USB-C Dock for Macbook with USB 3.0 Ports

[leeuk321]

I know there's been a few threads in the past regarding USB-C docks, but they all seem quite dated now, or address different points. Basically, I've already got a hub at the moment for my 2017 Macbook, which outputs 4K 60Hz to my Dell 4K monitor. It's the Cable Matters hub, and also features ethernet, power delivery and USB 2.0 ports. I'm okay with the USB 2.0 speed restriction, because my main priority is connecting to my 4K monitor at 4K 60Hz, and this hub has done the job perfectly.

However, for doing time machine backups, or tasks involving copying huge amounts of data to/between external drives, the USB 2.0 restriction is horrendous. My questions is, is there a dock/hub which I could use as a secondary hub for doing external drive tasks at USB 3.0 speed? It would need to have power delivery and two USB 3.0 ports, as a minimum requirement, because I have an external hard drive plus an external Time Machine drive, and I'd need to backup between both drives. As a bonus, I'd love for it to also have display output, either through HDMI or (Mini) DisplayPort, and I would be okay with the display being restricted to 2K and/or 30Hz, because it would just be a temporary swap to get some large file copying done.

Ultimately, I'd love for a dock to be able to handle everything, but as far as I'm aware the MacBook's USB-C Gen-1 port just won't allow for it. But as a second-place ultimate, I'd love for a dock that had all of that stuff (4K 60Hz output, power delivery, USB-3 ports, ethernet), but had a switch on it - or a 'settings' menu on a MacOS app - where you could tell it what to prioritize or throttle. E.g. if it was set at "Display Priority" as default, with 4K 60Hz output and USB 2.0 port speed; and you could then change it to "USB Priority" and it changed the hub to output 2K and/or 30Hz with USB 3.0 port speed. But I realize this is quite a fantasy, and a dock like this probably doesn't exist or likely never will. Would be great though.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Cheers!

 

[EugW]

Cable Matters makes one with 4Kp30 and USB 3.

None have a switch to alternate between 4Kp60 USB 2 and 4Kp30 USB 3. It can be done with the same hardware but requires reprogramming the firmware.

 

[Mike Boreham]

I have no experience of using an external monitor with my MacBook (so this reply may not help you much), but you also mention transferring data between two connected externals with which I do have some experience.

In my experience only the big CalDigit and OWC docks will do this. These are big devices with their own 85W/90W wall power supplies. I have tried several of the portable pass-through power hubs which often have two or three USB-A ports.

These passthrough portable hubs will transfer data to and from the MacBook reliably but not between two attached drives. The degree of failure varies, and has even worked haltingly for HDDs sometimes, but usually it just stops. This was all without a monitor connected. With the Caldigit and OWC Docks I can transfer at full USB 3 speed between two attached Samsung T5s.

 

[leeuk321]

Thanks for both of your replies, and apologies about my late reply back to this thread.

Cable Matters makes one with 4Kp30 and USB 3.

None have a switch to alternate between 4Kp60 USB 2 and 4Kp30 USB 3. It can be done with the same hardware but requires reprogramming the firmware.

Yes, that's what I thought, I can appreciate from a logistics and sales point of view why this will never happen. Would be cool though. Thanks.

I have no experience of using an external monitor with my MacBook (so this reply may not help you much), but you also mention transferring data between two connected externals with which I do have some experience.

In my experience only the big CalDigit and OWC docks will do this. These are big devices with their own 85W/90W wall power supplies. I have tried several of the portable pass-through power hubs which often have two or three USB-A ports.

These passthrough portable hubs will transfer data to and from the MacBook reliably but not between two attached drives. The degree of failure varies, and has even worked haltingly for HDDs sometimes, but usually it just stops. This was all without a monitor connected. With the Caldigit and OWC Docks I can transfer at full USB 3 speed between two attached Samsung T5s.

