Thunderbolt 4 docks with front facing io and host connection in the back?

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Struxxffs

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  • #1
    Hello everyone,

    I am looking for a macos compatible self powered thunderbolt 4 hub with the host connection on the back.

    As well as:
    • front thunderbolt 4 port.
    • front usb A port.
    • thunderbolt 4 ports on the back.
    • Under $200.00
    Setup:
    • Mac mini m2.
    • One thunderbolt port is used for video output.
    • One thunderbolt port would used for the dock.


    Dock would connect to a thunderbolt 4 nvme drive enclosure with a nvme ssd, a thunderbolt to lightning keyboard cable and sometimes used for connecting a usb drive.

    Having a hard time finding a thunderbolt 4 dock that has the host connection on the back other then the calidigit dock but that exceeds the budget of $200.00
     
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    markgo

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  • #2
    You’re going to have trouble finding that combination at that price point.

    You may have to compromise on self-powered or TB pass through. It’s possible, but not cheap as CalDigit stuff shows.

    As you’ve probably discovered, there are much cheaper docks that only provide USB ports (often a mix of A and C). But they also provide video output, meaning you could free up your other native port for TB4 stuff. Be careful if you want to drive a high resolution monitor, there are limits on resolution and refresh rate.

    I think there might be TB4 external disks that have some of the dock-like functionality you’re looking for. But not sure there’s anything that has everything at your price point.
     
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    Struxxffs

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  • #3
    markgo said:
    You’re going to have trouble finding that combination at that price point.

    You may have to compromise on self-powered or TB pass through. It’s possible, but not cheap as CalDigit stuff shows.

    As you’ve probably discovered, there are much cheaper docks that only provide USB ports (often a mix of A and C). But they also provide video output, meaning you could free up your other native port for TB4 stuff. Be careful if you want to drive a high resolution monitor, there are limits on resolution and refresh rate.

    I think there might be TB4 external disks that have some of the dock-like functionality you’re looking for. But not sure there’s anything that has everything at your price point.
    Click to expand...

    Yeah, it does look like the budget will not cut it. Lots of research and there does not seem to be a dock that hits around this price point. Even trying to find with a back port for host connection is difficult. I just remember that nvme drive is pcie gen 3 drive, even though the the enclosure is thunderbolt 4. Maybe a thunderbolt 3 dock would be enough to drive the nvme drive at its native speed?
     
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    continuum

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  • #4
    Area51Freak said:
    Maybe a thunderbolt 3 dock would be enough to drive the nvme drive at its native speed?
    Click to expand...
    On paper it's close, reality is a bit more nuanced. (random internet site with info)

    Some comparisons:
    www.tomshardware.com

    Plugable Thunderbolt 3 NVMe External SSD Review: Extreme Speed, Lower Price

    If you're after Thunderbolt 3 speed without paying top dollar, this drive delivers.
    www.tomshardware.com www.tomshardware.com

    A good PCI-e 3.0 x4 SSD for comparison:
    www.anandtech.com

    The Best NVMe SSD for Laptops and Notebooks: SK hynix Gold P31 1TB SSD Reviewed

    www.anandtech.com www.anandtech.com
     
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  • #5
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  • #7
    continuum said:
    On paper it's close, reality is a bit more nuanced. (random internet site with info)

    Some comparisons:
    www.tomshardware.com

    Plugable Thunderbolt 3 NVMe External SSD Review: Extreme Speed, Lower Price

    If you're after Thunderbolt 3 speed without paying top dollar, this drive delivers.
    www.tomshardware.com www.tomshardware.com

    A good PCI-e 3.0 x4 SSD for comparison:
    www.anandtech.com

    The Best NVMe SSD for Laptops and Notebooks: SK hynix Gold P31 1TB SSD Reviewed

    www.anandtech.com www.anandtech.com
    Click to expand...

    The nvme drive is a SK hynix Gold P31.

    Enclosure is a Acasis 40Gbps M.2 NVMe USB 4 Thunderbolt 3/4

    From I have read these are the speeds of the nvme, thunderbolt ports, and the enclosure.

    SK hynix Gold P31 Speeds: 3,500 MB/s read and 3,200 MB/s write speeds

    Thunderbolt 3 speeds: 2400+ MB/s read and 1800+ MB/s write

    Thunderbolt 4 speeds: 2800 MB/s read/write

    Acsis Enclosure: 40 GBps
    Click to expand...


    MrElbbiw said:
    If you're willing to put up with the host connection on the front then the 'Belkin Connect Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station' may do what you need.

    TBH, i'm a little sour on Caldigit as both of my Thunderbolt docks from them died six months outside of the warrantee period.
    Click to expand...
    I have looked at the dock. The host port also shows its a charging port, will the host port try to charge the mac mini m2 or will the dock recognize to not output power to the mac mini?
     
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    continuum

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  • #9
    Area51Freak said:
    Enclosure is a Acasis 40Gbps M.2 NVMe USB 4 Thunderbolt 3/4
    Click to expand...
    I think that is listed in Dan S. Charlton’s blog, can you confirm what controller it uses? I linked his blog about specific controllers in a separate post (right after the one you quoted).

    if that enclosure Is indeed in the list then you should have a pretty reliable idea on the performance it’s capable of.
     
    Struxxffs

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  • #10
    continuum said:
    I think that is listed in Dan S. Charlton’s blog, can you confirm what controller it uses? I linked his blog about specific controllers in a separate post (right after the one you quoted).

    if that enclosure Is indeed in the list then you should have a pretty reliable idea on the performance it’s capable of.
    Click to expand...

    Controller:
    IntelJHL7440TB3 with
    PCIe Gen3x4    		PCIe Gen3x424Gb/s~2600-2800MB/s– USB 3.x compatible
    – controller limits speed
     
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  • #11
    MrElbbiw said:
    My understanding is that this stuff is smart enough to figure it out though it’s not something I have direct experience of.
    Click to expand...

    Yeah, after some more searching according to a post on the apple forums website.

    Any USB-C based charging device which also includes any Thunderbolt docks will not charge a device that does not require charging and will not deliver any power to it.

    Without getting into nitty gritty details, when a USB-C connector device connects to a USB-C "power provider" it tells the "Power provider" that it needs power. A device such as a MacMini will not "issue" such a request and therefore the "power provider" will not deliver power.

    Also, the reverse is true. The Mini can be a power provider to external devices.

    So, through the design of how bus powering works, when plugging devices together the two devices will figure out who needs power and who does not and if nether need power, neither will provide power.

    There are probably millions of such docks/hubs in use on desktops and there are no issues.
    Click to expand...

    source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255451731
     
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  • #15
    I am looking into being able to use the caldigit ts4 dock with the macbook air when the mac mini is not being used.

    Because the dock always has a nvme enclosure connected to it, would also using the dock on the mac mini (m2) for video output effect video peformance or the nvme enclosures speed?

    My current monitor that is being used, will only look good using the usb c cable.
     
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