USB C vs Thunderbolt dock

[Donut417]

Currently I have a 2020 Intel MacBook Pro. I have dual external displays. I use the USB C port on one of my displays to charge the Mac, as well as act as a Display port connection and gives me two USB A ports. I use a cheap $17 USB C hub to do HDMI and give a few more USB ports. Im planning on upgrading my MacBook with in the next year. BUT I want to upgrade my accessories first. Id like to add Ethernet, as I use my computer mostly at my desk. I also want a cleaner setup. 

 

Option A) I keep using the USB C hubs, I upgrade to one with Ethernet.  I was looking at this USB C hub as well https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Revodok-Monitor-Ethernet-Thinkpad/dp/B0C1Y972DX/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=fiKXE&content-id=amzn1.sym.255b3518-6e7f-495c-8611-30a58648072e%3Aamzn1.symc.a68f4ca3-28dc-4388-a2cf-24672c480d8f&pf_rd_p=255b3518-6e7f-495c-8611-30a58648072e&pf_rd_r=P0XNZ1J77RQ9A2QM3WXF&pd_rd_wg=YqICB&pd_rd_r=ddf2106d-e06e-4d84-ac00-1ce1b28e68e9&ref_=pd_hp_d_atf_ci_mcx_mr_ca_hp_atf_d down the road when I upgrade my MacBook, likely to a MacBook Air 13" I would look at buying one of these https://ascrono.com/products/ascrono-macbook-docking-station?variant=44613585862820 to clean things up a bit. 

1. Pros
   1. Easy connect and disconnect 
   2. USB C Hubs are cheap
2. Cons 
   1. Docking station is over $200 

 

Option B) Invest in a Thunderbolt dock. To my understanding Thunderbolt docs should be able to do multiple displays. Also would prefer a dock that can charge my MacBook as well, so I can take the power adapter with me if needed. 

1. Pros
   1. Only need one dock 
   2. Have access to the screen built in to my MacBook (3 screens) 
2. Cons 
   1. Expensive 
   2. Woud have to unplug it from the dock manually. 

 

It's from my understanding that USB C hubs cant do multiple displays out on MacOS. So as a result I have to have to separate USB C hubs in order to do dual monitors. Pricing things out it looks like option A would be a bit over $250 and Im pretty sure thunderbolt docks fall in to that price range as well. From my understanding thunderbolt docks should be backwards compatible, meaning I could buy a thunderbolt 4 dock, but Id be limited to thunderbolt 3 speeds until I upgrade. Also I use my Mac just as my main machine, I dont do any editing or work type of stuff on it. I might occasionally do some video transcoding for adding stuff to my Plex server. 

 

[atxcyclist]

What resolution are the displays you're using? If I were using my MacBook as my main, I'd look at something like a Caldigit TS4. It is a bit more expensive than a piecemeal solution or some of its competitors, but on the newer chips like the M4 it should support two displays. You'll need a USB-C to whatever and a DisplayPort to whatever though, no direct HDMI out on it. It supports 98w of charging, has 2.5Gb ethernet, and even some USB-A, and that's just the back. It has some more ports on the front too, but you can basically leave everything you'd likely use connected to the back all the time and just need one Thunderbolt 4 cable to your laptop. 

 

OWC makes an '11-port Thunderbolt Dock', and it looks good but some of the always-used connections are on the front (I'm not big on this for a permanent arrangement). It is a good bit cheaper, but only has gigabit LAN, and the display outputting is a bit less straightforward.

 

I haven't used either one personally, but I have a CalDigit SOHO USB-C dock and it's been great when I've needed it. I have purchased some OWC stuff in the past with fairly mixed results, and their support can be difficult at times. YMMV

[Donut417]

6 hours ago, atxcyclist said:

What resolution are the displays you're using?

The main screen is 3440 x 1440, the second screen is 2560 x 1080. Mostly use the MacBook screen for widgets . 

 

6 hours ago, atxcyclist said:

and a DisplayPort

Only my main has display port and it's in use by my gaming machine. 

[atxcyclist]

5 hours ago, Donut417 said:

The main screen is 3440 x 1440, the second screen is 2560 x 1080. Mostly use the MacBook screen for widgets . 

 

Only my main has display port and it's in use by my gaming machine. 

No matter what you end up with, just know that video conversion cables/adapters are bountiful. DisplayPort can be converted to HDMI without issue, it just doesn’t work the other way around without an active converter.
 

I have my grandfather’s old 27” Cinema Display with mini DisplayPort, running on a USB-C to miniDP adapter from my Mac Studio. My grandfather bought a Mac mini with an M2 pro to replace his 2014, but since Apple doesn’t sell a USB-C to miniDP adapter, they sold him an entire Studio Display instead…I bought the adapter for $18 on Amazon.

[ewitte]

I miss real hardware docks.   USBC is usually more temperamental, but I've seen a lot of bad Thunderbolt ones was well...  OWC seems to be one of the more Mac focused brands.

[Donut417]

7 minutes ago, ewitte said:

I miss real hardware docks.   USBC is usually more temperamental, but I've seen a lot of bad Thunderbolt ones was well...  OWC seems to be one of the more Mac focused brands.

I’ve had at least one USBC dock die. I’ve had one USBC to HDMI adapter partially die, it does video but does loose video on occasion and doesn’t do HDCP anymore. So I know all about the bad hubs. 

[ewitte]

33 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

I’ve had at least one USBC dock die. I’ve had one USBC to HDMI adapter partially die, it does video but does loose video on occasion and doesn’t do HDCP anymore. So I know all about the bad hubs. 

Not just hardware USBC is mostly software driven the slightest issue with windows can cause you headaches.

[Donut417]

19 hours ago, atxcyclist said:

haven't used either one personally, but I have a CalDigit SOHO USB-C dock and it's been great when I've needed it. I have purchased some OWC stuff

CalDigit has a thunderbolt 4 dock that should work. I remembered that I have a Display port to HDMI adapter. I should be able to plug my on e monitor in via the thunderbolt ports on the back. So that’s definitely a contender.