iPad Pro The CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt hub with the new M1 iPad Pro

[ksgant]

I have the TS3 Plus as my Thunderbolt hub with my 16" MacBook Pro, but I'm curious to see if it would be compatible now with the Thunderbolt equiped iPad Pro.

Currently, when I hook up my iPad Pro (2020), it isn't compatible as the main hub. Yes, I can use it with my Mac and connect my iPad via a USB port, but using it as the hub to the iPad doesn't work...because it's not Thunderbolt.

I'm assuming it should work as a hub with the new M1 iPad Pros, but who knows. I'm going to put in an email to them, so I'll update this if I get an answer.

 

[joevt]

To work as a hub, iPadOS needs drivers for PCIe USB XHCI controllers. The CalDigit TS3 Plus has four XHCI controllers. Three are marked in this picture: https://www.caldigit.com/ts3-plus-interface-bandwidth-allocation-and-diagram/
The fourth is used for the downstream Thunderbolt port when a USB device is connected to it.

XHCI drivers exist for M1 Macs which use the same CPU as the new iPad Pro so there's no reason Apple couldn't make it work.

Allowing PCIe drivers is the best way to use all the bandwidth of the Thunderbolt port (22-24 Gbps or ≈2800 MB/s of data, the rest of the 40 Gbps can be used by display output).

Unless Apple is enabling the bandwidth only for DisplayPort output and tunnelled USB 3.x (which is only usable by USB4 devices - not the CalDigit TS3 Plus). In that case, data would be limited to 10 Gbps (750 MB/s for M1 Macs - a normal 10 Gbps USB connection on an Intel Mac can do 1050 MB/s).

Apple doesn't mention any benchmarks for Thunderbolt on M1 iPad Pro. They do mention 10 Gbps Ethernet in a press release. Does there exist a USB to 10 Gbps Ethernet Adapter? If not, then it is using a PCIe Ethernet Adapter (like the CalDigit TS3 Plus uses for it's 1GbE port except 10GbE) which means other PCIe devices could also be supported. They mention a massive eco system of devices - I don't know of any USB4 devices except Thunderbolt 4 hubs and docks - so they could be referring to Thunderbolt 3 devices (requiring PCIe) or just USB devices. They mention the XDR display but that doesn't require Thunderbolt to do 6K.

I suppose calling it a Thunderbolt port means that it must be able to do PCIe. That would definitely be the case if they called it Thunderbolt 4 but they can't do that because the M1 only supports one display from its Thunderbolt port.

 

[AutomaticApple]

I'm going to put in an email to them, so I'll update this if I get an answer.

Have you received an email yet?

 

[ksgant]

Have you received an email yet?

Not yet. I've never emailed them before, so I don't know if they have prompt respond times or not.

 

[LogicalApex]

To work as a hub, iPadOS needs drivers for PCIe USB XHCI controllers. The CalDigit TS3 Plus has four XHCI controllers. Three are marked in this picture: https://www.caldigit.com/ts3-plus-interface-bandwidth-allocation-and-diagram/
The fourth is used for the downstream Thunderbolt port when a USB device is connected to it.

XHCI drivers exist for M1 Macs which use the same CPU as the new iPad Pro so there's no reason Apple couldn't make it work.

Allowing PCIe drivers is the best way to use all the bandwidth of the Thunderbolt port (22-24 Gbps or ≈2800 MB/s of data, the rest of the 40 Gbps can be used by display output).

Unless Apple is enabling the bandwidth only for DisplayPort output and tunnelled USB 3.x (which is only usable by USB4 devices - not the CalDigit TS3 Plus). In that case, data would be limited to 10 Gbps (750 MB/s for M1 Macs - a normal 10 Gbps USB connection on an Intel Mac can do 1050 MB/s).

Apple doesn't mention any benchmarks for Thunderbolt on M1 iPad Pro. They do mention 10 Gbps Ethernet in a press release. Does there exist a USB to 10 Gbps Ethernet Adapter? If not, then it is using a PCIe Ethernet Adapter (like the CalDigit TS3 Plus uses for it's 1GbE port except 10GbE) which means other PCIe devices could also be supported. They mention a massive eco system of devices - I don't know of any USB4 devices except Thunderbolt 4 hubs and docks - so they could be referring to Thunderbolt 3 devices (requiring PCIe) or just USB devices. They mention the XDR display but that doesn't require Thunderbolt to do 6K.

I suppose calling it a Thunderbolt port means that it must be able to do PCIe. That would definitely be the case if they called it Thunderbolt 4 but they can't do that because the M1 only supports one display from its Thunderbolt port.

