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CalDigit's $199 Thunderbolt Station Shipping November 4

Macist said:
Thunderbolt and Lightning have really taken the market by storm, bringing all sorts of advantages over other ports. Well done, Apple.
Click to expand...

Lightning taking the market by storm? Isn't that iProprietary?

(And it's not even USB 3.0 speeds, right?)

Gary
 
jdiamond said:
There are people in this thread imagining running five USB 3.0 ports, each at 5 gigabits/second, plus a monitor, all off of a 10 gigabit/second TB port. It simply can't happen. And the makers of these things are NOT being honest about it - all they are discussing is what ONE peripheral it can handle...
Click to expand...
You do know that TB1 is 10Gbit/s data + 10Gbit/s displayport signal and TB2 has same link speed but you can allocate all of it to data or displayport, if needed?
 
After going back and forth with CalDigit, I don't think they even understand what a MBP can and can not do with multiple monitors.

Here is what they are claiming regardless of their station:

The limit is one HDMI monitor and one Thunderbolt monitor. You can use a Display Port monitor, but not at the same time as a HDMI monitor. This is a GPU issue.

Then how am I currently using 2 separate non-thunderbolt PC monitors, in addition to the laptops display. One being connected via HDMI and other displayport to DVI adapter?
 
WSFrazier said:
After going back and forth with CalDigit, I don't think they even understand what a MBP can and can not do with multiple monitors.

Here is what they are claiming regardless of their station:

The limit is one HDMI monitor and one Thunderbolt monitor. You can use a Display Port monitor, but not at the same time as a HDMI monitor. This is a GPU issue.

Then how am I currently using 2 separate non-thunderbolt PC monitors, in addition to the laptops display. One being connected via HDMI and other displayport to DVI adapter?
Click to expand...
Saying that's a GPU issue is funny, since different macs have different gpus. But, can it be that mbp's hdmi is not wired through tb, so you can't route that through tb, which reduces the max amount of monitors routed through tb?
 
@WSFrazier

Can you explain your setup please - which Mac?

I've a Feb 2011 Macbook pro, and want to connect both a Displayport-->Dvi Monitor, and also an HDMI -->Dvi Monitor - but from reading the Caltech stuff it looks like I can only do one or the other.

I'm waiting for some sort of shipping notification, as I've order one (in the UK) - but nothing yet.....
 
WSFrazier said:
Then how am I currently using 2 separate non-thunderbolt PC monitors
Click to expand...

Because your rMBP has 2-3 free display channels each of which can be fed to either of the TB ports in 'legacy' mode, or directly to the HDMI port. 15" rMBPs have been demoed running 3 external monitors.

The Caldigit Dock, however, is limited to the single DisplayPort channel that its TB peripheral chip can extract. This can either be fed to the HDIM port or to the TB-thru port running in 'legacy' DisplayPort mode. Not both. A TB display, however, has its own peripheral chip that extracts a second DisplayPort signal from TB.

(Theoretically, any other TB peripheral with a proper TB-thru would extract the second signal and let you run a second monitor)

Caldigits description of the possibilities makes sense - but I think they're wrong about the 'GPU issue' bit - if it was a GPU issue then the TB display + HDMI wouldn't work either.
 
theluggage said:
Because your rMBP has 2-3 free display channels each of which can be fed to either of the TB ports in 'legacy' mode, or directly to the HDMI port. 15" rMBPs have been demoed running 3 external monitors.

The Caldigit Dock, however, is limited to the single DisplayPort channel that its TB peripheral chip can extract. This can either be fed to the HDIM port or to the TB-thru port running in 'legacy' DisplayPort mode. Not both. A TB display, however, has its own peripheral chip that extracts a second DisplayPort signal from TB.

(Theoretically, any other TB peripheral with a proper TB-thru would extract the second signal and let you run a second monitor)

Caldigits description of the possibilities makes sense - but I think they're wrong about the 'GPU issue' bit - if it was a GPU issue then the TB display + HDMI wouldn't work either.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. From everything I know about Thunderbolt (which is limited), Each Thunderbolt device in a chain can extract 1 video signal, whether it's a monitor or not. This is why you can hook up 2 TB monitors, but not a TB monitor and a DP-DVI monitor (ie: only one signal gets extracted).

By adding a second TB device to the chain, the second TB device can extract a video signal and pass it along via DP->DVI.

This dock is only a single TB device which means it has a single video signal in it. If you use a DP-DVI adapter, that takes up the video signal, as it has priority over the HDMI port. However, if you hook up a TB display, it adds a second video signal to drive the display and the CalDigit TB signal can be passed to the HDMI.

It might sound a little confusing, but there really are technical limitations to why it works the way it does.

For the mathematically minded, the TB signal looks somewhat like this:

Code: 
TB = TB + DisplayPort

therefore:

Code: 
TB = (TB + DisplayPort) + DisplayPort

and so on...

This is how you can daisy chain multiple displays and/or multiple devices.
 
theluggage said:
Because your rMBP has 2-3 free display channels each of which can be fed to either of the TB ports in 'legacy' mode, or directly to the HDMI port. 15" rMBPs have been demoed running 3 external monitors.

