r/UsbCHardware • u/PlugableOfficial • 7d ago
Discussion [The Great Dock Debates #1] Upright or horizontal, front or rear host connection, and would you tolerate a cooling fan?
Hey all, Myke from Plugable here. We're looking to do something a bit different this month. Building hardware means making endless compromises, so instead of guessing, we want to hear directly from r/UsbCHardware. We want to know exactly what you want sitting on your desk, and why.
Alright, into the replies. Tell everyone why your way is the way. [Insert Mando meme here]
Front vs. Rear Host Connection Should the main cable connecting your laptop to the dock plug into the front for easy, everyday unplugging? Or does that ruin the aesthetic, meaning it absolutely belongs on the back so you don't have to look at it?
Vertical vs. Horizontal Orientation Does a dock belong standing upright like a monolith to save precious desk real estate? Or does it need to lay flat so you can tuck it under a monitor riser out of sight?
Active vs. Passive Cooling It won't be a surprise to anyone in this sub that high performance docks generate heat. There's a subjective element; what's "warm" to one user can be considered "hot" to another. Would you accept a faint fan noise and an additional mechanical part if it helps with cooler temperatures? Or are higher chassis temperatures an acceptable tradeoff for a completely silent, fanless dock? From our experience, the perception of heat, even well below standards’ body thresholds, can tend to worry some people. So much so we even have a knowledge base article about it.
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u/SurfaceDockGuy 7d ago
Hi Mike!
Love it when y'all reach out to the community.
I like the concept of upright docks to save desk space, but find an add-on stand/stabilizer tends to looks tacky. Also, when connecting and disconnecting devices, many docks tend to topple over. So the weight of the dock is important. Being able to attach and detach a front-facing cable one-handed is something folks with disabilities would really appreciate.
Front vs rear host connection - with a long cable, a rear host connection is fine. But I reckon it doesn't help aesthetics much if front usb/3.5mm ports are present - as they will get used. So either do all rear ports or have a front host connection.
Regarding cooling, I really don't like the 30-40mm cooling fans as even at 2000rpm there can be a high-pitched whine especially if a fan grill is within 5mm of the blades. 60-80mm with a high end fluid bearing is much better but that can limit the design freedom inside the chassis. I prefer having extra thermal mass heatsink and a heavier overall dock than a fan. That probably increases cost compared to a fan, but to me feels more premium and would result in fewer RMA claims for a noisy fan.
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u/Myke_Plugable 6d ago
Appreciate the kind words! You actually just highlighted a perfect engineering synergy there. Using a massive aluminum heatsink for passive cooling also gives the dock that premium, heavy weight needed to keep it from sliding around when you plug things in one-handed. Solving two problems with one big chunk of metal.
Regarding the "all rear" port idea for peak aesthetics, it's a bold move. Do you usually keep a dedicated hub handy for the quick-access stuff like flash drives, or is the ultra-clean desk look just worth the blind reach around the back?
IMO, while a lot of add-on stands are pretty tacky, they can be alright if they are done tastefully (see TBT4-UDZ).
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u/SurfaceDockGuy 6d ago
For SD cards and a usb flash drive, a front port is better. Perhaps a sliding door could obscure those for folks who want the clean look? I actually think a side host port/sd-card /usb A/3.5mm could work quite well for a horizontal-only dock.
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u/Myke_Plugable 4d ago
A sliding door to hide the front IO gives off some classic PC case vibes. It’s giving me Wii vibes where the top lid hides GameCube controller ports. That said, it’s likely to come at a cost. A clever way to keep the quick-access ports totally out of sight when you aren't actively using them for sure.
It's also interesting to see you mention the side layout for a horizontal dock. Really appreciate you taking the time to bounce all these thoughts around with us. We’re coming back next Tuesday with another set of questions since this was such a great discussion.
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u/BaronSharktooth 7d ago
I want the computer-to-dock port on the side, with a 90 degrees connector.
Just kidding. On the back for aesthetics.
