CalDigit's new Thunderbolt 5 docks unlock high-speed workflows & multi-display setups

AppleInsider

With up to 20 ports, the CalDigit TS5 and TS5 Plus docks are ready to deliver a big boost in connectivity to not Thunderbolt 5 ports, but any Mac Apple has made for the last nine years.

New docks from CalDigit

CalDigit has officially unveiled the TS5 and TS5 Plus, its next-generation Thunderbolt docking stations designed to push the limits of desktop connectivity for Mac and PC users.



The two new docks leverage Thunderbolt 5 technology, Intel's latest high-speed connection standard that doubles the bandwidth of previous generations. The increased throughput offers an array of high-speed ports, extensive data transfer capabilities, and robust charging support for today's power-hungry devices.

According to CalDigit, the TS5 and TS5 Plus are the company's most powerful docking stations to date, arriving more than a decade after the debut of the original Thunderbolt Station.

TS5: performance-first docking with 15 ports

The TS5 features 15 ports, including four 80Gb/s Thunderbolt 5 connections that support high-performance workflows and displays.

CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 5 (TS5). Image credit: CalDigit

The dock supports 120Gb/s Bandwidth Boost, allowing professionals to connect multiple high-resolution monitors with smooth performance. Users can run dual 6K displays or connect ultra-fast drives and monitors simultaneously without slowdown.

• 1 USB-A 2.0 (480Mb/s)


• 2 USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s)


• 1 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s)


• 1 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s, 20W charging)


• 4 Thunderbolt 5 (80Gb/s) - 1 upstream, 3 downstream


• 1 DisplayPort 1.4


• 1 SD 4.0 Card Reader (UHS-II)


• 1 3.5mm Audio In/Out


• 1 2.5GbE Ethernet


• 1 DC In (Power Supply)


• 1 Kensington Lock Slot

The TS5 supports 140W of host charging, making the dock powerful enough for larger laptops like Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro that require substantial power delivery.

TS5 Plus: Dual USB controllers & 10Gb Ethernet

The TS5 Plus expands connectivity to 20 ports, and has two features that most Thunderbolt docks don't have.

The Plus model features dual 10Gb/s USB controllers, eliminating bandwidth bottlenecks that typically occur when multiple high-speed devices operate simultaneously. The dual controller design means connected peripherals like external SSDs maintain peak performance even when used together.

CalDigit's premium dock also includes native 10Gb Ethernet which is ten times faster than standard gigabit connections. It provides professional-grade network speeds for large file transfers and server access.

Thunderbolt Station 5 Plus (TS5 Plus). Image credit: CalDigit

The TS5 Plus offers three 80Gb/s Thunderbolt 5 ports and matches the TS5's 140W host charging capability. The Plus variant also provides enhanced 36W charging on select downstream ports for power-hungry accessories.

• 3 USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s)


• 1 USB-A 2.0 (480Mb/s)


• 2 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s)


• 1 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s, 20W charging)


• 3 Thunderbolt 5 (80Gb/s) - 1 upstream, 2 downstream


• 1 DisplayPort 1.4


• 1 SD 4.0 Card Reader (UHS-II)


• 1 3.5mm Audio In/Out


• 1 10GbE Ethernet


• 1 DC In (Power Supply)


• 1 Kensington Lock Slot


• 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb/s) via second USB controller


• 2 USB-C ports with 36W charging (non-Thunderbolt)

For display connectivity, Mac users can connect dual 4K displays at 240Hz or dual 8K displays at 60Hz, provided their systems support it. Windows PC users gain an additional advantage, with the TS5 Plus supporting up to three external displays on compatible systems.

How the models compare

While both docks feature Thunderbolt 5 technology, the TS5 is good for users who prioritize multiple Thunderbolt connections. The TS5 Plus offers more versatility with additional USB ports and faster networking, making it better for people with demanding workflows.

The TS5 provides one more Thunderbolt port than the Plus model, but lacks the dual USB controller system and 10Gb Ethernet that set the Plus apart for professional environments.

Mac display support depends on the chip inside. M1 and M2 Macs typically support only one external display, while M3 models allow up to two when the lid is closed.

Macs with Pro or Max chips support more -- M1 Pro and M2 Pro can handle two displays, while M1 Max and M2 Max support up to four. Mac Studio models with M1 Ultra can drive as many as five displays.

Pricing & availability

The premium TS5 Plus launches in the U.S. in late April 2025 with a retail price of $499.99. Meanwhile, the more affordable TS5 will follow in the U.S. in late May 2025, priced at $369.99.

Both models are compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 devices, though at reduced speeds compared to Thunderbolt 5-equipped computers.



Read on AppleInsider

cia

FINALLY someone has provided a solution for those of us who want/need 10Gbe ethernet while at the same time offering a cheaper version that offers 2.5Gbe for those who don't need/care for the faster networking.

