Ahh that microSD card slot on the front is sweet and being able to use both that and the regular sd at the same time like you mentioned sounds awesome but I'm with you the mini DisplayPort is really off putting! I'm still very tempted though!
a reminder that if you have a display port input on your monitor you can directly use a mini DP to DP cable; no need for a dongle. And if it's HDMI only you probably already have a dongle for that if you use mac. that kinda make sense. The waking up problem seem to be common with those hubs and docks.
Hey Chris, great video! I know you said you have a 144hz monitor. Were you able to get the dock to output 144hz from the Mini DisplayPort? I saw some amazon reviews claiming that this maxed out at 60hz even on 1080p. If not, was the ts3+ able to output 144hz? Thanks
Hi! Great review, very helpful information! I have two 2k monitors, one with 144hz and the other with 75hz. Do you think this dock will alow me to run both monitors at their highest refresh rates?
Hey Chris that was a good review. I've just literally bought the TS3 after looking at a few of the options out there including the OWC and the Anker 13-1 and it was a tough choice between the CalDigit and Anker. The OWC mini display port was a bit of a deal breaker along with not needing a MicroSD reader (and being able to use a SD to Micro adapter if I need to) and then the price. It's not worth it in my eyes paying extra money for a MicroSD reader and the CalDigit is a smaller footprint and looks real neat in my setup. I've not experienced any heating up of the SD card or the unit yet but then the files I've been transferring aren't taking more than a few seconds so I'll have to see what happens on a longer transfer. But yeah overall I love the TS3 and the OWC was considered. You should try and get hold of the Anker as I hear it's fantastic on paper but gets too hot. Be interesting to see what you think of it. Hope you're well and keep up the good work! H Man | Forty One Thirty
Thanks for the kind words H Man! good to see you stop by. The CalDigit is a tough one to beat and I've now switched to usb c to hdmi cable because of this display port! It's so frustrating! I've heard of the Anker one but I dont think I can review another thunderbolt 3 hub with all the thunderbolt 4 ones coming out, seems like it'd fall on deaf ears. Plus, i've got a backlog of gear to review and the hard drive that's mentioned in this video! HAHA! Thanks again for stopping by!
@@ChrisWilmshurst thanks your response. Yes, it is the stick that comes with the mice. But, also I had issues with the display port and finally I had to returned. I think to move to OWC.
Hi Chris! My question is about macbooks with apple silicon inside: do you hear about cases when logic board "fries" by power delivery? Is it safe to use OWC docks on m1?
@@ChrisWilmshurst I think it's best solution for Mac mini, because this is desktop without possibility to power up through thunderbolt. Mac mini has built-in power adapter 😁. Thank you for stay in tune!
I have a Apple LED Cinema 24 inch display, which has Mini DisplayPort. Do you think it will work better seeing as I will be plugging it straight in the the MDP port.
That's some really good helpful knowledge. Thanks for pointing that out. All though my 0.85cm cable with my CalDigit didn't have any difference in performance
I thought this dock came with a firewire 800 port. Maybe that's an older model?? Trying to stream from my old Sony Handicam to my Acer Swift 3 with TB-3 port.
@@ChrisWilmshurst Thanks Chris. My Acer Swift 3 actually has a TB4 port. There are compatibility issues with my current dock and adaptors that I'm trying to resolve and the older OWC with the built in FW800 port might fit the bill. $50 on eBay so with the risk to buy one and see if it works. I'm trying to run old Dartfish video review software using an old Sony Handicam with a 4-pin FW output.
You mean the thunderbolt port on the back? If so I believe you can if connected to a pc. Or do you mean the one on the front? As that is meant for both data and charging
Hi, I am facing some issue if I power off dock while not in use and when i power on dock and connect to mac then it is not working on top of it if I remove my mac is going to reset and I see this error Intel crashlog recorded due to unexpected reset Can you help me with this ?
