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CalDigit Element 5 vs. OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub
- Thread starter sparkie7
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I don't specifically have the Element 5 but I use the regular CalDigit Element Hub (the one with 3 TB ports in the back and 4 USB-A ports in the front - it's apparently Thunderbolt 4?). I did have the OWC Thunderbolt 5 hub, too.
TL;DR: If you value reliability, I'd go for the CalDigit.
When I had the OWC hub, it glitched out within just 3 weeks. Apparently it was due to overheating or something like that. It would frequently disconnect the displays at first. I thought it was because I was trying to ask the hub to supply power to my Macbook as well, so I connected extra power to the Macbook to lighten the load. But a month later, the hub disconnected itself from the Macbook multiple times and would randomly wake the Macbook. I thought it was an outlier so I asked for a replacement. But nope, the replacement again exhibited similar behavior within 2 weeks.
So right after that, I got the Element hub from CalDigit since it was on sale.
Not a single disconnect with the Element hub. I have used the hub to supply both my Macbook and work-issued Dell Precision laptop that actually asks for even more power. Both have been solid with the CalDigit. Not a single disconnect for months. I've been driving 2 external displays with the CalDigit plus a bunch of peripherals connected to all of the USB ports. In fact, I even use the front USB-A ports to charge both my phone and iPad Mini from time to time. Still solid.
So my personal experience is: CalDigit is what I'd go to for reliability. Plus it's also a good deal smaller to boot.
TL;DR: If you value reliability, I'd go for the CalDigit.
When I had the OWC hub, it glitched out within just 3 weeks. Apparently it was due to overheating or something like that. It would frequently disconnect the displays at first. I thought it was because I was trying to ask the hub to supply power to my Macbook as well, so I connected extra power to the Macbook to lighten the load. But a month later, the hub disconnected itself from the Macbook multiple times and would randomly wake the Macbook. I thought it was an outlier so I asked for a replacement. But nope, the replacement again exhibited similar behavior within 2 weeks.
So right after that, I got the Element hub from CalDigit since it was on sale.
Not a single disconnect with the Element hub. I have used the hub to supply both my Macbook and work-issued Dell Precision laptop that actually asks for even more power. Both have been solid with the CalDigit. Not a single disconnect for months. I've been driving 2 external displays with the CalDigit plus a bunch of peripherals connected to all of the USB ports. In fact, I even use the front USB-A ports to charge both my phone and iPad Mini from time to time. Still solid.
So my personal experience is: CalDigit is what I'd go to for reliability. Plus it's also a good deal smaller to boot.
Both have USB-C ports (15W) and USB-A ports (7.5W) - all 10 Gbps.
Both have 180W power supplies.
Both are Thunderbolt 5 which means they can support USB 20 Gbps from the Thunderbolt 5 ports (if USB tunnelling is disabled).
CalDigit Element 5 has 4 more USB 10 Gbps ports (2 USB-C and 2 USB-A) probably from an extra internal USB hub. The front USB-A port might also be connected to that hub which would make it very slightly slower (not noticeable) than a port not connected to a hub.
OWC USB-A port is not connected to a secondary USB hub (this means it probably has the same USB 10 Gbps performance as the Thunderbolt 5 ports).
OWC Power Delivery to a laptop is 140W max though some laptops are limited to 100W.
CalDigit Power Delivery to a laptop is 90W max.
CalDigit might be smaller but the upstream Thunderbolt connection is on the side which would effectively make it wider by the bend radius of the cable.
I would go with the CalDigit for the extra ports.
Both have 180W power supplies.
Both are Thunderbolt 5 which means they can support USB 20 Gbps from the Thunderbolt 5 ports (if USB tunnelling is disabled).
CalDigit Element 5 has 4 more USB 10 Gbps ports (2 USB-C and 2 USB-A) probably from an extra internal USB hub. The front USB-A port might also be connected to that hub which would make it very slightly slower (not noticeable) than a port not connected to a hub.
OWC USB-A port is not connected to a secondary USB hub (this means it probably has the same USB 10 Gbps performance as the Thunderbolt 5 ports).
OWC Power Delivery to a laptop is 140W max though some laptops are limited to 100W.
CalDigit Power Delivery to a laptop is 90W max.
CalDigit might be smaller but the upstream Thunderbolt connection is on the side which would effectively make it wider by the bend radius of the cable.
I would go with the CalDigit for the extra ports.
Thanks for the reply. What Thunderbolt 5 drives / devices do you have?
I have considered the CalDigit TS5 and the TS5 Plus, but think these are too big and overkill for my MacBook Pro M4.
I think CalDigit has done it's homework and design on these to come out on top. Expensive but probably worth it
Is that possible on a Mac (other than by sticking a TB3 device in the chain which only made sense with TB4)?
I don't have TB5 drives but I do have some drives in TB4 enclosures. Since I have 2x 4K monitors + DAC + microphone connected to the hub, I typically get just a bit more than 10Gbps remaining for TB4 drives. So I typically connect them directly to the Macbook rather than through the hub for time-critical tasks.
I don't know of any other method. It would be nice if there was a way to do it in software somehow.
Maybe something related to "IOAccessoryMananger"?
Do Apple Silicon Macs have a "accctl" command?
I don't know these models specifically... but overall as a brand, I've come to trust Caldigit docks (I still have a TB3 dock of theirs) more than OWC.
I feel like something has happened to OWC as a brand over the past 5+ years. Early days, I felt they had a good reputation for making great, after-market, enthusiast Apple gear. It wasn't cheap, but it was high quality. And you could trust its reliability.
Somewhere along the way, it feels like that's changed. Maybe starting with their TB3 docks... I frequently hear about issues with OWC's more recent offerings.
I feel like something has happened to OWC as a brand over the past 5+ years. Early days, I felt they had a good reputation for making great, after-market, enthusiast Apple gear. It wasn't cheap, but it was high quality. And you could trust its reliability.
Somewhere along the way, it feels like that's changed. Maybe starting with their TB3 docks... I frequently hear about issues with OWC's more recent offerings.