I write about consumer audio, computer gear, Apple Macs, macOS and digital photography. I'm all about tech that amps up the fun, creativity and productivity in life. My job is to scout out and give you the lowdown on the coolest products with cutting-edge tech so you're in the know about what's worth buying.
It’s been a few months since I last had a Thunderbolt dock on my desk and this month a new unit has arrived for review in the form of the StarTech Thunderbolt 4 Quad Display Docking Station. It’s designed for power users who need to turn their laptop into a workstation with all the connectivity of a desktop computer.
that I reviewed back in February. The StarTech dock costs a little more than the Plugable version but it does offer a few more features that some people might think are worth paying extra for. Just to be clear here, the StarTech TB4 dock is certified for USB4 and Thunderbolt 4, making it fully compatible with Intel Evo/Tiger Lake Thunderbolt 4 laptops including Dell Precision 5560/5760, XPS 13 9310, HP EliteBook 850 G8, ProBook 450 G8, and Lenovo X1 Carbon 9th Gen.port for connecting to the host computer. The dock also has a power switch, two USB A ports, audio jack and two card slots.The StarTech TB4 docking station can handle up to four external displays instead of the two that Plugable can support. However, the actual number of screens the dock can drive will depend on the operating system you are using and the computer you have. Apple’s macOS doesn’t include great support for external displays so there’s no point paying for a dock that supports four displays if your Mac only drives two.Other features that make the StarTech TB4 Docking Station stand out is the provision of seven USB ports, two more than the Plugable device. The StarTech TB4 also has a 2.5Gb Ethernet port. Finally, the TB4 has SD and microSD slots, plus a 3.5mm TRRS combo audio jack. Like most docks, the StarTech TB4 docking station has 98W of Power Delivery so you can plug your laptop into the dock and have it run by the power supply that ships with the dock.and 2 x 5Gbps), a USB C ports, two DisplayPorts and two HDMI. There is also a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port.Using direct GPU performance from the host laptop the TB4 docking station can support up to four external displays with 4K resolution and a refresh rate of 60Hz. This is possible with an Intel 12th Gen CPU supporting DP 1.4 with DSC. Four displays at lower resolutions or refresh rates without DSC—or with Intel 11th gen CPU —are supported. Up to four screens can be connected using a combination of up to two DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1. High-resolution video performance like this is ideal for high-end graphics applications such as video production, architectural design and other demanding software. When it comes to Apple silicon, Macs with M1, M2 or M3 Max/Pro processors will support dual displays. However, Macs with M1, M2, or M3 base processors, as well as iPad Pros with M1 or later processors, only a single display is supported.The other standout feature of the StarTech TB4 Docking Station is the provision of 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet which provides improved bandwidth for data-intensive applications, network sharing, FTPs, online or local storage/backup. The Ethernet port supports multi-speed options for working with both new and legacy networks.The build quality of the StarTech TB4 Quad Display Docking Station is superb. It’s a solid piece of kit and is ideal for graphic-intensive hot-desking with the latest laptops. You do need a 12th Gen Intel laptop to get the most from the video support and it’s probably a bit more than you need if you’re a Mac user. In that case, save yourself a bit of cash and go with the Plugable option instead. But if you need to drive four screens, want those extra USB ports and have a 2.5 Gigabit network to plug into, then the StarTech Thunderbolt 4 Quad Display Docking Station could be the one for you.The StarTech Thunderbolt 4 Quad Display Docking Station is available from leading IT resellers and distributors including CDW, Amazon, Ingram Micro, TD SYNNEX, and D&H. The price is $330.99.Forbes Community Guidelines Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kindContinuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejectedAttempts or tactics that put the site security at riskProtect your community.
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