NIC chipset in TBT3-UDC3

[Jeverett]

What NIC chipset is used in the TBT3-UDC3?

(that detail is blank on the product info specifications page:

– hxxps://plugable.com/products/tbt3-udc3#nav-specifications)

Thanks!

[Mitchell]

Hi @Jeverett,

Thanks for posting!

I appreciate you calling that missing information out. I’ve went ahead and fixed that – the TBT3-UDC3 uses the same Ethernet chipset as our TBT3-UDZ dock, which is the Realtek RTL8153.

Thanks!

Mitchell

[Jeverett]

Thanks much for the quick, and comprehensive correction to the specifications page (a manufacturer link and everything). Really, the quality of support Plugable always brings to the table is such a great recommendation for your products!

I guess to work with backwards compatibility for USB-C, you had to go with a USB NIC solution, instead of a PCIe connected Intel NIC (like in the TB3 only docks, e.g. TBT3-UDV, and TBT3-UD1-85w.)

At any rate, the Realtek RTL8153 works – it’s even supported by the “Flings” driver under VMware ESXi (hxxps://flings.vmware.com/usb-network-native-driver-for-esxi).

While I have you, you might also take a look at how in a couple spots (Features and OS Compatibility) the TBT3-UDC3 product page says (or suggests) that the DisplayPort port is version 1.4:

4K DISPLAY FLEXIBILITY —Laptop docking station with an HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 port.
…
USB-C computers that support DisplayPort 1.4 (DP 1.4) and Display Stream Compression (DSC) can operate at higher resolutions.

but, down in the Specifications, it instead says version 1.2:

I’m guessing since the TBT3-UDC3 has an Intel Titan Ridge chipset, the correct spec is DisplayPort 1.4.

[Mitchell]

Thanks for the kind words!

You’re exactly right regarding the compatibility story for PCIe Intel NICs, which wouldn’t work in a USB topology for USB-C-only hosts.

We’ll take a closer look at the spec version – thank you!

Mitchell