First of all, the core difference between the splitter and the docking station is that the splitter does not have a chip, but the docking station has a chip. That is to say, the data processing of the splitter still relies on the motherboard of the computer, while the docking station can rely on the chip to calculate independently. This brings about a huge difference in performance between the two. The docking station can have higher bandwidth than the splitter, and it can also drive many different types of external devices to run at the same time, and ensure high-quality data transmission, such as Thunderbolt III expansion The dock can drive two 4K monitors at the same time and output 60 frames of pictures stably, which is impossible for a splitter.
Therefore, in terms of price, the docking station will also be more expensive than the splitter. If you just want to expand one interface into multiple ones and have no requirements for the performance of data transmission, you can directly buy a cheap splitter. If there are many types of signals that need to be transmitted, and there are requirements for transmission quality, be sure to buy a docking station. At present, as notebooks go further and further in pursuit of thinness and lightness, there are fewer and fewer interface types. For example, Apple’s macbook only retains the type-c interface, so it can be said that it is a basic operation to equip a thin and light notebook with a docking station. However, it is precisely because the docking station can be adapted to a variety of different devices and has many interface types, which makes it easy for Xiaobai to get dizzy and easy to step on the pit when purchasing.
Docking station performance characteristics:
1. Small size, light and easy to carry, good compatibility, suitable for most notebook computers and PCI devices
2. The transmission speed does not have any attenuation, especially suitable for occasions with a large amount of data communication
3. All-aluminum shell, good heat dissipation performance, stable and reliable quality, and the use process is very simple