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Element 5 Hub

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Your most common and frequently asked questions are collected here.

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Product Overview

Interface  

  • 1 x Thunderbolt 5 Host (Up to 120Gb/s)
  • 3 x Thunderbolt 5 (80Gb/s)
  • 3 x USB-A (10Gb/s)
  • 2 x USB-C (10Gb/s)
  • 1 x DC In (20V | 9A)

 

Minimum System Requirements

  • macOS 15 or above
  • Windows 11 or above
  • iPadOS
  • Chrome OS
  • Thunderbolt 5 Computer
  • Thunderbolt 4 Computer
  • Thunderbolt 3 Mac
  • USB-C (USB4 or USB4 v2) Computer
  • USB-C Computer/Tablet/Phone
  • Thunderbolt/USB4 iPad
  • USB-C ChromeBook

 

Power Delivery

  • Up to 90W Host Charging
  • Each Downstream Thunderbolt 5 / USB4 v2 Port: 15W (5V/3A)
  • Each USB-A Port: 7.5W (5V/1.5A)
  • Each USB-C Port: 7.5W (5V/1.5A)

 

Size & Weight

  • Height:    1.0″      (25.5mm)
  • Width:      2.75″       (70 mm)
  • Length:    4.48″      (114mm)
  • Weight:    0.44lbs   (0.20kg)

 

In The Box

  • 1 x Element 5 Hub
  • 1 x Thunderbolt 5 Cable (0.8m)
  • 2 x Rubber Feet Strips
  • 1 x Power Supply (180W)
  • 1 x Power Cord

 

Warranty

  • 2 Years

Thunderbolt 5 Element Hub Manuals:

English

CalDigit Element 5 Hub serial number.

The serial number for this product is located on the side.

Do Apple M4 Macs with Thunderbolt 5 support 3 Displays?

Apple M4 Macs with Thunderbolt 5 ports do not natively support 3 external displays via a dock or hub over one Thunderbolt 5 connection. The maximum number of displays they support is 2.

This is the case with any Thunderbolt 5 dock or hub.

For more information about how many monitors can be connected to a Mac, please visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/101571 and https://www.caldigit.com/macbook-multiple-monitor-support-with-caldigit-thunderbolt-docks/

Does the Element 5 Hub work on a Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 computer?

Yes, the Element 5 Hub works on Thunderbolt 4 Macs, Thunderbolt 4 PCs, and Thunderbolt 3 Intel Macs. It however does not support Thunderbolt 3 Windows PCs.

Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3 are both 40Gb/s, and the Element 5 Hub works great on both. However, to get the maximum performance and features out of the Element 5 Hub it should be used with a Thunderbolt 5 or USB4 v2 computer.

For Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5 Windows PCs, please check with your manufacturer to see how many displays your PC supports from a single Thunderbolt connection, including if charging has been restricted via the Thunderbolt ports.

On macOS, to take advantage of the full Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth and features of the Element 5 Hub, an M4 Pro or Max Mac is required. Users on Apple Silicon Thunderbolt 4 Macs (M1-M3 and M4 base) will see reduced functionality. The maximum number of displays that can be connected on macOS via a single Thunderbolt connection is 2, even on an M4 Max, as long as your particular Mac supports 2 displays.

Does the Element 5 Hub work on a Mac featuring the M1-M3, M1-M4 Pro, M1-M4 Max, M1-M4 Max, and M1-M2 Ultra?

Yes, the Element 5 Hub is the perfect companion for the above Apple Silicon Macs.

Base M1-M3 Macs only support a single display through the Thunderbolt connection.

Pro, Max, M4 base, and Ultra Mac users can connect dual displays to the Element 5 Hub.

Three displays are not supported through a dock or hub on M4 Thunderbolt 5 Macs via a single Thunderbolt 5 connection.

Can I use the Element 5 Hub with a Mac mini or iMac since they have their own power supplies?

Yes, the Element 5 Hub is a great option for Mac mini and iMac users to expand their connectivity.
When connected to the Mac mini or iMac, the Element 5 Hub will not supply any power to the computer.

Can I use the Element 5 Hub with another CalDigit dock like the TS4, and does it matter where in the chain I add it?

Yes, the Element 5 Hub can be daisy-chained to the TS4, or any dual port Thunderbolt 3, or Thunderbolt 4 device such as the TS4. You can either have it first or second in the chain. We would recommend to have the TS4 directly connected to the laptop since it provides higher laptop charging.

If you plan to use your own laptop charger, we suggest you connect the Element 5 Hub to your computer first then daisy-chain it to other devices from the Element 5 Hub.

Does the Element 5 Hub use Dynamic Charging or feature Full Consistent Charging?

Unlike the majority of hubs or docks on the market that feature Dynamic Charging which decrease the charging performance when USB devices are connected to the hub, the Element 5 Hub features Full Consistent charging and will always provide 90W of power to the host computer.

I have a laptop with over 90W charging. Will the Element 5 Hub charge my laptop?

Since the Element 5 Hub is a compact hub rather than a larger dock, heat management is of paramount importance.
90W is the optimum power delivery for hub of this size in order to provide enough power and keep the device at the perfect temperature.

If your laptop is above 90W the Element Hub will still charge your laptop at a slower speed.
If you are using CPU or GPU intensive applications we recommend that you connect the laptop’s charger to your laptop.

If you require a device with faster laptop charging, CalDigit offers full size docks with 98W charging.

Can I use the Element 5 Hub without a power supply?

No, the Element 5 Hub requires a power supply in order to operate.

The host Thunderbolt 5 connection provides 90W of power, the remaining Thunderbolt ports each provide up to 15W of power, and the USB ports provide up to 7.5W of power. To provide this much power the Element 5 Hub requires a power supply. However, the power supply that is included is very compact, making it ideal for travelling with.

If I am charging my laptop can I still charge USB devices?

Yes, the Element 5 Hub can charge your laptop at the same time as charging USB devices.

How do I connect a monitor to the Element 5 Hub?

If your monitor is Thunderbolt or USB-C it can connect directly to the spare Thunderbolt 5 ports on the Element 5 Hub.

If you want to connect an HDMI or DisplayPort monitor you can purchase a USB-C to HDMI, or USB-C to DisplayPort Adapter, and connect it to the spare Thunderbolt ports.

What devices can I connect to the Thunderbolt ports on the Element 5 Hub?

You can connect any Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 5, USB4, USB4 v2, or USB-C devices to the Thunderbolt ports on the Element 5 Hub.

This includes, but is not limited to, external storage, eGPUs, docks, monitors, 10G Ethernet adapter, USB-C to SD card readers, and USB-C to ethernet adapters.

You can also daisy chain multiple Element 5 Hubs together.

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