An update on CalDigit devices & macOS 13 Ventura

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15 Ports of Extreme Connectivity

An update on CalDigit devices & macOS 13 Ventura

TS3 Plus_Logo_Version 1_June-13-2018_400px

The TS3 Plus is the ideal solution for Thunderbolt™ 3 Mac & PC users who need to connect multiple devices to their laptops such as SD Card Readers, USB hard drives, dual monitors, digital audio devices, Thunderbolt™ 3 components, and more.

All the ports you need

Connect & Charge

In addition to all this, the TS3 Plus is the best option for both Mac and PC laptop charging. While other Thunderbolt™ 3 docks on the market can only charge one platform, CalDigit’s Thunderbolt™ 3 docks will provide up to 87W power delivery for both Mac and PC users.

Thunderbolt™ 3 Workflow Solution

With the TS3 Plus, a single Thunderbolt™ 3 port from your laptop expands to 15 ports! Power users need as many ports as they can get hold of and the TS3 Plus delivers on this promise. Whether you need multiple USB ports, dual 4K display connectivity, Digital Optical Audio out, or an SD Card Reader, the TS3 Plus packs everything into an incredibly compact unit. Don’t compromise on connectivity with the TS3 Plus!

7 USB Ports

With five USB-A 3.0 ** ports and two USB-C ports, users have a total of seven ports to connect multiple USB devices to their ultra slim laptops. Featuring both front and rear USB ports, the TS3 Plus packs a large amount of connectivity into such a compact device. The rear USB-C port features USB 3.1 Gen. 2 (10Gb/s) which allows users to connect their ultra-fast SSD drives for incredible performance.

** USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 protocols are now called USB 3.2.

15 Ports of Extreme Connectivity

When it comes to port connectivity, more is definitely more! The Thunderbolt Station 3 Plus offers ultimate connectivity by adding a staggering 15 ports for any application. The options go beyond the conventional, helping Thunderbolt 3 users to not only expand their connectivity but also charge their laptops. The power of Thunderbolt 3 combined with CalDigit’s long history designing docking solutions has resulted in the most powerful Thunderbolt 3 dock available.

USB 3.1 Gen.2

Why would someone need USB 3.1 Gen.2? To put it simply, devices like high-performance SSDs require the full bandwidth of USB 3.1 Gen.2 in order to get full performance. While USB 3.1 Gen.1 ports can provide great performance, a Gen.2 port will get the maximum transfer speeds out of your high-speed storage devices.

SD Card Reader

With the advent of digital media, transferring data from SD cards to computers has become an integral part of any project, especially digital photography and 4K videography. TS3 Plus’ SD card reader supports SD 4.0 and UHS-II speeds with a maximum theoretical throughput of 312MB/s, which means that transferring data from SD, SDHC or SDXC cards will be done in no time. 

Digital Optical Audio (S/PDIF)

When it comes to high-quality audio playback, every audio enthusiast knows the benefits of using the best equipment to retain optimal audio signals in its purest state. The Digital Audio port allows users to connect directly to their amplifier, speakers, or home theatre receiver for a pure digital signal.

Digital Optical Audio (S/PDIF)

When it comes to high-quality audio playback, every audio enthusiast knows the benefits of using the best equipment to retain optimal audio signals in its purest state. The Digital Audio port allows users to connect directly to their amplifier, speakers, or home theatre receiver for a pure digital signal.

Laptop Charging

Thunderbolt™ 3 incorporates power delivery, allowing the TS3 Plus to charge Thunderbolt™ 3 laptops. Mac and PC users can put their laptop charger away and power their laptop through a single Thunderbolt™ 3 cable. The 87W power delivery will charge laptops in no time.

5K or Dual 4K Displays

The TS3 Plus’ extreme connectivity is not just confined to data as it can also achieve extreme visual fidelity. Users have the option to connect dual extended 4K 60Hz monitors or a single 5K 60Hz monitor. The versatile DisplayPort connector can be used to connect to any monitor through the use of an active DisplayPort cable/adapter.

