How Does Linus' "Cleanest Setup" Work?

TechMasterMind · October 8, 2020

So, I really liked linus' video on the cleanest setup and I realised it would solve many of my problems as I move from place to place a lot and do need a laptop save for I don't currently have a thunderbolt laptop. Nor will I be in the market for one until big navi, intels gpus, zen 3 and all that jazz coming up.

So, I was wondering if you could use a USB 3.0 A to USB-C cable to get everything great about that setup - the cleanness, except for the eGPU with a USB 5gbps connection? (As my current PC has only USB 3 A but has a good GPU)

I made an immaculate diagram in paint (it was a 2 minute job, you get 1 dig lol) to help describe what I'm on about.

TL;DR I want to be able to have my dream setup today minus cool future laptop. And then keep upgrading the laptop over the years I'll own the setup with very little friction.

P.S. Is there any dock such as Linus' that isn't £200?

TechMasterMind · October 8, 2020

Just now, lexusgamer05 said:

Regular USB doesn't have thunderbolt support, so that won't work

It only has data and power transfer

OK, is there another way to get such a system to work? e.g. Could I get a dongle and then just replace dongle and laptop upon a new laptop?

Or is it possible there are docks that support thunderbolt and then separately USB 3?

Eigenvektor · October 8, 2020

16 minutes ago, TechMasterMind said:

Or is it possible there are docks that support thunderbolt and then separately USB 3?

Every dock that I could find that supports TB3 also requires a TB3 connection to the laptop. Which makes sense, since a 5 Gbps connection to the laptop isn't enough to drive a 40 Gbps connection plus all the other stuff you can connect to the dock. So the problem is (lack of) bandwidth.

TechMasterMind · October 8, 2020

1 minute ago, Eigenvektor said:

Every dock that I could find that supports TB3 also requires a TB3 connection to the laptop. Which makes sense, since a 5 Gbps connection to the laptop isn't enough to drive a 40 Gbps connection plus all the other stuff you can connect to the dock. So the problem is (lack of) bandwidth.

Hmmm, dang, I mean usb 2 devices + normal speed ethernet should work I just wish someone made a product like this.

TechMasterMind · October 8, 2020

11 minutes ago, lexusgamer05 said:

Well, not really. USB-C is really the first standard connector that works on docks, so you you're not really in luck here

Oh well, thanks anyways.