Razer Launches Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma With 10 Ports and Up to 8TB Internal SSD Expansion

[MacRumors]

Razer has just released its Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma, a premium docking station designed for creative professionals and gamers seeking expanded connectivity options. The $399.99 device supports up to three 4K displays at 144Hz or a single 8K display at 60Hz.

The dock features four Thunderbolt 5 ports, three DisplayPort 2.1 connections, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack. An SD card slot supports UHS-II speeds, while an M.2 PCIe Gen 4 slot allows up to 8TB of SSD storage expansion inside the dock itself.

Thunderbolt 5's 120Gb/s bandwidth enables rapid data transfers, and the dock can also deliver up to 140W power delivery for laptop charging. There's also an included 0.8-meter TB5 cable for connection via USB-C.

The device's anodized aluminum housing measures 206.5mm x 85mm x 30.84mm and weighs 524 grams, and if you like a bit of color on your workstation, Razer's signature RGB lighting adds some visual appeal.

The reality is that Thunderbolt 5 adoption currently remains limited in the Windows ecosystem, but Apple's latest Macs have embraced the standard, including MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, along with the M4 Pro-powered Mac mini. Razer's dock also offers backward compatibility with Thunderbolt 4/USB 4, and Mac owners can use Razer's Synapse macOS utility to control the Chroma.

Available directly from Razer's website, the $399.99 Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma can be had in optional Black and Mercury White colors.

Article Link: Razer Launches Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma With 10 Ports and Up to 8TB Internal SSD Expansion

 

[TheIguana]

Only having Gigabit Ethernet seems like a weird choice for a dock like this today targeting both those audiences. Would expect at least 2.5 GbE port on there.

 

[Tig_one]

With that enclosure design you can boil eggs comfortably.

 

[cclarke99]

Gigabit Ethernet for $399... hard pass.

 

[Arsenikdote]

Razor.....hmmmm....not really the company focused on the Mac space, plus they seem to abandon support for products at a whim. I think that makes this a pass for me regardless of performance or features.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

RGB lighting... 🙄

 

[poematik13]

Cool concept but Razer has the worst QC of any gadget company, ever

 

[AppleTO]

No HDMI or DisplayPort so that would significantly cut down on the amount of available USB-C ports. Also, only gigabit Ethernet would be a non-starter for me.

 

[MacBobsyouruncle]

Only having Gigabit Ethernet seems like a weird choice for a dock like this today targeting both those audiences. Would expect at least 2.5 GbE port on there.

And all this time I was wondering if I was the only one who wanted 10Gbe or at least 2.5Gbe on a Thunderbolt 5 dock.

 

[nikon3312000]

No 10Gbe pass

 

[DunedinD]

Surprised (and yet not) that there isn’t a version with SD Express.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

When will more adorable large (20 TB +) external SSD drives become available. I have HDD externals and one recently failed after six months. Wish we had more reliable fast solutions for big drives by now.

 

[mdatwood]

Interesting to put a drive in there. I wish my OWC TB4 dock had a drive slot. It would be nice for TM.

 

[neuropsychguy]

The price is competitive for something that can drive three 4K displays. I agree with the other commenters about the lack of a higher speed Ethernet port. Not including at least 2.5 GbE makes this a no-go for many people. Yes, you could add one via a USB C dongle, but the cost difference for Razer would be trivial considering you can buy basic 2.5 GbE dongles for less than $20. Razer could increase the cost slightly to compensate.

It's also unclear how compatible this is with Macs; it's highly unlikely the three displays feature works on Macs. Historically, not all Thunderbolt docks have consistently worked with Macs.

 

[GUNSTAR1]

Im the outlier this product is for. M.2 slot for time capsule backup, RGB to put right under my MBP laptop stand. While limited to a gig ethernet it's not the worst. with 4x 4K displays this should cut down on direct inputs for my laptop.

 

[torartc]

All of that but just 1 GbE is insane.

 

[Shirasaki]

When will more adorable large (20 TB +) external SSD drives become available. I have HDD externals and one recently failed after six months. Wish we had more reliable fast solutions for big drives by now.

Unless the super unreliable PLC comes into play I don’t think 20TB SSD is really a thing. Kioxia already had enterprise grade 15TB ssd but they are not in M.2 form factor and sadly mostly for enterprise only.

 

[Shirasaki]

This dock doesn’t look like it can house 2 M.2 nvme drives. A shame considering the case size and the price.