It will support PCIe as Thunderbolt 3 requires PCIe support. Previous iPad Pro models supported USB which doesn't require support for PCIe. Since USB-4 is basically Thunderbolt 3 moved to the USB-IF to expand support USB-4 requires support for this as well. 2021 iPad Pro supports USB-4 / Thunderbolt 3. Thunderbolt is basically PCIe combined with Display Port. So you can't have Thunderbolt Support without PCIe support.

Obviously any gaps will be exposed once we all have them in hands...

 

[joevt]

It will support PCIe as Thunderbolt 3 requires PCIe support. Previous iPad Pro models supported USB which doesn't require support for PCIe. Since USB-4 is basically Thunderbolt 3 moved to the USB-IF to expand support USB-4 requires support for this as well. 2021 iPad Pro supports USB-4 / Thunderbolt 3. Thunderbolt is basically PCIe combined with Display Port. So you can't have Thunderbolt Support without PCIe support.

Obviously any gaps will be exposed once we all have them in hands...

USB4 doesn't require PCIe tunnelling, but Apple also calls it Thunderbolt, which probably requires PCIe tunnelling (that's not as clear to me as Intel's requirements for the Thunderbolt 4 name which Apple can't use in the case of M1).

 

[ksgant]

Got an email response from CalDigit and they said they don't have one of the newer iPad Pros to test (naturally), but they said based on the specs they don't see any reason why their Thunderbolt hub shouldn't work.

 

[theisgroup]

I have a new iPad Pro 12.9 2021 and a cal digital ts3+. It doesn’t not down convert. My current setup has 2 23” monitors connected with display port and did not project anything on the monitors. I need to hook up to a 4K and see

 

[Scottl2]

I have a new iPad Pro 12.9 2021 and a cal digital ts3+. It doesn’t not down convert. My current setup has 2 23” monitors connected with display port and did not project anything on the monitors. I need to hook up to a 4K and see

Same issue with a 2021 11” Monitors won’t wake, but mouse and charging works. My 2020 would mirror the display on both monitors. Couldn’t even select them in the screen mirroring drop down.

 

[legioxi]

Mine works with a single 34” widescreen Dell monitor. I don’t have two though. 11” iPad and cal digit ts3+

 

[ARB000]

The CalDigit TS3 dock works w/ M1 iPad 2021 full screen !!!

 

[tekchic]

Off topic, but @ARB000 name and link for that awesome drawing stand! I just bought this one a week ago for drawing and like it so far. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WQX6VWJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

 

[ARB000]

Off topic, but @ARB000 name and link for that awesome drawing stand! I just bought this one a week ago for drawing and like it so far. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WQX6VWJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

I wouldn’t recommend it for drawing as one side has a lip to stop the device from sliding off…

Mount-It! Laptop Desk Stand Mount | Articulating Vented Laptop Tray Mount | Fully Adjustable Laptop Arm Mount | Single Laptop Desk Extension with C-Clamp | Heavy-Duty Laptop Desk Stand (MI-4352LT)

Mount-It! Laptop Desk Mount, Full Motion Laptop Arm with Vented Tray, Heavy-Duty Adjustable Notebook Extension Arm up to 17 Inch with C-Clamp and Grommet Base

Mount-It! Laptop Desk Stand Mount | Articulating Vented Laptop Tray Mount

www.amazon.com

 

[ARB000]

@tekchic you might like this better…

DraftTable - Professional iPad Pro Stand

Engineered to be rock solid at all positions - so it doesn’t move when you draw on it. Extra wide angle adjustment range with easy to adjust spring-loaded legs. Updated design: Top pad works with camera bumps + bigger front lip. Great alone with native apps & when tethered to a Mac (with...

www.elevationlab.com

 

[tekchic]

@tekchic you might like this better…

DraftTable - Professional iPad Pro Stand

Engineered to be rock solid at all positions - so it doesn’t move when you draw on it. Extra wide angle adjustment range with easy to adjust spring-loaded legs. Updated design: Top pad works with camera bumps + bigger front lip. Great alone with native apps & when tethered to a Mac (with...

www.elevationlab.com

Thanks! Whoa it's finally back in stock again. I've looked at that draft table several times and it's always been sold out. The one I'm using now is pretty decent and is able to flex and/or be a laptop stand as well... but that Elevation Labs table has been the nicest one I've seen so far.

 

[sparksd]

@tekchic you might like this better…

DraftTable - Professional iPad Pro Stand

Engineered to be rock solid at all positions - so it doesn’t move when you draw on it. Extra wide angle adjustment range with easy to adjust spring-loaded legs. Updated design: Top pad works with camera bumps + bigger front lip. Great alone with native apps & when tethered to a Mac (with...

www.elevationlab.com

Nice looking rig. Check it out for $20 less at Amazon -

https://www.amazon.com/DraftTable-iPad-Stand-only-Professionals/dp/B075M4Q49P