Using a Dell TB16 on a computer without USB-C

Question

I own a dell TB16 dock. This dock is attached to my laptop via usb-c. Now, I would occasionally like to attach an older laptop (older as in: from 2015, right before USB-C was by default integrated in business machines).

For this, I would need to be able to connect this dock through a usb-a 3 (or 3.1) port. Does anyone know if this is possible at all? Would an adapter like https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B01C43FUIW/ref=crt_ewc_title_gw_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AMUN6OW4OKOC5 work for that?

Solution

Let me start with a few basic explanations.

USB-C is a form factor for a connector. It does not require you to use USB on it, in fact, you may:

1. Have an USB-C connector running USB 1 only, with co capability for anything else. Sounds insane but according to spec this is legal.
2. Have an USB-C connector running USB 2 only. Not that old, and you can sell it as having USB-C to drive up sales.
3. Have an USB-C connector running USB 3 or 3.1 gen 1 (both same 5GB/sec).
4. Have an USB-C connector running USB 3 gen 2 (10Mbit/sec signaling)
5. Have an USB-C connector for thunderbolt 3, which is not USB. TB is like PCI-e lanes on a cable. It has cables for this, but it can also use alternate modes which may provide USB or Displayport.

The last point (5) makes things nicely and confusing. It looks like USB, it acts like USB, .... and it can do something completely different.

Now your Dell TB16 is a thunderbolt dock. Finding a physical cable or plug which converts from the USB-C form to classic USB plugs is not going to help here.

You either need a dock with different requirements, or add TB to your laptop. The first is probably easiest.

Comments

[Daniel B]

The TB series of docks requires Thunderbolt.

[BartBog]

But would it provide certain functionality over "simple" USB3? Simple funcitonality of a USB3 dock?

[BartBog]

Guess I'll probably just buy a D6000

[BartBog]

Thanks for the detailed answer. However, even so, an adapter of thunderbolt to USB-A 3.1 might exist, no? It would not just be a "form factor changer", but it would require some smarts, e.g., a chip to decode the thunderbolt signal and re-encode it as a USB 3.1or USB3.0 compatible signal. Of course, some restrictions on what content can be encoded into a usb3.1 compatible signal applies... I mean: conceptually, my TB16 sends display informatoin, input info (keyboard and mouse), network info, ... All of which can be sent over USB-A as well... Or do I miss something?

[ganesh]

An adaptor from thudnerbolt to USB is trivial. That is just a fancy version of an PCI-e based USB card. The verses is much harder. You start with a relative slow interface (at most USB 3.1 gen 2, but probably gen 1) and you want to provide connectivity worth at least 3x that speed + alternate output lines (e.g. the graphics). Getting a second modern laptop is likely cheaper than the magic bullet which does that.