@@ChrisWilmshurst I’m actually on a MBP 15” 2015 right now and using the miniDP to connect to my 4K monitor so this may be a plus for me…. Except not sure if it supports HDR which my monitor does. Seems like the only potential downside. I’m looking for what may be the best dock if I get an M1 MacBook.
@@fighterpilot12 The thunderbolt 3 port should be able to support HDR if im not mistaken... but if its a 2015 MBP.. the actual Mac may be the defining factor. I'd check if it can output HDR before taking the plunge!
Ahh that microSD card slot on the front is sweet and being able to use both that and the regular sd at the same time like you mentioned sounds awesome but I'm with you the mini DisplayPort is really off putting! I'm still very tempted though!
Yeah, I hate the thing, but this micro sd card does make up for it! thanks for stopping by as always mate.
a reminder that if you have a display port input on your monitor you can directly use a mini DP to DP cable; no need for a dongle. And if it's HDMI only you probably already have a dongle for that if you use mac. that kinda make sense. The waking up problem seem to be common with those hubs and docks.
If the dock does not have its power brick plugged in, will it draw power from the laptop and supply to the downstream ports?
I have to say, that was a good review, detailed and informative 👍
Thanks Nixon, took your advice onboard and tried to be a bit more critical!
The music makes me think there is a cat behind me meowing lol! Great review!
Hey Chris, great video! I know you said you have a 144hz monitor. Were you able to get the dock to output 144hz from the Mini DisplayPort? I saw some amazon reviews claiming that this maxed out at 60hz even on 1080p. If not, was the ts3+ able to output 144hz? Thanks
I didn’t actually check sorry. I know my ts3+ was able to get to around 120hz when connected to my Mac, anything over that failed
3 years later and it's on sale for $99. Worth it at that price in mid-2024?
$99? I’d say absolutely
Hi! Great review, very helpful information!
I have two 2k monitors, one with 144hz and the other with 75hz. Do you think this dock will alow me to run both monitors at their highest refresh rates?
Hi Dmitry, are you connecting to a PC or MAC? you should be able to run 144hz through thunderbolt, im not 100% sure on mini display port.
That dock comes with a certified USB4/Thunderbolt 4 cable. It cannot be a meter long like you said you wanted.
This is the thunderbolt 3 version. I haven’t received the thunderbolt 4 one yet. Also, there are certified longer cables :)
I like it. I really need something like this, no idea why I’ve not got one yet.
A thunderbolt 3 dock would definitely fit nicely in your setup!
Hey Chris that was a good review. I've just literally bought the TS3 after looking at a few of the options out there including the OWC and the Anker 13-1 and it was a tough choice between the CalDigit and Anker. The OWC mini display port was a bit of a deal breaker along with not needing a MicroSD reader (and being able to use a SD to Micro adapter if I need to) and then the price. It's not worth it in my eyes paying extra money for a MicroSD reader and the CalDigit is a smaller footprint and looks real neat in my setup.
I've not experienced any heating up of the SD card or the unit yet but then the files I've been transferring aren't taking more than a few seconds so I'll have to see what happens on a longer transfer. But yeah overall I love the TS3 and the OWC was considered.
You should try and get hold of the Anker as I hear it's fantastic on paper but gets too hot. Be interesting to see what you think of it.
Hope you're well and keep up the good work!
H Man | Forty One Thirty
Thanks for the kind words H Man! good to see you stop by. The CalDigit is a tough one to beat and I've now switched to usb c to hdmi cable because of this display port! It's so frustrating!
I've heard of the Anker one but I dont think I can review another thunderbolt 3 hub with all the thunderbolt 4 ones coming out, seems like it'd fall on deaf ears. Plus, i've got a backlog of gear to review and the hard drive that's mentioned in this video! HAHA!
Thanks again for stopping by!
Which ports are left off of the pro version? It seems like its a better dock all around: 10Gb ethernet, full size display port, usb 3.2.
Pretty sure there are less thunderbolt ports. It’s an old one now so it might be wise to wait for the new thunderbolt 4 pro dock their releasing soon.