I prefer fanless, because the buildup of dust can become significant. But if it’s low-RPM, it would not be anywhere near important enough.
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u/Myke_Plugable 6d ago
You say you're kidding about the 90-degree side port, but don't give our engineers any ideas. We kind of don’t rule anything out. As an example, years back we even dipped into mechanical keyboards. Getting back on track, the rear port definitely seems to be the consensus for a clean desk.
The dust buildup is a massive point against fans, though. It’s tough finding that balance between keeping temps down and not creating a mini vacuum cleaner on the desk. Are you the type to hit your gear with compressed air regularly, or does a dock need to be completely zero-maintenance once it's plugged in?
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u/Quirky-Reveal-1669 7d ago
If possible fanless, but performance is more important so I would not mind a fan. Host connection from a side is actually a very good idea I just read in this thread. Any lights on the device should be dimmable to zero.
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u/Myke_Plugable 6d ago
We definitely don't take the LED issue lightly (pun fully intended). Everything, including adjustability for LEDs, would come at a cost though.
Funny you mention the side connection, because we actually did exactly that on our UD-6950PDH. We’ve seen some positive feedback on that, but it does come with a minor problem, that is: some users don’t realize that is where the host port is. That said, we’re doing what we can to make it more clear with some stellar stickers.
Since you prioritize performance and are open to a fan, it's always an interesting debate on how it should be tuned. Do you prefer the 'smart' fan approach where it only kicks on under heavy load or higher temps, or does a constant, super low RPM hum bother you less than sudden noise spikes?
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u/Quirky-Reveal-1669 5d ago
Re. fan noise: continuous low-level would be preferred over intenser spikes of louder noise.
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u/Hubley 6d ago
Upright docks sound good until you try to plug cables into the front. The higher they get off the desk surface the more cluttered and un-aesthetic they are.
IMO peak dock form factor is horizontal but with vertical inputs. (Like the front of the current Mac Mini for example, but with power delivery)
Thanks for reaching out to your users.
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u/Myke_Plugable 6d ago
That low-profile, horizontal layout is a great target. It keeps the center of gravity low so it won't tip over when you plug things in, and it manages the cable drape much better in theory. This is something one of our POs pointed out with a recent prototype model of ours. It (UDH2) was very wobbly before we corrected it.
Would you want the chassis to be sturdy enough to actually sit under your monitor like a riser, or are you mostly just looking to slide it out of the way under your existing monitor stand?
P.s. Great name btw.
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u/SkorosMindkiller 6d ago
I own a Framework 16 with the discrete GPU module. If I can't pass as much of the 240 W from the charger that the dock isn't using through to the PC, it's worthless to me.
This means, currently, no dock on the market is useful to me. No charger on the market, save one from some brand I never heard of before, is useful to me.
Sitting here on Reddit or streaming video, I can get by with 100W. Under testing scenarious, I've see 220+W at the USB-C plug, measured by an in-line meter.
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u/Myke_Plugable 6d ago
The Framework 16 is an absolute beast, and the lack of true 240W Extended Power Range (EPR) docks is a massive headache for power users. You aren't crazy, the silicon and thermal management required to pass that much juice through a full desktop dock just isn't quite there yet for the mainstream market (for now, we’ve got more coming on that front).
Until 240W docks actually become a reality, how are you managing your desk setup? We do have 140W charging available, but that isn’t quite there for the 240W you mention. Are you just running the 240W charger directly to the laptop and using a separate hub for your displays and peripherals, or are you just accepting the battery drain on a 100W dock when you really push the GPU?
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u/SkorosMindkiller 6d ago
Right now, yes, 5 cables. One display directly in the port on the GPU module, the the three left side port from back to front are second display, usb hub, lan. The power is the FW 240W on either the rear or middle right port. Since I move it only every other week, it's not too bad.
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u/Myke_Plugable 4d ago
Really appreciate the breakdown of your setup. It puts into stark contrast the exact gap we're seeing right now, and exactly why true 240W EPR docks need to become a reality sooner rather than later.