As for gigabit that’s ok since hardly anyone in Australia can enjoy gigabit internet speed let alone 2.5Gb Ethernet. Those who need it probably already have network switches that can do so.

 

[tennisproha]

Only 1 Gb ethernet is inexcusable, especially considering it's double the price should be.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Unless the super unreliable PLC comes into play I don’t think 20TB SSD is really a thing. Kioxia already had enterprise grade 15TB ssd but they are not in M.2 form factor and sadly mostly for enterprise only.

Cool. Obviously will happened eventually, but when?

 

[decimortis]

When will more adorable large (20 TB +) external SSD drives become available.

Feeling cute, might hold 20 TB later, I dunno.

 

[drrich2]

Only 1 Gb ethernet is inexcusable, especially considering it's double the price should be.

I, too, find the 1 Gb ethernet a head scratcher, but the price seems decent. Here's my thinking... Check out the price on a Thunderbolt 5 hub or dock that doesn't have Thunderbolt 5 external SSD housing capability. Now check the price on a TB5 external SSD housing (e.g.: OWC has one). Taken together, the price seems fair.

But the M4 series Mac Mini defaults to 1 Gb ethernet, for example, so it's not offering capability the Mac doesn't already have. Even a 2.5 Gb offering would be something many don't.

As for gigabit that’s ok since hardly anyone in Australia can enjoy gigabit internet speed let alone 2.5Gb Ethernet.

Right now, in the U.S., for a lot of us that's also true; my home Internet is cable and rated at 400 Mbps (but tests a bit higher). Gigabit ethernet can be had, but costs more and I don't need it.

But if I buy such a product new, I want it to last many years. Some on the forum lament what they see as excessive concern with 'future-proofing,' and by the time 2.5 Gb internet service is common in residential homes maybe we'll be using newer Macs with built-in ethernet that supports it. But still...at that price I wouldn't expect 10 Gbps, but 2.5?

 

[ethanwa79]

Should have at least a 5Gb port in there. It’s not some distant consumer tech anymore… I can get 5Gb in my neighborhood via AT&T Fiber as of today.

 

[routine_analyst]

Razer has just released its Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma, a premium docking station designed for creative professionals and gamers seeking expanded connectivity options. The $399.99 device supports up to three 4K displays at 144Hz or a single 8K display at 60Hz.

The dock features four Thunderbolt 5 ports, three DisplayPort 2.1 connections, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack. An SD card slot supports UHS-II speeds, while an M.2 PCIe Gen 4 slot allows up to 8TB of SSD storage expansion inside the dock itself.

Thunderbolt 5's 120Gb/s bandwidth enables rapid data transfers, and the dock can also deliver up to 140W power delivery for laptop charging. There's also an included 0.8-meter TB5 cable for connection via USB-C.

The device's anodized aluminum housing measures 206.5mm x 85mm x 30.84mm and weighs 524 grams, and if you like a bit of color on your workstation, Razer's signature RGB lighting adds some visual appeal.

The reality is that Thunderbolt 5 adoption currently remains limited in the Windows ecosystem, but Apple's latest Macs have embraced the standard, including MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, along with the M4 Pro-powered Mac mini. Razer's dock also offers backward compatibility with Thunderbolt 4/USB 4, and Mac owners can use Razer's Synapse macOS utility to control the Chroma.

Available directly from Razer's website, the $399.99 Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma can be had in optional Black and Mercury White colors.

Article Link: Razer Launches Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma With 10 Ports and Up to 8TB Internal SSD Expansion

In what world does this target gamers on Windows? Maybe streamers? But only having a gig ethernet is pretty skimpy for both personas...

 

[DribbleCastle]

The price is competitive for something that can drive three 4K displays. I agree with the other commenters about the lack of a higher speed Ethernet port. Not including at least 2.5 GbE makes this a no-go for many people. Yes, you could add one via a USB C dongle, but the cost difference for Razer would be trivial considering you can buy basic 2.5 GbE dongles for less than $20. Razer could increase the cost slightly to compensate.

It's also unclear how compatible this is with Macs. Historically, not all Thunderbolt docks have consistently worked with Macs.

As far as I know, at least from a few months ago, macOS does not yet support 3 displays via a Thunderbolt 5 dock. If it did, I would have been more enticed by the M4 MBP. Nothing on their website notes any lack of support via macOS though so.... maybe something has changed?