1 and Thunderbolt 3-equipped Macs running macOS Big Sur. Get the additional Thunderbolt ports you’ve always wanted!eshop.macsales.com
If somebody could test how this behaves with Mojave?
Does it work at all?
If the mac has only TB3, not TB4, do those tb sockets still work as tb3 sockets?
Can they act as 10Gbit/s usb-c sockets?
Hello, I just bought a Satechi USB-C Multiport V2 to use with my MBA M1. When I unplug it from the computer, the usb-c plug makes a static electricity kind of noise. I see no sparks or such things, even in dark. But the sound....
This happens with the computer on, sleep and completely off. The apple charger cable does not make the sound, and no other usb-c cable makes this sound. I have proper ground in my house and outlets, not a problem there.
Has anyone else experienced this? Oh, and it does draw extra power from the computer it seems, and it does get warm with anything plugged into it... even with only a bluetooth mouse usb receiver it gets warm.
This happens with the computer on, sleep and completely off. The apple charger cable does not make the sound, and no other usb-c cable makes this sound. I have proper ground in my house and outlets, not a problem there.
Has anyone else experienced this? Oh, and it does draw extra power from the computer it seems, and it does get warm with anything plugged into it... even with only a bluetooth mouse usb receiver it gets warm.
So much information about hubs!! I found this one that supports 4k60, and has all the ports I need. My monitor is HDMI, so I can power my Macbook Air M1 with one USB-C port, and collect all other devices via the adapter...
What are peoples thoughts on the above? I may order today!
USB C to HDMI Adapter, 6 IN 1 MacBook Pro Adapter USB C Hub 4K@60Hz for MacBook Pro 2020-2016, MacBook Air 2020-2018, Ipad Pro 2020, Surface Pro 7, Dell XPS, USB C to 4K HDMI, SD/TF and 3 USB
USB C to HDMI Adapter, 6 IN 1 MacBook Pro Adapter USB C Hub 4K@60Hz for MacBook Pro 2020-2016, MacBook Air 2020-2018, Ipad Pro 2020, Surface Pro 7, Dell XPS, USB C to 4K HDMI, SD/TF and 3 USB
www.amazon.co.uk
What are peoples thoughts on the above? I may order today!
I just got the new OWC Thunderbolt 4 hub last week (the first actual hub as opposed to a dock). Every time I plug in my M1 Mac to the hub, it has a panic and restarts. I am trying to whittle down what is causing this, but it's not good. Also one of my two OWC Thunderbolt 3 docks fried last week. Coincidence? It might not be.
I did a review of the dock that I use for my MacBook Air desktop setup. So far the best dock out of all the hubs and usb-c dongles I’ve used.
That new TB 4 Pro Dock is TB 4! So make sure you get the TB3 Dock if you go OWC!
I bought an Anker 8-in-1 USB-C Hub, PowerExpand USB-C Adapter, 100W Power Delivery and noticed that after 30 minutes this USB-C hub really gets super hot. I have only connected an external SSD and a SD card.
Is this normal that such adapters gets so hot?
Is this normal that such adapters gets so hot?
Anker 533 USB-C hub (8-in-1) PowerExpand USB-C adapter, 100W Power Delivery, 4K 60Hz HDMI, 10Gbps USB-C & 2 USB-A datapoorten, ethernet-poort, microSD & SD-geheugenkaartlezer, voor MacBook Pro en meer
PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB-C PD 10Gbps Data HubDie kompakte MacBook Station für Daten, Laden und Medien Einer für alle Hol dir 8 leistungsstarke Ports mit blitzschneller Datenübertragung, kristallklar...
www.amazon.de
I'm looking at the CalDigit USB-C HDMI hub with 2x 4k60 HDMI ports. Or the Pro hub with 2x DP. Are they as good as the TS3 dock that everybody seems to love? I will only use it to power my MBP 16" and for the USB and HDMI ports. No Ethernet or headphones.
After upgrading to MacOS Big 11.5 from Catalina, the Ethernet connection (provided by Plugable USBC-7IN1E 7-in-1 hub) stopped working.
My research led to Realtek RTL8153 chipset, also used by Plugable USBC-7IN1E. Realtek hasn't yet provided Big Sur compatible drivers. Bg Sur "no longer loads kernel extensions that use deprecated kernel programming interfaces (KPIs) by default".
Since Realtek chipset is widely used in other hubs, this problem has been reported by many other users.
Some USB C Ethernet adapters and hubs use ASIX AX88179 chipset and ASIX released Big Sur compatible drivers on May 21, 2021
www.asix.com.tw
Does anyone know what USB C Ethernet adapters and hubs use ASIX AX88179 chipset?
My research led to Realtek RTL8153 chipset, also used by Plugable USBC-7IN1E. Realtek hasn't yet provided Big Sur compatible drivers. Bg Sur "no longer loads kernel extensions that use deprecated kernel programming interfaces (KPIs) by default".
Since Realtek chipset is widely used in other hubs, this problem has been reported by many other users.
Some USB C Ethernet adapters and hubs use ASIX AX88179 chipset and ASIX released Big Sur compatible drivers on May 21, 2021
ASIX Electronics Corporation
ASIX is a Leading IC Design Company for Industrial/Embedded Networking and Connectivity Solutions. email to Sales@asix.com.tw or call 886-3-5799500 for further products information.
Does anyone know what USB C Ethernet adapters and hubs use ASIX AX88179 chipset?