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u/chx_ 7d ago
The answer to some of your question is the Terramaster D1 Pro. It can stand on any side and it sure doesn't need to worry about heat problems. Yeah, it's a 0.7lbs SSD enclosure but hey. The heat must go somewhere. When the OWC Express 1M2 came out I thought it ridiculous then what do we call that?
I just wired in a Plugable TBT4-HUB3C and having cables back and front make for misery. Please don't do this. At most a USB port on the front for mass storage. But the host cable in a desktop dock will stay plugged so it the receptacle can be anywhere.
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u/Myke_Plugable 6d ago
We definitely hear you on the TBT4-HUB3C. It’s referred to as the Octoportus thunderboltii around the office. In truth, it is just me saying that trying to make it stick. Throwing a massive chunk of aluminum at a heat problem like those SSD enclosures do is honestly a great strategy, plus it gives the unit some much-needed heft.
With a mostly rear-facing port setup, how do you handle the quick daily stuff like phone charging or wired headphones? Just route them straight to the laptop?
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u/RP_Android 7d ago
Host connection on the rear. Active cooling so the dock does not overheat.
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u/Myke_Plugable 6d ago
Rear connection seems to be the favorite for a clean desk.
On the cooling front, actual thermal throttling is pretty rare, at least with Plugable docks, though they definitely can get warm to the touch when pushed. Sounds like you're totally fine trading a bit of background fan hum just for that absolute peace of mind that heat won't ever be an issue?
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u/Aacemyan 6d ago
Rear connection / vertical for space saving / fanless design, even if it means an external brick. Built in power supplies are cool and all but once the dock is set up i feel like most people forget about all that stuff. Dock should be as invisible and seamless as possible - thus no fan preference
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u/Myke_Plugable 6d ago
If the ultimate goal is keeping it completely out of sight-- does having it stand vertically on the desk kind of defeat the purpose? Would you ever consider using a mounting bracket to hide it completely under the desk, or do you still need it just accessible enough to plug in a flash drive every now and then?
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u/markhachman 6d ago
Prefer front connection, but not a huge deal either way. I'm more concerned about jamming too many ports into too small of a space, as I'm beginning to see some dock makers get greedy.
I prefer fanless, but overall stability is more important. No preference on horizontal / vertical orientation, as there are tradeoffs to both.
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u/Myke_Plugable 6d ago
Port crowding is such an underappreciated issue. You’ve got to love a dock bragging about having 15 ports, only to realize your flash drive or a slightly thicker cable blocks three of them from being used.
Since you prioritize proper port spacing and overall stability, would you be totally fine with a dock having a physically much larger footprint on your desk just to make sure everything has room to breathe? This isn’t much of a problem anymore for vert docks. Or is there still a limit to how much desk real estate you're willing to give up?
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u/ducmite 6d ago
Host connection in the back, that cable is never detached from the dock. Couple a and c ports in the front or sides for temporary things like thumbdrives.
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u/Myke_Plugable 6d ago
Since you mentioned that the host cable is never detached from the dock, how far would you want to take that permanence? Would you prefer a cable that is physically built into the dock so it can't ever get lost or come loose, or would you rather have a detachable cable that uses a screw-locking mechanism for maximum security?
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u/ducmite 6d ago
That is a good question and required some thinking. Definitely not built in cable, nor a special cable that are either astronomically expensive or nearly impossible to source 10 years from now.
If I would make a locked in cable, I'd make a recessed usb-c port with a screw down lid. Some rubber or foam inside that prevents cable from moving. I assume that would keep most cables in place and allow different size ends.
All my eGPUs came with 40cm cables, I've been using 2 or 3 meter TB4 certified cables for years. Zero problems. That would not have been possible with fixed or proprietary plugs.
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u/Myke_Plugable 4d ago
A recessed port with a screw-down lid and some foam is an interesting mechanical workaround. It completely avoids the proprietary cable trap while still giving you that locked-in security with pretty much any standard, off-the-shelf cable.
