USB-C/Thunderbolt Dock Megathread

Hi,

just a short info about Baseus dock:
Official name: CAHUB-CW0G
Usually sold as “6in1” Metal Gleam Hub

Works perfectly fine with Framework 13 (AMD 7640u). I’m using all the ports of this device: usb-c for power input (original Framework charger), HDMI for my 2nd screen (2560x1440, 60Hz), 3x usb-a (M$ keyboard / Logitech trackball / SMSL external DAC-AMP).

Maybe this info will be helpful if someone needs an inexpensive hub…

I needed a USB-C dock that can handle 3x2k monitors. I was using a 3 monitor dongle for the past year, but I still have to connect everything else to my Framework 16’s remaining ports.

Anyway, I found this one: Amazon.com: TobenONE 18-in-1 Triple 4K@60Hz Monitor Docking Station with 150W Power Supply, USB C Laptop Docking Station Stand(Single 4K@144Hz), 2.5Gbps Ethernet, 2 HDMI & DP, 8 USB, for Windows&ChromeOS : Electronics

It seems to work pretty well. It wont accept any hdmi<->displayport adapter connections, so I had to connect one of the monitors direct to the displayport port on the monitor, but all three work great with this.

Max refresh I can get with three 2k monitors at the same time is:
144hz (DP), 144hz (HDMI1), 60hz (HDMI2), or
165hz (DP), 120hz (HDMI1), 60hz (HDMI2).
For whatever reason, that second hdmi monitor will not go passed 60hz with all three connected, but it works fine. It’s probably just a limitation of everything going over one usb cable. But this allows me to connect only one cable and work all day. It will keep the battery charged (advertises 100w max) as long as you don’t game on it.

I should add a clarification to my previous post:
Manufacturer’s code of my product is WKWG020113 and it’s called “7in1” :slight_smile:

Recently scored a Caldigit TS5+. Works on my HP work laptop with Windows 11, but not my Framework Laptop 16. Tested on both Windows 11 and Bazzite. :frowning:

Just wanted to add my 2cents to the thread since it was a helpful guide:

I am using a Wavlink UTD43 with a FW13 AMD 7840U using Windows. All ports are working. No driver install required

Thought I would contribute in case somebody has my bizarre challenges. I’m trying to find a dock that will allow me to plug both my new FW13 hx370 (USB4) and my work M2 MBP (TB4) into my Samsung 57" monitor with HDMI 2.1. The FW13 really didn’t like my Thinkpad Thunderbolt 3 dock and it couldn’t support the HDMI needs.

I’m trying the new Anker TB5 dock, partially because I love their stuff and partially for future proofing. It can’t drive the Samsung directly with it’s HDMI port, but I can make it work by daisychaining a Cable Matters USB-C → HDMI adapter. It works with both machines in USB4 mode with a USB4 cable, but it only works with the Mac with a TB3 cable and will not work with the FW13 at all with a TB3 cable, throwing this error in dmesg:

ucsi_acpi USBC000:00: unknown error 256

I’ve concluded the hx370 FW13 can’t fall back to TB3 at all. This wouldn’t be an issue but I have a funny problem where some of my devices don’t actually work in USB4 mode because I end up with a hub depth >5 due to the need to use the monitor KVM and some of my USB3 hubs running internal USB2 hubs (including the Anker dock).

Anyway, first world problems. In short, the Anker TB5 dock seems to work great with the FW13 in USB4 mode and gives you forward headroom if you get a new TB5 machine.

I just started using the CalDigit Element 5 Hub for my Framework 13 (Intel 13th gen) running Manjaro (kernel 6.15.3). Overall the experience has been relatively positive. I did my best to find a model number for this thing, and I think it’s R-R-Ca5-TBT5Hub.
Here’s what I have hooked up:

  • 2x 4k 144Hz displays (1 running at 120Hz, the other seems to be limited to 60Hz even though it’s set to 120Hz as well), both connected through USB-C to HDMI adapters (Cable Matters 48Gbps)
  • Webcam (Elgato Facecam Pro)
  • USB-C Gigabit ethernet adapter
  • USB-A Audio adapter

Charging the laptop seems to work just fine.

Other than the one display being limited to 60Hz, which isn’t a big deal for me personally, I’ve only had a single case where I had to reboot to get both displays to work.

Does everything (including displays) auto reconnect after a suspend & wake cycle?

We need a central list/table with all docks and what they do and don’t support. My CalDigit TS4 has some quirks and needs a udev rule for ethernet, but I don’t know where to document it.

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I’m writing this after just waking up the laptop from sleep, while connected to the hub, and everything reconnected just fine. This has also been my experience since starting to use the hub.
As said, I’ve only had a single case where only one display would connect after plugging in the hub, and a restart was required to resolve that. If I encounter this situation more often I’ll post an update.