Thanks for that, and that's a really good point. I've been looking at a bunch of USB-C hubs recently, and I've found countless amounts with USB 3.0 ports, ethernet, SD cards, all the bells and whistles. And a bunch have got 5* reviews and come in silver or grey aluminium and generally look the business. And then there's the kicker. I haven't come across *a single hub* which confirms that it is able to power two portable hard drives. I think portable hard drives generally need up to 4.5W (5v @ 900mA) of power to run, and I thought originally that if you used a power delivery above what your laptop requires (e.g. a 60W power delivery for a 30W MacBook) that it would have plenty of 'left over power' to go around. But nope, I think these hubs are engineered to reserve around 5W total power for all the USB ports. So, they're great for powered hard drives and printers and the like, but not so much for more than one portable hard drive.

It seems like madness, it's not as if I'm wanting to plug in someone really bizarre, like a USB kettle or something. I mean, is it so uncommon to own a 12" MacBook and have two portable hard drives, that not a single USB-C hub manufacturer has thought to accommodate it. And it also seems backwards. I mean, let's break it down logically. These manufacturers all boast that the hubs have multiple USB 3.0 ports. They shout it out from the Amazon rooftops. They put sparkles around the text in the photos of how many USB 3.0 ports they have. And what's so good about USB 3.0, as opposed to USB 2.0? The speed. And what do you mainly need high-speed USB ports for? Hard drives. And what type of hard drives would a typical USB-C Hub customer use? Portable, or sticks. What I'm saying is, I'm willing to bet that most people who get these hubs aren't the type of people who have big, bulky powered hard drives. They'll mostly be people who appreciate a portable, lightweight computing setup. Yes, I realize that a fair amount of people will use USB sticks. But there's got to be a good portion of people who are shopping for a "USB-C Hub with multiple USB 3.0 ports" that want to use two portable hard drives. And that's why I find it completely bizarre.

If anyone has come across a USB-C Hub that feeds off a USB-C power delivery and can power two portable hard drives, I'd love to know. Otherwise, thanks for your suggestions, I think I'll take the plunge and get one those docks that you recommended.

Cheers!

 

[Mike Boreham]

Thanks for both of your replies, and apologies about my late reply back to this thread.

Yes, that's what I thought, I can appreciate from a logistics and sales point of view why this will never happen. Would be cool though. Thanks.

Thanks for that, and that's a really good point. I've been looking at a bunch of USB-C hubs recently, and I've found countless amounts with USB 3.0 ports, ethernet, SD cards, all the bells and whistles. And a bunch have got 5* reviews and come in silver or grey aluminium and generally look the business. And then there's the kicker. I haven't come across *a single hub* which confirms that it is able to power two portable hard drives. I think portable hard drives generally need up to 4.5W (5v @ 900mA) of power to run, and I thought originally that if you used a power delivery above what your laptop requires (e.g. a 60W power delivery for a 30W MacBook) that it would have plenty of 'left over power' to go around. But nope, I think these hubs are engineered to reserve around 5W total power for all the USB ports. So, they're great for powered hard drives and printers and the like, but not so much for more than one portable hard drive.

It seems like madness, it's not as if I'm wanting to plug in someone really bizarre, like a USB kettle or something. I mean, is it so uncommon to own a 12" MacBook and have two portable hard drives, that not a single USB-C hub manufacturer has thought to accommodate it. And it also seems backwards. I mean, let's break it down logically. These manufacturers all boast that the hubs have multiple USB 3.0 ports. They shout it out from the Amazon rooftops. They put sparkles around the text in the photos of how many USB 3.0 ports they have. And what's so good about USB 3.0, as opposed to USB 2.0? The speed. And what do you mainly need high-speed USB ports for? Hard drives. And what type of hard drives would a typical USB-C Hub customer use? Portable, or sticks. What I'm saying is, I'm willing to bet that most people who get these hubs aren't the type of people who have big, bulky powered hard drives. They'll mostly be people who appreciate a portable, lightweight computing setup. Yes, I realize that a fair amount of people will use USB sticks. But there's got to be a good portion of people who are shopping for a "USB-C Hub with multiple USB 3.0 ports" that want to use two portable hard drives. And that's why I find it completely bizarre.

If anyone has come across a USB-C Hub that feeds off a USB-C power delivery and can power two portable hard drives, I'd love to know. Otherwise, thanks for your suggestions, I think I'll take the plunge and get one those docks that you recommended.

Cheers!

I think these cheaper hubs will power two drives, at least sufficiently to transfer data between one drive and the computer with the second drive mounted still mounted. And I think they can for instance transfer data from iPhone (USB 2) to an external drive.

