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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?