The SSD needs a TRIM command from time to time. External SSDs do not support this over USB.
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CalDigit's $199 Thunderbolt Station Shipping November 4
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That's what I'm looking for a TB Hub b/c my 17" MBP has only one TB and I use BlackMagicDesign Utlra MiniRecorders.
In my discussion with BMD distributor in Australia it's an unlikely prospect of seeing a TB hub from BMD because there are several nontrivial issues about chain termination that arise when you split the chain say three ways with a hub.*I know even with very basic serial buses like one-wire (think Arduino and multiple sensors) that splitting a chain can create havoc. Either chain or one node deep tree seems to be easier in that case. (Yes I know USB can be split)
If I connected to the 2013 MacBooks, which has thunderbolt 2 and that will allow me to daisy chain display port 1.2 monitors, will I lose that ability with this? I'm not sure I understand this completely. Thunderbolt 2 connects to this docking station, does it go from thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 1, losing the capability of daisy chaining display port 1.2, or is it just a passthrough?
Thanks all for the info so far,
so just for us early 2011 MBPers, meaning one TB port and thats all, the way to get 2 external displays is to use the hdmi port and then use another TB device that has passthrough? Can anyone suggest something cheap just to fulfill that function? I found the seagate dock for 165? Or maybe its best just to get another caldigit dock?
Thanks
so just for us early 2011 MBPers, meaning one TB port and thats all, the way to get 2 external displays is to use the hdmi port and then use another TB device that has passthrough? Can anyone suggest something cheap just to fulfill that function? I found the seagate dock for 165? Or maybe its best just to get another caldigit dock?
Thanks
If you want a daisy chainable Thunderbolt device to add for the 2nd monitor, consider one of the refurbs from LaCie:
http://www.lacie.com/us/products/clearance/products/?id=10007
The 1TB SSD and 2TB HDD look tempting.
Considering it's 199, surely they could have included more than 3 USB ports? Perhaps some on the front so it's easier to plug-in?
Also, why is it that eSATA is so rare on these devices, chipset issues?
Also, why is it that eSATA is so rare on these devices, chipset issues?
Yup but I did order the version with the 1 meter tb cable. I liked that they put it in the box with the rest of it.I just opened the priority mail box.
The Caldigit box is open. No cellophane. Is that the way all y'all got yours?
They could have (there is one on the front btw, could have been 2) but you can still use the usb ports on your Mac itself. If you have a modern display you usually have usb ports on that too. I now have 8 usable ports on my MBA with this dock (2 usb3 on the dock, 2 usb3 on the MBA and 4 usb2 on my display (which takes up the remaining usb3 port on the dock)). I also have the option to daisy chain via thunderbolt or use the thunderbolt-firewire for any firewire devices (I'm still debating about getting that adapter..I don't use it that often, just seems handy to have).
eSATA in general seems to be quite rare nowadays. There has been a time where you saw it a lot.
The OS X drivers support hotplug eSATA devices?
I heard only problems from many people.
Doh. I knew the box had been opened but didn't think of that explanation.
I've got a Samsung 24" SA850. 4 usb 3 ports on it. The only thing I don't like about that is when the monitor turns off the ports quit working. I had to turn off the eco mode because of that.
But with the caldigit I can move the time machine external to it and use the monitor ports for everything else.
Do the USB 3 to esata adapters not work well?
So the real TB video question is...
Thanks to everyone for discussing this - it's not abstract for me... I'm considering upgrading from a 2011 to 2013 MBP just to be able to drive dual monitors. At the moment, I actually have one 1,920x1,200 (2.4MP) and one 2,560x1,600 (4MP). If I dropped them down to 60Hz, that would by 9.3 gigabits/second data. If you wanted to drive 2 monitors like above, obviously, it'd have to be less than 60Hz.
TWO KEY QUESTIONS:
1. How close to 10 gigabits/sec data can a TB1 link sustain? I don't know any standard that can actually reach its maximum, and this is a packet based protocol, and I believe it even includes overscan data...
2. With modern LCD monitors, how low can the refresh rate get before quality degrades, i.e., you notice subtle flickering? For the older CRT monitors, the phosphors got so fast that you wanted at least 72Hz refresh to avoid flicking, if not 85Hz.
Thanks guys,
- Jeff
Thanks to everyone for discussing this - it's not abstract for me... I'm considering upgrading from a 2011 to 2013 MBP just to be able to drive dual monitors. At the moment, I actually have one 1,920x1,200 (2.4MP) and one 2,560x1,600 (4MP). If I dropped them down to 60Hz, that would by 9.3 gigabits/second data. If you wanted to drive 2 monitors like above, obviously, it'd have to be less than 60Hz.
TWO KEY QUESTIONS:
1. How close to 10 gigabits/sec data can a TB1 link sustain? I don't know any standard that can actually reach its maximum, and this is a packet based protocol, and I believe it even includes overscan data...