If you needed to convert DisplayPort (DP) from the Dock to HDMI, DVI, or VGA output to your existing monitors without a DisplayPort Input, please make sure you are using an ACTIVE DisplayPort adapter. Regular Passive adapter will not work. An ACTIVE DisplayPort adapters has a chipset inside the adapter to properly convert to DP++ signal.

* Some Windows Thunderbolt 3 laptops only support one DisplayPort stream from Thunderbolt 3 port, as the result, such laptops can output up to a single 4K 60Hz or dual 4K 30Hz monitors. Please verify the Thunderbolt 3 port capability with your Windows laptop provider.
** Intel-based Macs can support up to 2 external monitors from each Thunderbolt 3 bus. Apple M1/M2 Macs, such as the MacBook Pro 13”, MacBook Air, and Mac mini, only support 1 external display though their Thunderbolt/USB4 bus. Apple M1 Pro & M1 Max Macs support dual displays though the TS3 Plus.

MONITOR RESOLUTIONS

*Some Windows PC manufacturers have decided to restrict functionality on their Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports such as charging and monitor compatibility. Check to see if your PC supports external monitors.
**Some refresh rates require DP 1.4 HBR3 and DSC 1.2 support from host GPU and monitor.
Some Thunderbolt 3 hosts that only support DP 1.2 will be capped at a lower resolutions & refresh rates. The bit/color depth may vary in order to support higher refresh rates. The support of higher refresh rates may vary due to OS updates.

SuperDrive Compatible

Whilst most other docks on the market do not support Apple’s SuperDrive CD/DVD player, we went above and beyond to designed a driver that allows the SuperDrive to operate when connected to the TS3 Plus. It is these small details, in addition to our expertise of the macOS ecosystem, that sets CalDigit apart.

*SuperDrive support in macOS requires a one-time only driver installation. Please download driver here.

iPad Pro 2021 Compatible

Interface 

2 x Thunderbolt™ 3
1 x DisplayPort 1.2
5 x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gb/s, 1.5A, 7.5W)
2 x USB-C
       1 x USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gb/s, 1.5A, 7.5W) Rear
       1 x USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 ( 5Gb/s, 1.5A, 7.5W) Front
1 x SD Card Reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II)
1 x Digital Optical Audio (S/PDIF)
1 x Gigabit Ethernet
1 x Analog Audio In (Stereo)
1 x Analog Audio Out (Stereo)

System Requirements

Thunderbolt™ 3 Computers
MacOS 10.12 or later
Windows  10 or later

 

Dimensions and Weight

Height : 5.15 inches (131.0 mm) 
Width : 1.57 inches (40.0 mm) 
Depth : 3.87 inches (98.44 mm)
Weight: 1.04 lbs (0.47 kgs)

In the Box

1 x CalDigit TS3 Plus 
1 x Power Adapter (180W) – View detailed spec.
1 x Power Cord 
1 x Thunderbolt 3 Cable (Certified 40Gb/s, up to 100W)

Does the TS3 Plus work on a Mac featuring the M2, M1, M1 Pro, and M1 Max?

Yes, the TS3 Plus is an ideal dock for any M2, M1, M1 Pro, or M1 Max computer.

M1/M2 based Macs only support a single display through the Thunderbolt connection.
This is a limitation of the M1/M2 Macs at this time.

M1 Pro and M1 Max users can connect dual displays to the TS3 Plus when connected to those computers.

What computers does the TS3 Plus support?
The TS3 Plus supports Mac and PC computers that feature a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 Type-C port. Some Windows PC manufacturers have decided not to support 3rd party charging or dual monitor connectivity. We recommend checking with your PC manufacturer for more information. The TS3 Plus is not compatible with USB-C computers or tablets.
 
The TS3 Plus can also support Mac and PC computers with a Thunderbolt 1 or 2 port. A Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 adapter, such as Apple’s Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter (Model:MMEL2AM/A), and a Thunderoblt 2 cable are required. The laptop charging capablity is not implemented in Thunderbolt 1/2 computers.
What cable can I use with the TS3 Plus?

The TS3 should be used with a 40Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 cable, or a Thunderbolt 4 40Gb/s cable.

