MS All Models Question about the OWC 11-Port Thunderbolt Dock

[transmaster]

What I want to do is use a single 5K monitor with Thunderbolt input with both my Mac Studio and my Mini PC. Right now both are on the same monitor via HDMI via my Yamaha AVR which has 6 HDMI inputs and one HDMI output to my monitor. The Mini PC does have a USB-C video out port. What I want to do, if possible, is run the Thunderbolt connection from he Mac Studio to the OWC hub, and the PC's USB-C Video to the same hub than run a Thunderbolt 4 connection to the 5K Monitor. Can I do this? I really do not want to get a 2nd monitor just for the Mini PC. Given that I don't use this Mini PC much and than only with my Amateur Radio gear I am starting to think a PC Laptop might be in order.

 

[joevt]

What 5K display are you using? Why don't you want to use HDMI? I think the Mac Studio supports HDMI 2.1? That should allow 5K60.

Thunderbolt docks are not KVM switches. Maybe search this forum for posts discussing the Sabrent Thunderbolt 4 KVM Switch
https://sabrent.com/products/sb-tb4k

Software that makes a Thunderbolt dock switch its display from one computer to another might be possible but it doesn't exist. Apple has something like that for Thunderbolt 1 iMacs to switch the iMac display between the iMac and another Thunderbolt connected Mac. Intel has something called Thunderbolt Share for PCs but I don't know how it works - is it sending display info via tunnelled DisplayPort or is it just screen sharing - using CPU and GPU resources to capture the display framebuffer?

 

[transmaster]

The solution is easy, I don’t know why I didn’t think of right off I am going to use an HDMI to high-speed USB-C cable Anker has one That is Thunderbolt 3/4 compatible. It is good to 4K. I will still get a 5K monitor so I can upgrade to a straight Thunderbolt cable in the future. The cable will be plugged into My Yamaha AVR in its output HDMI port.

Anker USB C to HDMI Cable for Home Office 6ft, USB C to HDMI 4K 60Hz Cable, High-Speed, Ideal for Home Entertainment, Compatible with MacBook, Samsung Galaxy, Dell XPS [Thunderbolt 3/4]

The Plug-and-Play Adapter Cable Provides universal compatibility with next-generation computers and devices. HDMI output supports resolutions up to 4K and provides a simple plug-and-play connection to high-definition displays or monitors. The entire cable has been reinforced with double-br...

a.co

 

[PaulD-UK]

"The solution is easy, I don’t know why I didn’t think of right off I am going to use an HDMI to high-speed USB-C cable..."

I'm afraid converter cables won't work any better than docks if there isn't a basic understanding of the underlying technology.

You can't just plug anything into any port on a dock as you have to know which ports are 'inputs' and which are 'outputs, and what type of data stream goes in which direction.

You don't connect a monitor to a computer, because the monitor isn't 'driving' the computer...
You connect a computer to a monitor, to display the computer's output.

So when Anker describe their cable as 'USB-C to HDMI', they mean the signal goes from the USB-C input TO the HDMI output. So you can sent a video signal from your Mac's USB-C (TB4) port TO a monitor's HDMI input.

If you connect the HDMI end to your Yamaha AVR's HDMI output, and the USB-C end to a monitor's input ---- then nothing will happen.
Because the monitor can't send (video) data to the AVR, and the AVR can't receive it...

The magic** word is Bi-Directional.
As in this product description:

Anker HDMI Switch, 4K@60Hz Bi-Directional HDMI Switcher (link)​

This means the sockets or cable-ends of the device or cable are interchangeably input or output.

So you need either a 'HDMI TO USB-C' cable, or a Bi-Directional USB-C to HDMI cable.

**Arthur C Clarke's 3rd Law.

 

[transmaster]

"The solution is easy, I don’t know why I didn’t think of right off I am going to use an HDMI to high-speed USB-C cable..."

I'm afraid converter cables won't work any better than docks if there isn't a basic understanding of the underlying technology.

You can't just plug anything into any port on a dock as you have to know which ports are 'inputs' and which are 'outputs, and what type of data stream goes in which direction.

You don't connect a monitor to a computer, because the monitor isn't 'driving' the computer...
You connect a computer to a monitor, to display the computer's output.

So when Anker describe their cable as 'USB-C to HDMI', they mean the signal goes from the USB-C input TO the HDMI output. So you can sent a video signal from your Mac's USB-C (TB4) port TO a monitor's HDMI input.

If you connect the HDMI end to your Yamaha AVR's HDMI output, and the USB-C end to a monitor's input ---- then nothing will happen.
Because the monitor can't send (video) data to the AVR, and the AVR can't receive it...

The magic** word is Bi-Directional.
As in this product description:

Anker HDMI Switch, 4K@60Hz Bi-Directional HDMI Switcher (link)​

This means the sockets or cable-ends of the device or cable are interchangeably input or output.

So you need either a 'HDMI TO USB-C' cable, or a Bi-Directional USB-C to HDMI cable.

