The Kensington SD5000T5 EQ Thunderbolt 5 Triple 4K Docking Station has arrived, marking a significant step forward in PC connectivity. Available now on Amazon for $399.99, this premium dock promises a substantial upgrade over existing Thunderbolt 4 options, but its full potential remains untapped.
Thunderbolt 5 boasts double the throughput of Thunderbolt 4, reaching 80Gbps and even up to 120Gbps in certain scenarios. This allows for connecting dual 8K displays at 60Hz or triple 4K displays at a smooth 144Hz. It also reintroduces support for external GPUs, a feature absent in Thunderbolt 4, and offers up to 140W of USB-C charging.
However, realizing the full benefits of Thunderbolt 5 requires a compatible ecosystem. While the SD5000T5 is backward compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and 3, maximizing its performance necessitates a Thunderbolt 5-equipped laptop and peripherals. Currently, only a few laptops, like the Razer Blade and Maingear ML-17 with the “Barlow Ridge” Thunderbolt 5 chip, fully support this new standard. This limitation currently prevents a full-fledged review of the dock’s capabilities with a Thunderbolt 5 system. It’s important to note that this dock is currently Windows-only, as Apple has not yet announced support for Thunderbolt 5.
The SD5000T5 functions as a hub, offering three upstream Thunderbolt 5 ports for displays, storage, and other peripherals. Kensington includes a 4K/8K HDMI to USB-C cable, though similar cables may need to be purchased separately. The front panel features a downstream Thunderbolt 5 port providing up to 140W of power delivery (if your laptop supports the USB-C PD3 3.1 EPR standard), an additional upstream Thunderbolt 5 port (60W, DisplayPort 2.1), a 10Gbps USB-A port, microSD and SD card slots (UHS-II/SD 4.0), and a headphone jack.
The rear panel houses two more Thunderbolt 5 ports, two additional 10Gbps USB-A ports, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, and a power button. The dock itself is robust, measuring 8.9 x 3.8 x 1.6 inches and weighing 2.15 lbs.
Preliminary Testing with Thunderbolt 4
Testing the SD5000T5 with a Thunderbolt 4 setup revealed some insights, though it doesn’t fully showcase the dock’s potential. Connection to 4K60 and 4K144 displays was successful, with the latter running at its full refresh rate. However, one instance of visual glitching occurred on the 4K144 display after resuming from sleep.
While the SD5000T5 supports 140W power delivery, testing with a non-EPR laptop resulted in 92W, which is still impressive. Other Thunderbolt ports delivered 56W, suitable for fast-charging a smartphone, while the USB-A port provided 2.5W. Streaming 4K60 content proved smooth, with minimal frame drops.
Storage tests using an external SSD showed write speeds of 131.36MB/s, slightly lower than typical DisplayLink docks. File transfer speeds were faster than average, even while streaming. An Acer Swift Edge with a USB4 interface, theoretically compatible with Thunderbolt 5’s USB4 V2 foundation, failed to connect to the dock.
Conclusion: A Promising Glimpse into the Future
The Kensington SD5000T5 offers a compelling preview of Thunderbolt 5’s potential. While its full capabilities are yet to be realized due to the limited availability of Thunderbolt 5 laptops and peripherals, early testing shows promising performance. This dock represents a significant investment, but its future-proof design makes it a worthwhile consideration for those seeking cutting-edge connectivity. However, it’s crucial to remember that a complete Thunderbolt 5 experience requires more than just the dock itself.
