Gerben Wierda

Q: Why aren't there any good USB-C docks yet?

I was wondering, with all those nice seeming USB-C docks in startup mode for (sometimes) over a year: what is the problem? I get the feeling that there is a lack of decent and reliable USB-3.1 chipsets.

 

Apple may have taken the step to USB-C far too early.

 

A decent USB-C dock for me

  • Supports USB 3.1 Superspeed (10Gbps) on all its USB ports (both USB-C and USB-A)
  • Charges the Macbook while in use
    • Preferably also when the Macbook is in Target Disk Mode
  • And (afaic) has:
    • (2x) Thunderbolt (to allow for re-use of existing adapters)
    • 4K HDMI at a decent refresh rate
    • DVI
    • Gigabit Ethernet
    • Headphone (analog audio)

 

But what you see is a few USB-C docks that do not charge, are limited to USB 3.1 Gen 1(or 5Gbps, aka USB 3.0) speeds, don't have thunderbolt.

MacBook, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Apr 3, 2016 4:26 PM

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Q: Why aren't there any good USB-C docks yet?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Lanny,Apple recommended

    Lanny Lanny Apr 4, 2016 12:13 AM in response to Gerben Wierda
    Level 5 (7,895 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 4, 2016 12:13 AM in response to Gerben Wierda

    The 12" MacBook' USB-C is limited to 5 Gbps.

     

    So, a USB-C dock with 10 Gbps won't work, and Thunderbolt ports will not be an option. Also 4k at 30 hz is the maximum digital capability, docks can't increase the graphics capability, or the USB-C ports' speed.

  • by Gerben Wierda,

    Gerben Wierda Gerben Wierda Apr 4, 2016 12:16 AM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (144 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 4, 2016 12:16 AM in response to Lanny

    I didn't know the USB-C on the Macbook is limited to 5Gbps. Thanks for the info. That explains some limitations and indeed a Dock cannot magically increase that.

     

    Why will Thunderbolt not be an option? Is that because Thunderbolt has a higher bandwidth and it is impossible to throttle?

  • by James1232,

    James1232 James1232 Apr 4, 2016 12:23 AM in response to Gerben Wierda
    Level 1 (47 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 4, 2016 12:23 AM in response to Gerben Wierda

    Gerben Wierda wrote:

     

    Why will Thunderbolt not be an option? Is that because Thunderbolt has a higher bandwidth and it is impossible to throttle?

    Yes that's right

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Apr 4, 2016 8:10 AM in response to Gerben Wierda
    Level 5 (7,895 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 4, 2016 8:10 AM in response to Gerben Wierda
    Why will Thunderbolt not be an option? Is that because Thunderbolt has a higher bandwidth and it is impossible to throttle?

    No, "Throttle," is not the correct term or issue. The original version of Thunderbolt is 10 Gbps, so there is no way that an adapter can speed that up. Thus, there would be no way to make an adapter that could be callled Thunderbolt.

     

    Now, Thunderbolt 2 is 20 Gbps and Thunderbolt 3 is 40 Gbps. There is no way that a USB-C port limited to 5 Gbps could ever be converted to any version of Thunderbolt.

     

    Example: You can plug a USB 3 device into a USB 1 port, but that doesn't make the USB 1 port a USB 3 port.

     

    Apple chose the use of that configuration of USB-C port because it met their requirements for physical size and energy consumption for a very thin laptop design. Those were the tradeoffs at the time. They provided adapters that provided VGA or HDMI and USB 3 version 1 because that is all that was practical.

  • by Pepper Ridge,

    Pepper Ridge Pepper Ridge Sep 7, 2016 9:48 PM in response to Gerben Wierda
    Level 1 (49 points)
    Sep 7, 2016 9:48 PM in response to Gerben Wierda

    Thunderbolt 1 and 2 are using very different signal and protocols than USB-C. So dont mix them together.

    Apple's MacBooks are USB-C 5G and 4K@30Hz support only, so no point to get an overkilled dock that exceed what MacBook can support.

     

    For your information, several big brands including CalDigit and OWC are selling both USB-C and Thunderbolt docks.

    CalDigit one can do charging, audio, more USB ports, 4K@30Hz (choose from either HDMI or DisplayPort), ethernet and some Apple device support such as SuperDrive.

     

    Some good review can be found here

    http://crazydiamondstar.blogspot.com/2016/08/usb-c-dock-best-baymax-for-macbook. html