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16" MacBook Pro and CalDigit TS3+ Freeze

Last week I got the new 16" MacBook Pro and most things are working well. I get to work this morning and plug it into my dock with my 24" 4k screens (2) and it works fine until I close the computer for clamshell mode. It freezes then. I can move the mouse but nothing responds including the MBP when opened back up.


Anyone else having this?

Posted on Nov 25, 2019 7:56 AM

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46 replies

Jan 30, 2020 6:43 AM in response to brycesteiner

When I looked at the firmware update for the TS3, it didn't mention monitors, but now it does. Before it only mentioned charging to 87w laptops.


https://www.caldigit.com/updating-the-ts3-plus-firmware-via-macos-10-15/


  • The new TS3 Plus firmware 44.1 provides support for charging a laptop up to 87W
  • It also improves compatibility and interoperability with some USB-C monitors when connecting to the TS3 Plus’s downstream Thunderbolt 3 port


I just upgraded to 10.15.3 too, hopefully this issue is fixed.

Feb 6, 2020 2:30 PM in response to macbookuserperson

I have the monitors set at full resolution.


I found out one thing that if I use my iPad Pro, using sidecar, and I forget to "disconnect" from the menu, then the computer will freeze like before when I connect it at work, but I can reboot and then it will be fine.


I did reset my PRAM right after installing 10.15.3.


Here is what my setup looks like:

Nov 25, 2019 9:14 AM in response to brycesteiner

I have run into a similar situation. I don't use clamshell mode, I leave the laptop open. I woke up each morning to a machine shut down.


I spent the day yesterday trying to track it down and for me it appears to be the display port. I can recreate the issue by putting the displays to sleep (using a hot corner) and then coming back after 30 mins (I haven't tried shorter times, but 30 mins reliably reproduces the issue).


If I don't use the display port on the TS3 things seem to go ok and the machine will still be up after 30 mins. If I use the same display through an HDMI cable and HDMI to thunderbolt adapter it also works fine (although is only 30hz instead of 60hz).


The image through the display port looks great, I can get the full 4k@60hz while using it. It only appears to cause problems after it is asleep for a while. I just ordered an individual display port to thunderbolt 3 adapter that should be here tomorrow to see if I bypass the TS3 if things are ok, or if it is a general display port issue. Will report back after I can test that.

Nov 26, 2019 1:52 PM in response to zelph

I brought a DisplayPort to TB3 cable home from work. When I plugged it directly into the mac, it worked ok. When I put it into the CalDigit, it continued to have issues. This leads me to believe that it is the CalDigit so I requested a replacement which will be here tomorrow and the test will continue.

Nov 27, 2019 2:23 PM in response to zelph

I received the new CalDigit TS3+ and the issue continues. I've sent a support request to CalDigit and will see what they say. Since the dock doesn't appear to have firmware to update (don't see any listed anywhere anyway) I don't know what will be able to tell me.


Fair point @brycesteiner that it could even be a Catalina problem but no good way to tell which is the culprit.

Dec 1, 2019 1:03 PM in response to brycesteiner

I have a similar issue. I have a Samsung 28" UHD monitor connected via a TB3 cable to the CalDigit TS3+ dock to my new MacBook Pro 16". From a fresh boot- everything works great. After the Mac sleeps, it either reboots or the screen looks like something from The Matrix (garbled). Unplug the dock and the Mac's built-in display looks normal again. Plug the dock back in and it's back to a garbled mess. In this state; however, unpluging the display from the dock and plugging it directly into one of the Mac's other TB3 ports yields the same issue. The only thing that seems to fix the issue is a reboot. For grins, I plugged the external display directly into the Mac and completely disconnected the TS3+ and the issue seems to recur. This makes me think that the issue is not with the dock but with the display driver in the MBP16/Catalina.


Regardless, everything works great on a fresh reboot but as soon as the Mac goes to the sleep, I might as well just force a power off/reboot cycle .... every time.


FWIW, I set up my new MBP16 by using a Time Machine backup from my prior MBP15 (circa Mid-2014) that was also running Catalina at the time the last backup was made. Perhaps something came over from the backup and it's not really a hardware issue? Then again, the MBP16 is very new, so I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't a driver issue.

Dec 2, 2019 7:02 AM in response to astromutt

My two issues are a little different. The first, which I have mentioned is that it just locks the computer up. I can see the mouse moving but does not effect anything on the screen as the computer is froze. This is true even when disconnecting the thunderbolt cable.

The second issue which I didn't mention is that when I do plug in (screen open) from the CalDigit to the 16" MBP about half the time the screen will constantly switch from connected to disconnected to switching resolutions between each time. It will not resolve itself even if I just leave it for a long time. I unplug, reboot, plug in and then it will work, of course, not in clamshell mode.


While it was switching and not froze I was able to get the command in for the sysdiagnose which also gave me a screen report to send.


I recommend anybody who sees this thread to open up feedback and send in reports - as many as you can - to Apple so we can get this fixed sooner rather than later. i would like to see this fixed before 10.15.2 comes out as this is a major BUG with the new 16" MBP. It may be the video drivers or the OS but either way, we NEED a fix.

Dec 2, 2019 7:12 AM in response to brycesteiner

I opened a ticket with CalDigit and they had be try several things (none worked) and send them crash logs. That was before thanksgiving so I haven't heard anything new.


This morning I had my first time with the "constantly switch from connected to disconnected to switching resolutions between each time" which I also couldn't get passed without a reboot.


The joys of being early adopters I guess :(

Dec 4, 2019 10:42 AM in response to brycesteiner

My call with Apple will be Thursday night.


CalDigit support got back with me and said

According to the logs you have provided, it appears that the crashes were a result of a conflict in Apple’s GPU drivers. Our team has reached out to Apple regarding this issue. At this time, we will continue to test this on our end and keep you apprised with any further developments. 


The saga continues!

Dec 11, 2019 3:53 PM in response to astromutt

I upgraded to the official 10.15.2 today. Unfortunately, the problem is not fixed. Though, it is different for me. Instead of the screen freezing but being able to move the mouse, the screens go black as soon as it's in clamshell mode. I tried it with it being already connected and then shutting the lid and then trying it where I plugged it in after the laptop was already closed. Both resulted in the same effect.

Dec 16, 2019 8:56 AM in response to brycesteiner

I also have a similar issue. My use case is slightly different, I have two CalDigit TS3+'s going to 4x4k displays. I plug 2 monitors into each CalDigit and 1 cable into each side of my MBP. The MBP is in clamshell mode. I was using this setup with my last generation MBP and it was ok. When I got the 16", I also upgraded to Catalina on both the old and the new. I experienced these issues then with both laptops, so I believe its related to the Catalina and not the hardware.


In my case, when I plug in the first Cal-digit, I hear a beep and my USB accessories come to life. When I plug in the second I hear nothing. I'm not sure if that's because its already failed or the second one has an impact. As with others, the laptop was sleeping when I connected it. In my case, the screens flash for a while (like they are trying to initialize) and eventually it reboots with mixed results.


In one instance, the computer booted into password recovery. I choose the startup disk but instead of rebooting, I just plugged in the Cal-Digits again. The computer hard locked, right in the recovery OS.


I am running the latest firmware for the TS3+ and I just updated to 10.15.2.

16" MacBook Pro and CalDigit TS3+ Freeze

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