Does anyone know if there is a Thundebolt 3 Ethernet adapter, similar to Apple's https://www.apple.com/us-hed/shop/product/MD463LL/A/thunderbolt-to-gigabit-ethernet-adapter but Thunderbolt 3?
There is. But not for 1GbE. Only for 10GbE. And therefore rather pricy.
Other solution. Apple's Adapter + Apple's TB3 -> TB2 Adapter... looks silly, but works. And that much better than those cheap Realtek garbage adapters. Especially as Apple's ECM driver eats CPU resources like nuts when pushing data through it.
Does anyone have any experience with https://www.caldigit.com/thunderbolt-4-element-hub/?
- With Big Sur 11.5
- With 2 x 4K monitors? I am planning to buy 2 x Dell U2720Q USB C monitors
- With Big Sur 11.5
- With 2 x 4K monitors? I am planning to buy 2 x Dell U2720Q USB C monitors
Can this be used with a Mac Mini? Or will the charging cable cause a problem with the Mini’s port?
Very nice dock indeed. Will it work with USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort cables? I'm looking at the Electriq 4K 24" screen which doesn't have a USB-C in.
Hi, I am now looking into the world of Hubs as well and need some help. Please excuse if this has been discussed before, the sticky is very long! 🙈
I am wondering whether I can get away with a cheaper alternative than something like the caldigit t3+.
I am planning to get an m1 MacBook Pro and I think I have very basic needs with regards to the dock:
- Pass through charging of the laptop
- HDMI Port (currently a 1080p monitor with maybe 4K in the future, no need for 60hz, basic office work)
- Either 3 USB-A ports or 2 USB-A ports and a headphone-jack (no speed requirements, it’s a webcam, a headset and a mouse/keyboard dongle)
- ideally an additional USB-A for the occasional data transfer via USB-stick
Is there something below 100 €/$/£ that would suit my needs? I Would like a reputable brand, especially after the recent reports of hubs killing m1 macs…
From the looks of it, this one has everything I need for under 35€, but I’ve never heard of “ENKLEN”…
Link: Amazon_DE
Any ideas?
thanks
Cihag
I am wondering whether I can get away with a cheaper alternative than something like the caldigit t3+.
I am planning to get an m1 MacBook Pro and I think I have very basic needs with regards to the dock:
- Pass through charging of the laptop
- HDMI Port (currently a 1080p monitor with maybe 4K in the future, no need for 60hz, basic office work)
- Either 3 USB-A ports or 2 USB-A ports and a headphone-jack (no speed requirements, it’s a webcam, a headset and a mouse/keyboard dongle)
- ideally an additional USB-A for the occasional data transfer via USB-stick
Is there something below 100 €/$/£ that would suit my needs? I Would like a reputable brand, especially after the recent reports of hubs killing m1 macs…
From the looks of it, this one has everything I need for under 35€, but I’ve never heard of “ENKLEN”…
Link: Amazon_DE
Any ideas?
thanks
Cihag
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And maybe a more general question:
What’s the benefit of those 300$ “Docks” (e.g. Anker PowerExpand Elite) compared to the 30$ “Hubs” (e.g. Anker PowerExpand+)?
I see a couple of more ports and more powerful ports (like hdmi 4k@60hz). But for 10x the price?
What’s the benefit of those 300$ “Docks” (e.g. Anker PowerExpand Elite) compared to the 30$ “Hubs” (e.g. Anker PowerExpand+)?
I see a couple of more ports and more powerful ports (like hdmi 4k@60hz). But for 10x the price?
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The Docks are usually Thunderbolt 3 instead of USB-C. Thunderbolt has way more bandwidht than USB-C. Also, docks have their own power supply so they don't have to rely on this clumsy PD Passthrough charging.
Dock are less portable and meant for a more stationary usage. Hubs are lighter and more portable but on a stationary use they're harder to place cleanly as they dangle around somehwere (they have almost no weight that holds them in place).
Thunderbolt is expensive due the Intel certification. USB-C is rather cheap but also limited rather quickly.
Dock are less portable and meant for a more stationary usage. Hubs are lighter and more portable but on a stationary use they're harder to place cleanly as they dangle around somehwere (they have almost no weight that holds them in place).
Thunderbolt is expensive due the Intel certification. USB-C is rather cheap but also limited rather quickly.
Thanks! This pretty much sums it up, I guess… I personally don‘t need the extra bandwidth, but I LOVE a clean desktop… This alone might make me shell out and get a dock for 10x the price of a hub… ^^
The Anker elite looks pretty nice to me, with all necessary ports on the back, some extra ports in the front and also a power button…
It‘s only TB3, but that‘s not an issue for me. Is there anything else to consider? I‘ve read that it had issues and is being discontinued, but I couldn‘t find any specifics…
wait are you saying that on the M1 air it actually lets you set 100hz?
I actually went into the apple store just to talk to some guys there on the real world experience and one thing not often mentioned is even if you get 60hz 4k there isnt HDCP on some of the cheaper hubs. Only the official apple dongle and caldigit sold at the store pass this apparently.
Sad to hear about the anker and satechi experience mentioned above if im honest since i usually have good experience with both brands. I noticed that the anker higher end ones basically mimic the caldigit feature set, and unfortunately the price as well.
Yes, my display at home is 100hz and the display at my office is 144hz. I am able to get both refresh rates at 1440 without any issues with this dock through HDMI. Have not had the best luck with Anker, Aukey and other hubs.