Make sure to either use the included Thunderbolt 3 cable or a certified 40Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 cable. Not all Thunderbolt 3 cables are 40Gb/s and some only offer 20Gb/s. Check your cable manufacturer’s specifications.

Will the TS3 Plus charge and power my laptop?

Yes, the TS3 Plus provides up to 87W of power for both Mac and Windows Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 laptops.
Some Windows PC manufacturers have decided to restrict charging through their Thunderbolt 3 ports. Check with your PC manufacturer for more information.


If you laptop requires less than 87W, the TS3 Plus will only provide the amount of power required by your laptop.
If your laptop has a factory charger above 87W, the TS3 Plus will charge your laptop at a slightly slower speed, and if you are using CPU/GPU intensive applications we recommend to connect your factory charger to the laptop.

Can I add the TS3 Plus to the end of the daisy-chain?

In order to charge a laptop the TS3 Plus needs to be directly connected to the laptop’s Thunderbolt 3 port.

Do I need to install drivers to use the dock.

No drivers are required for Mac users.

Windows users must have the latest Intel Thunderbolt 3 firmware and drivers installed. Check your laptop manufacturer’s website for the latest firmware, BIOS and drivers. See the download page for more info.

How many monitors are supported and what is the resolution?

The TS3 Plus supports a maximum of two monitors in either a mirrored or extended mode. When connecting one monitor though DisplayPort the maximum resolution is 4K 60Hz. If you are connecting dual monitors the maximum resolution for each monitor is 4K 60Hz. If you connect a monitor to the Thunderbolt 3 port the maximum resolution is 5K 60Hz.


Some Windows PC manufacturers have limited the amount of monitors that can be connected through their Thunderbolt 3 ports to 1 external monitor only. Check to see if your PC’s Thunderbolt 3 port supports dual monitors.


M1 based Mac laptops only support 1 external monitor through their Thunderbolt 3 port. Intel based Macs support 2 external monitors through their Thunderbolt 3 ports.

How do I connect 2 monitors?

To connect dual monitors connect one monitor to the DisplayPort connector and one monitor to the spare Thunderbolt 3 Type-C port using a USB-C Video Adapter.

What types of monitors can I connect to the DisplayPort connector?

You can connect a DisplayPort monitor directly to the DisplayPort connector on the TS3 Plus. Alternatively you can convert from DisplayPort to another connector type such as HDMI, VGA, DVI or mDP. If you are converting from DisplayPort to another video connector type you must use an Active Adapter, such as an Active DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter.

Can I connect a Thunderbolt or USB-C monitor?

Yes, you can directly connect a Thunderbolt or USB-C Type-C monitor to the spare Thunderbolt 3 ports on the TS3 Plus.

Please note that the USB-C ports on the TS3 Plus are for data only.

Are the USB 3.1 ports compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices?

Yes.

Do all the USB ports provide the same performance?

Six of the seven USB 3.1 ports are Gen.1 and offer up to 5Gb/s throughput. The rear USB-C port is Gen.2 and offers up to 10Gb/s throughout. We recommend using the Gen.2 port for high-performance storage devices such as SSDs.

Can I connect USB-A devices to the two USB-C ports?

Yes, if you use a USB-A to C cable you can connect your USB-A devices.

Can I connect a monitor to the TS3 Plus USB-C port?

The two USB-C ports are for data only. If you need to connect a second monitor you can connect it to the spare Thunderbolt 3 Type-C port.

What performance does the SD Card Reader provide?

The TS3 Plus SD Card Reader is SD 4.0 (UHS-II) with a theoretical throughput of 312Mb/s.

What types of SD Cards does the TS3 Plus SD Card Reader support?

SD, SD HC and SD XC.

Can I connect speakers to the TS3 Plus Digital Optical port and to the front Analog port at the same time?

Yes you can connect to both at the same time.

*The TS3 Plus provides up to 87W charging for Mac & Windows Thunderbolt 3 laptops. Firmware update is required. For more information, please visit our KB article here. 
The charging feature may vary depending on the design of your Windows Thunderbolt 3 laptop. Check with the system manufacturer for more information.

TS3 Plus

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