**Arthur C Clarke's 3rd Law.

Thanks for pointing the out the directional nature of the Anker Cable. I am totally new with Thunderbolt monitors. I did order the above cable it is going to be useful because I will be able to plug my iPad into the Yamaha. I did find a adapter the goes in the other direction. The converter is externally powered. I already have the Mac Studio plugged into the Yamaha with its HDMI output. So I need an HDMI to USB-C to go from the Yamaha to the Monitor. The adapter below should do the trick.

HDMI Male to USB-C Female Cable Adapter with USB C Power Cable,Uni-Directional HDMI (source) to Type C 3.1 (display) Converter,4K 60Hz Thunderbolt 3 Adapter for MacBook Pro,Microsoft Surface,Xreal Air

What you should know * Audio signal CANNOT be output when paired with nReal devices. * NOT compatible with LG ultrafine 5k Display * In order to output video to an external display, a USB 3.1 or more advanced one that can carry video signal or a thunderbolt 3 cable must be used. * This produc...

a.co

 

[PaulD-UK]

There are very few Thunderbolt 3/4 monitors.
There are dozens of USB-C monitors.
Both types use USB-C sockets, but the cable specification is not the same.

Thunderbolt 3/4 cables work for both, but USB-C cables only work for USB-C monitors, and they have to support video transfer, which data-only USB cables don’t.
The product advertising is confusing as USB-C cables don’t work for genuine Thunderbolt products.

 

[joevt]

I did find a adapter the goes in the other direction. The converter is externally powered. I already have the Mac Studio plugged into the Yamaha with its HDMI output. So I need an HDMI to USB-C to go from the Yamaha to the Monitor. The adapter below should do the trick.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VDT3YG...167BE&peakEvent=5&dealEvent=0&skipTwisterOG=1

Does your Yamaha AVR not support HDMI 2.1? If it does, then you should try HDMI 2.1 to USB-C adapters because HDMI 2.0 to USB-C adapters are limited to 4K.

Thunderbolt 3/4 cables work for both, but USB-C cables only work for USB-C monitors, and they have to support video transfer, which data-only USB cables don’t.
The product advertising is confusing as USB-C cables don’t work for genuine Thunderbolt products.

Some Thunderbolt 3/4 displays can accept a USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode signal.

Not sure what a data only USB cable is. I suppose a USB-C charging cable is data only - it would have connections for USB 2.0 only.

 

[PaulD-UK]

@joevt "Not sure what a data only USB cable is."

I meant the myriad of cheap unmarked cables sold that work fine with SSDs but fail to produce a picture when connected between a computer and a higher resolution monitor.
Also ones that when checked with a proper cable checker show that not all the pins are wired as per the full standard.

 

[transmaster]

Does your Yamaha AVR not support HDMI 2.1? If it does, then you should try HDMI 2.1 to USB-C adapters because HDMI 2.0 to USB-C adapters are limited to 4K.


Some Thunderbolt 3/4 displays can accept a USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode signal.

Not sure what a data only USB cable is. I suppose a USB-C charging cable is data only - it would have connections for USB 2.0 only.

You have to use the 20 Gbps of USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 cable. The Thunderbolt 3/4 is 40Gbps. The USB-C 3.2 is limited to 4k.

 

[transmaster]

Canceled the adapter, Amazon said it was a frequently returned item

 

[transmaster]

The ASUS ProArt 5K monitors are out They cost half what the Apple Studio cost and it has USB-C and Displayport inputs

 

[joevt]

You have to use the 20 Gbps of USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 cable. The Thunderbolt 3/4 is 40Gbps. The USB-C 3.2 is limited to 4k.

A USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 cable is the same as a USB C 3.1 gen 2 or USB-C 3.1 gen 2x1 cable.

USB-C is not limited to 4K.

A USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 cable can do 4 lanes of DisplayPort 2.1 UHBR10 at 10 Gbps per lane, 4 lanes = 40 Gbps with USB 2.0 data. If you want to include 10 Gbps USB, then the cable is limited to 2 lanes of DisplayPort = 20 Gbps max.
4 lanes of DisplayPort 1.4 (HBR3 = 8.1 Gbps per lane) is 31.4 Gbps (25.92 Gbps of DisplayPort data).

The ASUS ProArt 5K monitors are out They cost half what the Apple Studio cost and it has USB-C and Displayport inputs

The ASUS ProArt 5K is not a Thunderbolt display. It can probably use DisplayPort HBR2 x4 with DSC or HBR3 x2 with DSC or HBR3 x4 without DSC or HDMI 2.1 to get 5K60.

The CAC-1336 is a USB 2.0 + HDMI 2.1 to USB-C adapter that might work for 5K60. Or it might not.
https://insights.club-3d.com/thread/cac-1336-operation/

 

[Chancha]

That ASUS 5K display already has a USB KVM built-in, use it. That way the picture, some USB ports, and the 3.5mm audio output can be shared and switched between your Mac and your PC.

However, that specific OWC Thunderbolt dock in your OP can only be plugged into one host at one time (unless there is a Thunderbolt KVM before it).