That is not the same as transferring data between two connected USB 3 drives at USB 3 speed which is what has always fallen down for me, except the Caldigit and OWC powered docks.

 

[leeuk321]

I think these cheaper hubs will power two drives, at least sufficiently to transfer data between one drive and the computer with the second drive mounted still mounted. And I think they can for instance transfer data from iPhone (USB 2) to an external drive.

That is not the same as transferring data between two connected USB 3 drives at USB 3 speed which is what has always fallen down for me, except the Caldigit and OWC powered docks.

Thanks for your reply. From my experience, and from what I've read on product specs and user reviews, it seems that the main issue with using multiple drives on these hubs is that it only designates about 5W of total power for the USB ports. I've had personal experience with this on a Cable Matters hub, and like I said, seen the same thing illustrated on product specs and from user reviews.

The only issue I have with the powered docks is that they almost all output 4K at 30Hz. For 95% of my computing, I don't use portable hard drives, so my main hub/dock/adapter has got to output 4K at 60Hz with power delivery. And everything else can take a backseat, such as USB ports only being 2.0, which is fine. My Cable Matters hub has just croaked, so if there's a decent docking station that has 4K @ 60Hz output then I'd be willing to splash whatever money necessary to get the best solution. But if it only outputs 4K @ 30Hz, then it's going to be a hub/adapter/dock that I use 5% of the time just for doing tasks involving portable hard drive(s). And hence, has got to be something relatively budget, because it'll be sat there unused almost all the time.

I actually managed to find a USB-C hub online earlier today that categorically states that it gives 10W of total power to the three USB 3.0 ports, meaning that you actually use two portable drives with it. It's the StarTech DKT30CHVSCPD. As far as I know, it's the only USB-C hub in existence that has three or more USB 3.0 ports and actually provides 10W of total power (or more) to them. If anyone has any other specific examples that state in writing that they provide at least 10W of power, or you know from personal experience that they do, I'd love to hear. I'm sure there are others, I've just not come across any. And to be clear, when I say "hub" or "adapter", I mean devices that run off your computer's USB-C power adapter; not a docking station which has it's own AC adapter.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Thanks for your reply. From my experience, and from what I've read on product specs and user reviews, it seems that the main issue with using multiple drives on these hubs is that it only designates about 5W of total power for the USB ports. I've had personal experience with this on a Cable Matters hub, and like I said, seen the same thing illustrated on product specs and from user reviews.

The only issue I have with the powered docks is that they almost all output 4K at 30Hz. For 95% of my computing, I don't use portable hard drives, so my main hub/dock/adapter has got to output 4K at 60Hz with power delivery. And everything else can take a backseat, such as USB ports only being 2.0, which is fine. My Cable Matters hub has just croaked, so if there's a decent docking station that has 4K @ 60Hz output then I'd be willing to splash whatever money necessary to get the best solution. But if it only outputs 4K @ 30Hz, then it's going to be a hub/adapter/dock that I use 5% of the time just for doing tasks involving portable hard drive(s). And hence, has got to be something relatively budget, because it'll be sat there unused almost all the time.

I actually managed to find a USB-C hub online earlier today that categorically states that it gives 10W of total power to the three USB 3.0 ports, meaning that you actually use two portable drives with it. It's the StarTech DKT30CHVSCPD. As far as I know, it's the only USB-C hub in existence that has three or more USB 3.0 ports and actually provides 10W of total power (or more) to them. If anyone has any other specific examples that state in writing that they provide at least 10W of power, or you know from personal experience that they do, I'd love to hear. I'm sure there are others, I've just not come across any. And to be clear, when I say "hub" or "adapter", I mean devices that run off your computer's USB-C power adapter; not a docking station which has it's own AC adapter.

Thanks! That does indeed look good.....but pricey!

https://www.startech.com/uk/Cards-A...stations/usb-c-multiport-adapter~DKT30CHVSCPD

Ooops just found cheaper sources:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-DKT30CHVSCPD-Multiport-Adapter-HDMI/dp/B07FBDPBHQ

https://www.ballicom.co.uk/startech-dkt30chvscpd-.p1428985.html