2. With modern LCD monitors, how low can the refresh rate get before quality degrades, i.e., you notice subtle flickering? For the older CRT monitors, the phosphors got so fast that you wanted at least 72Hz refresh to avoid flicking, if not 85Hz.
Thanks guys,
- Jeff
There is no flicker with LCDs. The backlight is a constant source, typically LED or a cold cathode fluorescent on older screens.
CRTs flicker as the phosphor loses it's excitation between sweeps of the electron gun. The phosphor needs constantly refreshing. Lower refresh rate - longer interval between sweeps.
CRTs flicker as the phosphor loses it's excitation between sweeps of the electron gun. The phosphor needs constantly refreshing. Lower refresh rate - longer interval between sweeps.
Which leads to
http://semiaccurate.com/2012/08/02/ioi-technology-shows-off-external-pcie-devices-at-computex/
Both are not very nice reading for tb's future.
Issues what I talked here when LP was changed to TB are still clear; why put the most speed hungry interface (driving displays) in together with everything else? Tb2 will be even more problematic, when display data eats the bandwith from all the others.
Tb2 should have just been called tb1.1. Same lane speed, just bonding.
Same bonding can be done with usb3.1, which then has same speed than tb1.
Dp1.2 can already oversaturate the whole tb2, so how do video pros react when 4k displays become mainstream? You can't have both: 4k videostream from storage and show it in 4k monitor. Then comes dp1.3 (or dp2.0) and then tb is once again one gen behind. Intel's monopoly on tb chips will keep the prices high. What if apple would have just chosen to pursue more compact ePCI interface? Faster and more economical...
I've never thought that ssd wear would occour as fluctuation in read speeds, I thought it would be just constant lower speeds.
Btw,
does anyone have technical explanation why you can daisy chain 2 apple's tb displays over one tb1?
Isn't 5.3 Gbit/s needed for each? Where do they save? Or is one tb1 lane bigger than 10.0 Gbit/s?
does anyone have technical explanation why you can daisy chain 2 apple's tb displays over one tb1?
Isn't 5.3 Gbit/s needed for each? Where do they save? Or is one tb1 lane bigger than 10.0 Gbit/s?
He didn't indicate anything regarding splitting Thunderbolt. He clearly stated that he wants to be able plug something into his machine (via Tbolt) then have another Tbolt port available with USB 3.
Matrox was the first unit I was made aware of years ago that fits his requirements, but I've never seen that device in stock or available anywhere. A little later Belkin made their announcement for their external Tbolt hub but again, I don't see anyone with it.
A TB cable has 2x 10Gbit/s bidirectional data channels. Each of those channels can carry a mixture of PCIe and Displayport data - so each channel can carry a 5.3Gbit/s display signal and have 4.7 Gbits/s left for PCIe devices (I'm sure there's some overhead).
TB2 lets you combine both channels into a single 20 Gbit/s channel, so you can have a single device using more than 10 Gbit/s (e.g. a 4k display).
Daisy chaining 2 Apple tb displays require 2 x 5.3Gbit/s = 10.6 Gbit/s. How is this possible? One display uses dp stream and the other tb stream?
There is no "display stream" or "TB stream". There are two 10 Gbit/s channels, both of which can carry a mixture of PCIe and DisplayPort data. The more bandwidth on each channel used by DisplayPort, the less bandwidth there is available for PCIe.
So, with 2 TB displays:
Channel 1 = 5.3 Gbit/s of Displayport + up to 4.7 Gbit/s of PCIe
Channel 2 = 5.3 Gbit/s of Displayport + up to 4.7 Gbit/s of PCIe
(simplistic version - I'm sure its a bit more complex in reality)
Actually there is flicker. Pulse Width Modulation.
BenQ takes it seriously enough that they introduced a line of flicker-free monitors.
http://www.benq.com/microsite/eye-care-monitors/ff.html
Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flicker-free
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/pulse_width_modulation.htm
A list of tested monitors:
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/flicker_free_database.htm
I was waiting for some smart so and so to dredge something up. The context was the comparison with CRTs, on which a significant number of people can easily detect flicker at the 60Hz that most computers defaulted the display to.
PWM flicker is detectable to a minute fraction of the population.
Actually the question was "do LCDs have flicker" and he used CRTs as a comparison.
There is flicker that some people can detect. Because, contrary to your answer, the LED and CFL backlights are not constant.
Finally got my thunderbolt station.
Seems to work pretty decent - I've got all ports in use except audio in. 4k working out the HDMI port (previously had a glitch that was a cabling issue). I do miss the volume & button control that would work through the laptop's audio in, but that's just nit-picking.
Seems to work pretty decent - I've got all ports in use except audio in. 4k working out the HDMI port (previously had a glitch that was a cabling issue). I do miss the volume & button control that would work through the laptop's audio in, but that's just nit-picking.
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