Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt dock: Finally, a dock that works

Corsair Thunderbolt Dock Review Source: Windows Central

Corsair makes a range of bang-up products for PCs and laptops, including everything from the best PC cases to more recently, all-time Xbox Series X and Series S headsets. Since grabbing my Razer Blade 15 Pro, I've been looking for a Thunderbolt dock to aggrandize my range of ports, while also making my laptop more portable. Beingness able to connect all of my PC accessories up with a unmarried cable is naturally far more convenient if I need to unplug and go mobile.

All the same, the vast majority of Thunderbolt docks I've used on the lower stop take been inconsistent, to say the to the lowest degree. With some having bug with information bottlenecking, and others flat out freezing upwards in certain scenarios.

My colleague Harish has already given the Corsair TBT100 a total a proper review, simply I had to throw in some comments of my ain, having hunted for a Thunderbolt dock for and so long that really works. Say hello to the Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt dock, which is past far the all-time Thunderbolt dock I've ever used, finally giving me the consistent experience I need. Quality does come with a premium, though.

Corsair Tbt100 Se

Corsair TBT100

Bottom line: The Corsair TBT100 is expensive, but you actually do get what you pay for. This is the platonic Thunderbolt 3 dock for anyone who needs a powerful and reliable dock that does virtually everything you could possibly demand it to do.

The Skilful

Good weight with rubber feet to forbid cables pulling it around
Large range of ports and features
Consistent experience without bug

The Bad

It does become quite warm
Rather expensive

Corsair TBT100: What I loved

Corsair Thunderbolt Dock Review Source: Windows Primal

Category	Corsair TBT100
Os requirements	Mac Os ten.fourteen Moajve or subsequently, Windows x or subsequently
Ability Commitment	Up to 85W upstream to laptop, up to 15W for USB-C ports, up to 7.5W for USB-A ports
Video	HDMI ii.0 @ 4K x2
USB Ports	USB-A SuperSpeed 5Gbps x2
USB-C	SuperSpeed 10Gbps x2
Ethernet	Gigabit Ethernet x1
Sound	3.5mm philharmonic port, 24-fleck 192kHz x1
Lock	Management Kensington Security Slot x1
Media Reader	SD Card Reader, UHS-2 x1
Production Dimensions	228mm (L) x 83mm (W) 10 25mm (H)

I've got a bit of a mixed history with docking stations. Having previously mained Surface devices as my become-to work devices, docking stations were a big part of the experience. Those who grabbed the Surface Dock and tried to use its multi-monitor office may call up that they were prone to crashing and freezing, until a firmware update was issued (after months of bug). I've constitute other cheaper Thunderbolt docks I've purchased suffered from similar issues with throughput and power commitment, with Windows giving me "USB device has crashed" on occasion. Microphones and other streaming devices I've used through docks have struggled with bandwidth issues, leading to data corruption likewise, on cheaper docks. I was keen to really put the Corsair TBT100 through its paces to come across if it would suffer from a similar fate, and thankfully, the TBT100 has handled everything I've thrown at information technology with ease.

The TBT100 has handled everything I've thrown at it with ease.

This dock sports a professional-looking metal blueprint, with a decent amount of weight and rubberized feet. It could probably exercise with a flake of extra weighting (something I miss from the Surface Dock), but it'southward weighty enough to stay put and non slide effectually while having stuff plugged in.

Information technology sports an impressive array of ports, including two HDMI 2.0 ports for 4K video, an 3.5mm combo audio port, two USB-A ports, 2 USB-C ports with power commitment, one Thunderbolt port for hooking in your PC, and a full-size SD card reader for skilful measure. For business users or those who desire added security, the TBT100 besides has a Kensington lock port.

Information technology has some control utilities on Mac, only on PC it's a simple instance of plug and play. Once you hook upwardly the power and Thunderbolt port, Windows 10 will download the drivers from Windows update and yous'll be good to go. I hooked up my 4K TV, several peripherals, and my Elgato 4K capture card to see how well the Thunderbolt cable could handle the data stress. In some ways, the Thunderbolt dock handled the inputs better than my Razer Blade's motherboard.

Corsair Thunderbolt Dock Review Source: Windows Fundamental

When connecting HDMI upwardly to my Razer Blade's HDMI port, it has given me issues in the past, causing my laptop to freeze for some reason I have yet to fully diagnose. HDMI from the TBT100 works flawlessly, though, circumventing any weird consequence I'm having on my Razer Blade's motherboard. I also had no corruption on data streamed from my video capture carte or when recording from my microphone, which added only a sliver of additional latency at all in ACID's recording software.

I have to say, all in-all, this may exist the all-time Thunderbolt dock I've used in terms of seamlessness and power. All that quality comes with a large price tag, though.

Corsair TBT100: What I didn't love

Corsair Thunderbolt Dock Review Source: Windows Central

It's hard to overlook the fact this beefy male child costs a pretty hefty $250, which comes in at £270 in the Uk. In that location are far cheaper options on the marketplace, but like I noted, I've oftentimes encountered issues with the cheaper docks. You lot really have to demand a Thunderbolt three dock to justify this price point. For those using ultrabooks which sacrifice ports for thinness, grabbing a Thunderbolt dock tin actually unlock options for your workflow, providing your laptop actually supports full Thunderbolt iii, that is (Surface devices don't).

The main issue with this dock is that it gets quite warm. The same is true of almost Thunderbolt docks I've used that sport ability commitment, owing to the laws of physics most likely. Information technology's worth being aware of, though. It too has a large power brick that generates heat too. For those who like to keep their workspace as minimal equally possible, calculation in an extra device might seem unnecessary. For those who just want extra ports and don't necessarily want the power delivery features, there might be cheaper, simpler options bachelor.

The Corsair TBT100 RRPs for $250 mostly in the U.S., hitting £270 in the UK. The product is available to buy through about retailers, notably Amazon and Best Buy, although you can also purchase it through Corsair's own official website store.

Availability on this product seems to fluctuate, particulary given the big movement to work-from-home culture in recent months. It'southward compatible with both PC and Mac, giving it a broad audition. Each time we've checked, stocks have been decent at Amazon and other big tech retailers, meaning yous shouldn't have too much trouble trying to observe one. I do find it odd that the United kingdom price is significantly higher than the U.S. toll, merely that seems to be a tendency among near tech companies right now.

Corsair TBT100: Should you buy information technology?

Corsair Thunderbolt Dock Review Source: Windows Cardinal

Thunderbolt docks, like almost products, come up in all shapes and sizes depending on your needs. Y'all may non demand the total-blown ability of a power-delivery Thunderbolt dock that includes a dedicated ability source and a ability brick. A smaller USB-C based port hub might be a ameliorate option in scenarios where all you lot demand is a few more USB ports. This $80 SOHO dock choice from CalDigit might be better for you if you're looking for something a chip more accessible.

CalDigit also does a "Pro" version with more features for $200, which offers a fairly significant saving over this option from Corsair, at the price of a Thunderbolt 3 downstream, nevertheless.

This is non a cheap product, but as someone who is expecting to travel frequently again in the near future (pandemic willing), having something that encapsulates all of my accessories on a single port is incredibly convenient, and well-worth the price of admission for yours truly.

Corsair Tbt100 Se

Corsair TBT100

Lesser line: The Corsair TBT100 is quite hands 1 of the best Thunderbolt docks out in that location, and well-worth considering if you actually need the full range of features information technology offers, otherwise, a cheaper USB-C based option might be more cost-effective for you.

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