Great product!

edited April 7

filemakerfeller

At US$500 I'm starting to feel like these docks are just PCs dedicated to data throughput. A far cry from the 1980s when I started my computing career.

m4m40

Hope there’s going to be another “Apple Store” version of TS5 . 

mike wuerthele

cia said:

FINALLY someone has provided a solution for those of us who want/need 10Gbe ethernet while at the same time offering a cheaper version that offers 2.5Gbe for those who don't need/care for the faster networking.

Great product!

They both look real good. The TS4 is our present main recommendation, and we'll be evaluating these as they come in.

commentzilla

I'm still having connectivity problems with the TS4. I have both SSDs and HHDs drop offline but only during multi TB or extremely fast multi TB transfers. Wouldn't see this under normal use conditions. I've changed out dozens of cables, cases, reformatted drives, etc. It still happens. None of this happens when directly connected to the Mac or when using a TB3 dock. It's almost certainly is a power management issue since it will knock a pair of self-powered HDD offline; they no longer show in Apple disk Utility and then magically come back sometime later.

mike wuerthele

commentzilla said:

I'm still having connectivity problems with the TS4. I have both SSDs and HHDs drop offline but only during multi TB or extremely fast multi TB transfers. Wouldn't see this under normal use conditions. I've changed out dozens of cables, cases, reformatted drives, etc. It still happens. None of this happens when directly connected to the Mac or when using a TB3 dock. It's almost certainly is a power management issue since it will knock a pair of self-powered HDD offline; they no longer show in Apple disk Utility and then magically come back sometime later.

Our review sample is still in use on my testing bench, and it moves probably a terabyte a day between a SSD and a RAID array. Might want to talk to CalDigit about it.

commentzilla

Mike Wuerthele said:

commentzilla said:

I'm still having connectivity problems with the TS4. I have both SSDs and HHDs drop offline but only during multi TB or extremely fast multi TB transfers. Wouldn't see this under normal use conditions. I've changed out dozens of cables, cases, reformatted drives, etc. It still happens. None of this happens when directly connected to the Mac or when using a TB3 dock. It's almost certainly is a power management issue since it will knock a pair of self-powered HDD offline; they no longer show in Apple disk Utility and then magically come back sometime later.

Our review sample is still in use on my testing bench, and it moves probably a terabyte a day between a SSD and a RAID array. Might want to talk to CalDigit about it.

That's not what I'm talking about. You seem to be describing a lot of smaller transfers that add up to a TB at the end of the day.  I, on the other hand, am transferring up to 8 TBs continuously in a single backup / verification of an entire drive / volume. So during the day when I run consecutive backups / verifications, I'm moving maybe 36 TB. I have RAIDs, SSDs, and HDDs.  It only happens with large continuous backups and even self-powered drives are being dismounted and that appears to be initiated by the dock. I've read of others with this problem.

commentzilla

Mike Wuerthele said:

commentzilla said:

I'm still having connectivity problems with the TS4. I have both SSDs and HHDs drop offline but only during multi TB or extremely fast multi TB transfers. Wouldn't see this under normal use conditions. I've changed out dozens of cables, cases, reformatted drives, etc. It still happens. None of this happens when directly connected to the Mac or when using a TB3 dock. It's almost certainly is a power management issue since it will knock a pair of self-powered HDD offline; they no longer show in Apple disk Utility and then magically come back sometime later.

Our review sample is still in use on my testing bench, and it moves probably a terabyte a day between a SSD and a RAID array. Might want to talk to CalDigit about it.

Connect two self-powered 12TB HDDs that are 75% full directly to the TS4 and clone / verify or Finder copy the entire drive and tell me how it goes.

edited April 8

dewme

cia said:

FINALLY someone has provided a solution for those of us who want/need 10Gbe ethernet while at the same time offering a cheaper version that offers 2.5Gbe for those who don't need/care for the faster networking.

Great product!

The biggest impediment for me to be able to go to 2.5Gbe or 10Gbe has nothing to do with these docking stations / port expanders. It’s all of the other infrastructure components including switches, cabling, and having endpoints that can take advantage of the faster speed. If you have all of the 10Gbe or 2.5Gbe infrastructure in-place and have compatible computers and devices ready to take advantage of it, these devices will certainly help get you onboard the bullet train.

Of course it’s not an all-or-nothing proposition either because reducing latency and improving throughput at the intermediate hops will help improve the net end-end throughput. Maybe not as much as possible, but incrementally. I can’t recall a time in my personal networking setups where I’ve ever had a totally homogeneous system comprised of the latest and greatest technologies. Same thing at work. It seems it’s incremental improvements over time as the network infrastructure and devices catch up to the newer generations of the technology.