The Caldigit Dock, however, is limited to the single DisplayPort channel that its TB peripheral chip can extract. This can either be fed to the HDIM port or to the TB-thru port running in 'legacy' DisplayPort mode. Not both. A TB display, however, has its own peripheral chip that extracts a second DisplayPort signal from TB.

(Theoretically, any other TB peripheral with a proper TB-thru would extract the second signal and let you run a second monitor)

Caldigits description of the possibilities makes sense - but I think they're wrong about the 'GPU issue' bit - if it was a GPU issue then the TB display + HDMI wouldn't work either.
Click to expand...
So you could attach 3 external displays to the chain from mbp: 1.caldigit's box, 2. Apple TB-display, 3. Any TB-device with TB-passthrough and 4. Dp-display.

I guess that simple TB-to-hdmi dongle does not exist?
(Different from mDP-to-hdmi...)
 
toke lahti said:
So you could attach 3 external displays to the chain from mbp: 1.caldigit's box, 2. Apple TB-display, 3. Any TB-device with TB-passthrough and 4. Dp-display.
Click to expand...
No - I think the rMBP can only drive 2 displays via Thunderbolt.
It can drive a third from its own HDMI port (https://www.macrumors.com/2012/06/2...n-run-three-external-displays-simultaneously/)

I guess that simple TB-to-hdmi dongle does not exist?
(Different from mDP-to-hdmi...)
Click to expand...

No - the Caldigit dock looks like the cheapest option for that (if, indeed, it can be daisy-chained).
 
jdechko said:
This is why you can hook up 2 TB monitors, but not a TB monitor and a DP-DVI monitor (ie: only one signal gets extracted).
Click to expand...

So, here's a question.

Thunderbolt 2 supports Displayport 1.2.

DisplayPort 1.2 is itself daisy-chainable (http://www.displayport.org/embedded...le-displays-from-a-single-displayport-output/)

So, with a mythical Thunderbolt 2 compatible hub, could you do:

Code: 
Mac TB =====> TB2 peripheral -> DisplayPort 1.2 ---> Disp 1 ---> Disp 2
                        ||
                        ||======> TB out

Where Disp 1 and Disp 2 are either monitors with DP daisychain ports (some Dells have these now) or DisplayPort-to-HDMI/DVI converters inside a hub.

Or even split the DP1.2 signal into 2 and use one half to drive a DP device via the TB port.

Code: 
Mac TB =====> TB2 peripheral -> DP 1.2 ---> Disp 1
                        ||        |
                        ||        v
                        ||        |
                        ||==TB out (legacy mode) ---> DP 1.1 --> Disp 2


Anybody?
 
theluggage said:
Because your rMBP has 2-3 free display channels each of which can be fed to either of the TB ports in 'legacy' mode, or directly to the HDMI port. 15" rMBPs have been demoed running 3 external monitors.

The Caldigit Dock, however, is limited to the single DisplayPort channel that its TB peripheral chip can extract. This can either be fed to the HDIM port or to the TB-thru port running in 'legacy' DisplayPort mode. Not both. A TB display, however, has its own peripheral chip that extracts a second DisplayPort signal from TB.

(Theoretically, any other TB peripheral with a proper TB-thru would extract the second signal and let you run a second monitor)

Caldigits description of the possibilities makes sense - but I think they're wrong about the 'GPU issue' bit - if it was a GPU issue then the TB display + HDMI wouldn't work either.
Click to expand...

the caldigit can run 2 monitors at once , one hdmi and one through displayport to whatever.

says right in faq.
 
MacModMachine said:
the caldigit can run 2 monitors at once , one hdmi and one through displayport to whatever.

says right in faq.
Click to expand...

I just looked at the FAQ again. It says it can run a thunderbolt monitor and a hdmi one at the same time. I would think that if you could run a display port vs thunderbolt monitor they would have listed both.

Hopefully our preorders ship soon, and we will have a definitive answer soon after.
 
theluggage said:
So, here's a question.

Thunderbolt 2 supports Displayport 1.2.

DisplayPort 1.2 is itself daisy-chainable (http://www.displayport.org/embedded...le-displays-from-a-single-displayport-output/)

So, with a mythical Thunderbolt 2 compatible hub, could you do:

Code: 
Mac TB =====> TB2 peripheral -> DisplayPort 1.2 ---> Disp 1 ---> Disp 2
                        ||
                        ||======> TB out

Where Disp 1 and Disp 2 are either monitors with DP daisychain ports (some Dells have these now) or DisplayPort-to-HDMI/DVI converters inside a hub.

Or even split the DP1.2 signal into 2 and use one half to drive a DP device via the TB port.

Code: 
Mac TB =====> TB2 peripheral -> DP 1.2 ---> Disp 1
                        ||        |
                        ||        v
                        ||        |
                        ||==TB out (legacy mode) ---> DP 1.1 --> Disp 2


Anybody?
Click to expand...

Possibly. Everything I know is what I read from other, smarter people. 😛

I would speculate that with too many monitors, you'll probably run into issues with the GPU.
 
