dock for mac mini m2 pro

[Ad47uk]

Just ordered a dock for my mini m2 pro, it is this one from Amazon, has a space for NVME and a SSD, extra USB and card reader. Seems good for around £97, the only problem is it has to come from the states.
I hope it is anyway, this mac thing is getting expensive . I will still have to get a drive for it.

So have I made the right choice?

 

[icemantx]

Few things... This is the same as the Quiizlab UH25 Pro version and has a limitation you should be aware of. The USB C port on the back that is for charging must be connected to a USB A power adapter. It will not supply power from USB C chargers and you will end up with random disconnects if too many connected devices or SSD drives are drawing too much power from the USB C port connected to the Mac mini. Aside from that, when I had the Quiizab I felt it was nice for what it was, but I returned it in favor of directly connected options instead.

 

[danb1979]

FYI 2 folk I know had these; sent them back as they were beyond crap and didn't work well, at all!

Be wary

 

[Ad47uk]

Few things... This is the same as the Quiizlab UH25 Pro version and has a limitation you should be aware of. The USB C port on the back that is for charging must be connected to a USB A power adapter. It will not supply power from USB C chargers and you will end up with random disconnects if too many connected devices or SSD drives are drawing too much power from the USB C port connected to the Mac mini. Aside from that, when I had the Quiizab I felt it was nice for what it was, but I returned it in favor of directly connected options instead.

I have read they require a Power supply, I have a few here, 2amps should be enough, if not I will get a bigger one.
My monitor have it's own hub, and that is connected to one of the USB sockets on the back of the mac and at the moment I have a 2TB toshiba drive connected to that, which I am using to store docs, also a 8TB seagate drive.
Alsoi have the dongle for my keyboard in there for when i change it to the PC, I am going to get a usb 3 hub so I can connect the monitor hub to the mac or PC.,


this mac is getting expesnive art the moment, not from just buying the MAc but other stufff

 

[Ad47uk]

FYI 2 folk I know had these; sent them back as they were beyond crap and didn't work well, at all!

Be wary

i have seen reviews and videos of them and most of what i have seen say they are ok, At the end of the day they are just a all in one hub, been able to buy stuff like that for the PC for a few years, but unless you have a laptop or a all in one PC there is no need, the onmly difference is these are made to go under the mac mini

If it is no good, then I will send it back.

 

[MadTester]

Just ordered a dock for my mini m2 pro, it is this one from Amazon, has a space for NVME and a SSD, extra USB and card reader. Seems good for around £97, the only problem is it has to come from the states.
I hope it is anyway, this mac thing is getting expensive . I will still have to get a drive for it.

So have I made the right choice?

Have a look at the offering from Satechi, also very similar

 

[theluggage]

So have I made the right choice?

Just bear in mind that everything on this hub - the SSDs and all of the downstream ports - shares a single USB 3.1 gen 2 connection to the computer (also, the Macs don't have the fastest USB 3 interfaces on the planet). If you just want some backup drives, space for your media library etc. plus a few handy front USB ports for memory sticks etc. that's probably fine and its not worth paying a premium for a Thunderbolt device - USB-C 3.1g2 is fine for all but the fastest, high-end SSDs. If you want two high-performance drives and/or a hub you can hang other high-speed peripherals off then either use separate ports on the Mini or look at a Thunderbolt enclosure.

 

[Ad47uk]

Just bear in mind that everything on this hub - the SSDs and all of the downstream ports - shares a single USB 3.1 gen 2 connection to the computer (also, the Macs don't have the fastest USB 3 interfaces on the planet). If you just want some backup drives, space for your media library etc. plus a few handy front USB ports for memory sticks etc. that's probably fine and its not worth paying a premium for a Thunderbolt device - USB-C 3.1g2 is fine for all but the fastest, high-end SSDs. If you want two high-performance drives and/or a hub you can hang other high-speed peripherals off then either use separate ports on the Mini or look at a Thunderbolt enclosure.

It will only be for storage for the most part. It is the SD card slot I want more than enything, I have a usb C one, but the cable is very short, also the extra front USB 3 ports will be usful

 

[Ad47uk]

Well it is here, and it seems ok at the moment, I have a Maxtor 980GB or something like that SSD in it and got it connected also to a PSU and so far iut seems to be fine.
The Sd card reader is going to be great,, also now i can tidy up the desk and have less cables on it

 

[martint235]

Please let us know how you get on. I considered one mainly for the front port. I’ve already got 4TB in external drives attached but being able to plug stuff, particularly SD card from my camera, would help

 

[Ad47uk]

Please let us know how you get on. I considered one mainly for the front port. I’ve already got 4TB in external drives attached but being able to plug stuff, particularly SD card from my camera, would help

I will do, at the moment it seems ok and with the micro SD and normal SD card slot that will be so useful

 

[Ad47uk]

Please let us know how you get on. I considered one mainly for the front port. I’ve already got 4TB in external drives attached but being able to plug stuff, particularly SD card from my camera, would help

Just to say how this dock is, it is very good, as long as you remember which way up the SD cards go in.
, worth buying if you want SD card reader, space for an extra hard drive or two and you want to more USB ports and certainy easier top get to than on the mac mini. Maybe a little on the pricy side, but worth it i think

 

[martint235]

Just to say how this dock is, it is very good, as long as you remember which way up the SD cards go in.
, worth buying if you want SD card reader, space for an extra hard drive or two and you want to more USB ports and certainy easier top get to than on the mac mini. Maybe a little on the pricy side, but worth it i think

Thanks, I’ll have a look

 

[Ad47uk]

Thanks, I’ll have a look

No problem. I found out something, at least a 2amp USB PSU is needed otherwise the hard drive will disconnect if not used for a while even if the energy setting is set not to put the drive to sleep. Also if you put the mac to sleep the drive will not wake up, the drive access light will flash
So a good 2amp supply is required, I am using a Huawie fast charger that came with my old phone, but I will get something better at some point. Putting that supply on have made the difference.