Hi Chris, did you experienced issues with usb A ports on TS3? In my case I use Logi unifying and male them impossible to be used. Thanks
I didn’t have any with mine no. Are you talking about the usb stick that comes with Logitech mice? Mine worked fine
@@ChrisWilmshurst thanks your response. Yes, it is the stick that comes with the mice. But, also I had issues with the display port and finally I had to returned. I think to move to OWC.
Hi Chris!
My question is about macbooks with apple silicon inside: do you hear about cases when logic board "fries" by power delivery? Is it safe to use OWC docks on m1?
I used this for about a month with my ex girlfriends Mac mini with no issues.
@@ChrisWilmshurst I think it's best solution for Mac mini, because this is desktop without possibility to power up through thunderbolt. Mac mini has built-in power adapter 😁. Thank you for stay in tune!
I have a Apple LED Cinema 24 inch display, which has Mini DisplayPort. Do you think it will work better seeing as I will be plugging it straight in the the MDP port.
If it’s a direct connection I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
Cable length is related to speeds you get, so in order to achieve speed they claim they have to retaiil with .5 m cable
That's some really good helpful knowledge. Thanks for pointing that out. All though my 0.85cm cable with my CalDigit didn't have any difference in performance
I thought this dock came with a firewire 800 port. Maybe that's an older model?? Trying to stream from my old Sony Handicam to my Acer Swift 3 with TB-3 port.
That may be an older thunderbolt 2 dock. Try search for a Thunderbolt /usb c to FireWire adapter
@@ChrisWilmshurst Thanks Chris. My Acer Swift 3 actually has a TB4 port. There are compatibility issues with my current dock and adaptors that I'm trying to resolve and the older OWC with the built in FW800 port might fit the bill. $50 on eBay so with the risk to buy one and see if it works. I'm trying to run old Dartfish video review software using an old Sony Handicam with a 4-pin FW output.
Were you still able get good framerate with the mdp? I'm wondering how it would be to game with this thing.
I didn’t test it for gaming, but I’ve used usb c to hdmi in thunderbolt on another thunderbolt hub with no issues
Hi Chris, curious as to how I can reset my device. It stopped connected after a year of use.
Hey Christie, have you tried a different thunderbolt 3 cable? It may have broken, if that fails contact OWC and it may be a warranty issue
is it the same width as mac mini?
Can you use the USB C port that is meant for charging as just a USB C port without charging? Would that harm it in any way?
You mean the thunderbolt port on the back? If so I believe you can if connected to a pc. Or do you mean the one on the front? As that is meant for both data and charging
@@ChrisWilmshurst I was asking about the one for both data and charging. I use an iMac and do not need charging only more ports.
Yes it can work like normal without power delivery
Hi,
I am facing some issue if I power off dock while not in use and when i power on dock and connect to mac then it is not working on top of it if I remove my mac is going to reset and I see this error
Intel crashlog recorded due to unexpected reset
Can you help me with this ?
Hey, that sounds like an issue I wouldn’t be able to help with. I would contact OWC directly!
Awesome mate
Thank you! Cheers!
How do you like it compared to your TS3+?
I've switched back to my TS3+. The mini display port issues I was having were to much for me to handle.
@@ChrisWilmshurst I’m actually on a MBP 15” 2015 right now and using the miniDP to connect to my 4K monitor so this may be a plus for me….
Except not sure if it supports HDR which my monitor does. Seems like the only potential downside.
I’m looking for what may be the best dock if I get an M1 MacBook.
@@fighterpilot12 The thunderbolt 3 port should be able to support HDR if im not mistaken... but if its a 2015 MBP.. the actual Mac may be the defining factor. I'd check if it can output HDR before taking the plunge!
@@ChrisWilmshurst OWC also now has a Thunderbolt 4 dock with an extra USB-C Thunderbolt port instead of the miniDP - maybe that's the way to go.
Yes that definitely would be a good one. I’m expecting one from them as soon as they get stock! :)