Richdmoore said:
I just looked at the FAQ again. It says it can run a thunderbolt monitor and a hdmi one at the same time. I would think that if you could run a display port vs thunderbolt monitor they would have listed both.

Hopefully our preorders ship soon, and we will have a definitive answer soon after.
Click to expand...

I am waiting for mine as well 🙂

They actually say "no" to the combination of Mini displayport and HDMI monitors:

From their FAQ:

2.Can I use multiple monitors with my Thunderbolt Station?
Yes, the Thunderbolt Station can support two monitors if one of them is an Apple Thunderbolt Display. You cannot use a monitor with a mini display port to DVI/VGA/HDMI adapter while using the HDMI port on the device for a multiple display configuration because only the first display that is detected will function.

For example
1. Thunderbolt Monitor and HDMI Monitor - Yes
2. Mini-Display Port Monitor and HDMI Monitor - No
3. Mini-display port adapter to DVI Monitor and HDMI monitor - No
4. Thunderbolt Display and HDMI adapter to DVI Monitor - Yes
 
Last edited:
Beware - Caldigit Thunderbolt Station - Hosed OSX

I received mine today, after unpacking it I proceeded to install it, it has a disk for installing the Ethernet driver 😡😱 I installed the driver, my MBPr restarted and I found that I can only connect to my local network, it will not access the internet. My iTunes will not open, I have to force quit it every time. This on a clean install of Maverick. I tried numerous ways to enable my network connection but to no avail. I'm reinstalling Maverick now since I cannot find anyway to restore my system drivers. I had to boot to an external drive I keep, download Maverick and reinstall it.

Trust me, that PoS hub will be repacked tomorrow and shipped back to Caldigit. I don't understand how they took so long to release this product and they cannot take care of little things, like detailing an uninstall process, provide an uninstaller program? Wow, the forethought it would take to come up with that. I cannot believe I waited this long and end up with a paperweight.
 
Really Happy

Well, it's arrived, it's plugged in and WOW. Lots of people said I couldn't do this with the Thunderbolt station. Three screens - Laptop, one TB->Dvi, one HDMI->Dvi. So happy.

I've also got a Seagate 3Tb USB device attached, and a Lacie 2 Tb Little Disk on the thunderbolt chain.

I almost didn't order this as people said it wouldn't work. I almost didn't try it, but it was worth 15 mins of my time to try it out.....

I also didn't install any drivers. All I did was re-configure my audio out, and create a new location to use hard wired Ethernet rather than use wireless.

BTW, Macbook Pro early 2011 running Mavericks. Might even fire up Parallels now and see what happens with that!
 

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sportsnapper said:
Well, it's arrived, it's plugged in and WOW. Lots of people said I couldn't do this with the Thunderbolt station. Three screens - Laptop, one TB->Dvi, one HDMI->Dvi. So happy.
Click to expand...

Mystery...

I've also got a Seagate 3Tb USB device attached, and a Lacie 2 Tb Little Disk on the thunderbolt chain.
Click to expand...

Mystery solved. Presumably the MiniDP-to-DVI connector is daisy-chained from the Lacie?

As discussed above - to connect two displays you need to connect the second display via another thunderbolt peripheral.
 
MacModMachine said:
the caldigit can run 2 monitors at once , one hdmi and one through displayport to whatever.

says right in faq.
Click to expand...

What the FAQ actually says (to be fair, it may have changed recently, but the old version didn't contradict this):

2.Can I use multiple monitors with my Thunderbolt Station?
Yes, the Thunderbolt Station can support two monitors if one of them is an Apple Thunderbolt Display. You cannot use a monitor with a mini display port to DVI/VGA/HDMI adapter while using the HDMI port on the device for a multiple display configuration because only the first display that is detected will function.
Click to expand...

The other thing that should work (and appears to work, based on sportsnapper's post above) is one monitor on the TBStation's HDMI port and a second one daisychained via a second non-display Thunderbolt device.

I can understand why Caldigit didn't want to get into that in the FAQ, though.
 
sportsnapper said:
Well, it's arrived, it's plugged in and WOW. Lots of people said I couldn't do this with the Thunderbolt station. Three screens - Laptop, one TB->Dvi, one HDMI->Dvi. So happy.

I've also got a Seagate 3Tb USB device attached, and a Lacie 2 Tb Little Disk on the thunderbolt chain.

I almost didn't order this as people said it wouldn't work. I almost didn't try it, but it was worth 15 mins of my time to try it out.....

I also didn't install any drivers. All I did was re-configure my audio out, and create a new location to use hard wired Ethernet rather than use wireless.

BTW, Macbook Pro early 2011 running Mavericks. Might even fire up Parallels now and see what happens with that!
Click to expand...
I am so glad someone verified this. I was pretty sure it would work even with CalDigit saying no, since I can do the samething without the dock. But I didn't want to be the one that tested it.

Thanks a lot, any lag with all those displays? Try any gaming with it yet?
 
WSFrazier said:
So with that being said, what is the cheapest thunderbolt daisy chain device I could get to make this work? 🙂
Click to expand...

Great that this works. I wish I had space for a multi display setup, maybe my next house.

Here is a good link to all thunderbolt devices:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Thunderbolt-compatible_devices
 
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