A complete list of Thunderbolt docks

Is the Sonnet thing shipping yet, it has been in pre-ordering status for years.

I I've been using a StarTech docking station with good results (TBDOCKHDPBC)

OWC has one too.

 

Since you're including the TB 1 versions, you should add the original Belkin TB 1 dock.

Wasn't there a TB 1 version of the Sonnet Echo as well?

 

As a correction, the CalDigit Thunderbolt 2 station for $200 doesn't include a Thunderbolt cable. I just ordered one. It you want a cable in addition to the dock, they charge you $35 for it.

 

OWC thunderbolt 2 dock, the thunderbolt cable is not included. its extra

 

That's actually a good point and you might be right. It may have been one of those "coming soon" items and was then changed into a TB2 dock and is still coming soon. I'll try to do some research and jog my memory.

 

http://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapt...yport-hdmi-4kx2k-docking-station~TB2DOCK4KDHC MSRP $329, discounted to $250.

Thunderbolt 2 with daisy chain. TB cable included along with 3 power cables.

2 - Thunderbolt™ 2 (20-pin) Female
1 - HDMI (19 pin) Female 4K capable
1 - USB 3.0 A (Fast-Charge; 9 pin; SuperSpeed) Female USAP support
3 - USB 3.0 A (9 pin; SuperSpeed) Female USAP support
1 - eSATA (7 pin; Data) Female
1 - Toslink (SPDIF; Optical) Female digital output
1 - 3.5 mm Mini-Jack (4 Position) Female Headset (audio/mic)
1 - 3.5 mm Mini-Jack (3 Position) Female (line in/mic)
1 - RJ-45 Female Gigabit eNet
1 - Security Lock Slot Female

Chipset:
Intel - Falcon Ridge DSL5520 (Thunderbolt)
ASMedia - ASM1042A (USB 3.0 w/ Charge)
ASMedia - ASM1061 (eSATA)
CMedia - CM6500 (Digital Audio)
Texas Instruments - PCM2912A (Audio)
Intel – WGI210AT (LAN)

 

2015-03: Which one is currently the best?

Which one is currently the best?
Or, which one doesn't have any negative issues?

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I could probably order the TB cable separately.
Please let us know how it works for you. I'm interesting in ordering one if it will be compatible with my mid-2011 iMac with the first version of Thunderbolt.

 

My understanding is that many of these are essentially the same chipset. And that many of them don't support USAP, which means that the USB 3.0 ports are not full speed, but throttled.

I am not sure if the OWC dock supports USAP. I know the Belkin does not but the CalDigit does. The OWC is currently the one I am eyeing.

But ALL of these are flawed by the same issue.......

You can only run two displays if at least one of them is a Thunderbolt display. You can't run say two display port displays, or a DVI and a display port, or a display port and HDMI, etc.

I am not sure why these docks have that limitation. I would assume you could run a USB graphics adapter using the USB ports to get a second display......

It's just that for those with say a Macbook Air, which has thunderbolt, but only one port, it would be great if these docks could drive two displays. Otherwise those with Macbook Airs are forced to continue to use a USB graphics adapter for their second external display.

 

- Yes, that's a really annoying limitation. You can run two displays, though, if you also use two Thunderbolt docks, with one display connected on each.

 

Doesn't have to be a TB dock, just about any 2 port daisy chain TB device will do this. Connected one display to the dock, the second TB device to the dock, the other display to the second TB device, such as disk, JBOD, or RAID box.

 

- Yes, that's true. Do you know what the technical reason behind the limitation is?

 

DisplayPort data can be sent via Thunderbolt, but it is encoded within the TB signal so you need a Thunderbolt controller chip at the other end to extract it before it can be passed on to a display.

Each thunderbolt peripheral chip only extracts one DisplayPort data stream from the Thunderbolt bus.

This can either be fed to an internal display, a HDMI/DVI port or a 'legacy' DisplayPort device connected to the Thunderbolt 'out' port - but not more than one of those at a time.

Attaching another Thunderbolt device (such as a second dock or a disc drive) with its own Thunderbolt peripheral chip extracts the second DisplayPort stream, so it can drive a second display.

A better question is why you can't use DisplayPort's own daisy-chaining feature (several displays have DisplayPort-through connectors, but from what I've heard they only give you a 'mirror' display when used on a Mac).

 

- That part is some sort of software limitation in OS X, as I've seen reports of it working in Bootcamp on these forums.
Still curious, though.

Thanks for the explanation.

 

- Strangely, no. Unless you put another Thunderbolt device in between.