That said, these new docks look fantastic from a spec sheet perspective and are helping pave the way for more TB5 component availability. I look forward to seeing how they perform once they get in the field. Hopefully, AppleInsider will take them for a spin.

mike wuerthele

commentzilla said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

commentzilla said:

I'm still having connectivity problems with the TS4. I have both SSDs and HHDs drop offline but only during multi TB or extremely fast multi TB transfers. Wouldn't see this under normal use conditions. I've changed out dozens of cables, cases, reformatted drives, etc. It still happens. None of this happens when directly connected to the Mac or when using a TB3 dock. It's almost certainly is a power management issue since it will knock a pair of self-powered HDD offline; they no longer show in Apple disk Utility and then magically come back sometime later.

Our review sample is still in use on my testing bench, and it moves probably a terabyte a day between a SSD and a RAID array. Might want to talk to CalDigit about it.

Connect two self-powered 12TB HDDs that are 75% full directly to the TS4 and clone / verify or Finder copy the entire drive and tell me how it goes.

I haven't had any issue with self-powered drives, it's just not a present workflow. I don't think capacity full is relevant, but I'll try it again in the next week or so.

I'd still talk to CalDigit about it, if I were you.

commentzilla

Mike Wuerthele said:

commentzilla said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

commentzilla said:

I'm still having connectivity problems with the TS4. I have both SSDs and HHDs drop offline but only during multi TB or extremely fast multi TB transfers. Wouldn't see this under normal use conditions. I've changed out dozens of cables, cases, reformatted drives, etc. It still happens. None of this happens when directly connected to the Mac or when using a TB3 dock. It's almost certainly is a power management issue since it will knock a pair of self-powered HDD offline; they no longer show in Apple disk Utility and then magically come back sometime later.

Our review sample is still in use on my testing bench, and it moves probably a terabyte a day between a SSD and a RAID array. Might want to talk to CalDigit about it.

Connect two self-powered 12TB HDDs that are 75% full directly to the TS4 and clone / verify or Finder copy the entire drive and tell me how it goes.

I haven't had any issue with self-powered drives, it's just not a present workflow. I don't think capacity full is relevant, but I'll try it again in the next week or so.

I'd still talk to CalDigit about it, if I were you.

I did and they quickly treated me like an amateur. Blaming my equipment and software updates. I never come for help until I have exhausted all the possibilities I can think of.

Transfer 8GB of data in a single copy or clone of a drive and let me know; sometimes it will succeed so don't give up after one try. I use CCC Cloner to copy and verify large volumes, but I was able to replicate the issue with a simply Finder copy, ruling out CCC. No errors are given other than the drives were forcibly dismounted, but it doesn't happen when the drives are attached directly to the Mac. I have both passive and active Thunderbolt cables test: CalDigit, OWC and Cable Matters. I heard reports that OWC TB4 docks have a similar issue.

Same drives had no issue with TB3.

I still suspect it has something to do with power management. No reasons the drives should go offline, as if they did not exist.

If I remember correctly, CalDigit issued a power management firmware fix for the TS4. But maybe it did not go far enough.

edited April 8

commentzilla

Mike Wuerthele said:

commentzilla said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

I haven't had any issue with self-powered drives, it's just not a present workflow. I don't think capacity full is relevant, but I'll try it again in the next week or so. I'd still talk to CalDigit about it, if I were you.

There should not be a workflow problem.

mike wuerthele

commentzilla said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

commentzilla said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

I haven't had any issue with self-powered drives, it's just not a present workflow. I don't think capacity full is relevant, but I'll try it again in the next week or so. I'd still talk to CalDigit about it, if I were you.

There should not be a workflow problem.

You may be misunderstanding. It's not MY present workflow. It wasn't commentary on yours.

ralphbu

Any tariff sensitivity in those prices, like, are these made in China?

mike wuerthele

ralphbu said:

Any tariff sensitivity in those prices, like, are these made in China?

They are, and we'll all find out together.

commentzilla

Mike Wuerthele said:

commentzilla said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

commentzilla said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

I haven't had any issue with self-powered drives, it's just not a present workflow. I don't think capacity full is relevant, but I'll try it again in the next week or so. I'd still talk to CalDigit about it, if I were you.

There should not be a workflow problem.

You may be misunderstanding. It's not MY present workflow. It wasn't commentary on yours.

I'm commenting on the performance of the dock. It should not be failing, right?. That's the point.

mike wuerthele

commentzilla said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

commentzilla said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

commentzilla said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

I haven't had any issue with self-powered drives, it's just not a present workflow. I don't think capacity full is relevant, but I'll try it again in the next week or so. I'd still talk to CalDigit about it, if I were you.

There should not be a workflow problem.

You may be misunderstanding. It's not MY present workflow. It wasn't commentary on yours.

I'm commenting on the performance of the dock. It should not be failing, right?. That's the point.

Ah, okay. No, it shouldn't be.

edited 7:24AM