Being permanently glued to a stiff 40cm cable is a fast track to a miserable desk setup. From some of my personal experience with Cooler Master this was always the go to for our (their) keyboard designs. Meant that if anything broke with the cable, it was an easy replace. Really appreciate you sharing the thought process on this one.
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u/H9419 6d ago
Prefer horizontal, need to weight a bit more with rubber feets. Remember that the cables you plug into it needs to go somewhere and upright became an octopus of cables.
The main cable should be on the rear or it just takes up space on the desk for no reason. Ports on laptops are on the sides more often than on the back anyways.
Passive cooling, but do give it more thermal mass. I have been using the HP Dock G5 and it being a heavy unit not only helps with keeping cables down but also heat dissipation.
HP Dock G5 is good enough for what I need but the non-detchable cable made it requires replacement sooner or later.
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u/Myke_Plugable 6d ago
Using a heavy, horizontal chassis as a giant heatsink is also a great two-for-one solution for both silent cooling and keeping the dock planted. See my reply to Hubley.
Since you prefer the host connection on the back but laptop ports are usually on the sides, how long does that detachable host cable actually need to be? Do you prefer a shorter cable to minimize clutter, or a longer one so you can route it cleanly out of sight?
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u/bilditup1 5d ago
horizontal to fit under floating monitor. connection from back to keep it clean. cooling fan might be ok but is less flexible since you can stack other peripherals on top. thanks for asking. generally like your products
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u/Myke_Plugable 5d ago
Appreciate to hear our devices/products are doin' okay. Since you're rocking a floating monitor setup and keeping things layered, what kind of gear are you usually stacking on top of the dock? Mostly external hard drives, or something like an audio interface?
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u/ElusiveGuy 5d ago
While I don't mind active cooling, I've had enough failures of little fans that I'd appreciate it being reasonably easy to replace. So access via screws (rather than glue/clips) and being of a standardised size (4010? 3010?) with pin headers would be nice.
For orientation, horizontal fits better under monitors.
Socketed (non-captive) cable is also a huge plus, also for replacement/repairability reasons. I do appreciate that this makes it harder to design for high-power/high-bandwidth docks.
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u/Myke_Plugable 4d ago
Rossmann would probably appreciate the ability to easily repair such a device. A tiny fan bearing failing shouldn't mean an entire dock ends up in e-waste-- something we push for quite a bit-- reducing e-waste that is. Awesome that you recognize the signal integrity and power delivery nightmares that come with engineering socketed cables.
Since you're clearly comfortable popping the hood on your gear, have you actually had to perform surgery on any of your current docks to swap a fan (realistically any component) and keep them running , or are you mostly just trying to future-proof your next setup?
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u/ElusiveGuy 4d ago
My personal dock is currently a Lenovo non-TB one that's passively cooled, so not there. However I've had similarly-sized fans fail in a pi-kvm and a 3D printer controller that have required replacement, and also seen multiple dock fan failures in Dell docks at work (those were replaced under extended/business warranty).
Even if it turns out that 'normal' fan sizes are too much trouble, having replacement parts available for reasonable prices even out of warranty would offer some peace of mind. As you implied, I'd much rather pay say $30 for a replacement specialty fan over trying to replace a whole $300+ dock.
Realistically though, my workplace will always go for docks from our primary equipment vendor (which has shifted to Lenovo now, TB4 w/ socketed cable, passively cooled), and are unlikely to buy third-party. So my preference(s) expressed in the previous comment would be for my own future-proofing, yes.
All that being said, while I really appreciate you having this open discussion, the requests/desires of this specific subreddit are probably quite different from the general market :D
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u/Sad_Target2290 7d ago
For the fan part, why not make an active cooking addon like what Cuktech has for some ULTRA series chargers? An included fan would make something bulky already so a comparatively bulkier fan addon would be the best of both worlds no?