Professional’s Ranking
Execs
- As much as 8K/60Hz or 4K/120Hz
- As much as three exterior displays on the MacBook
- 180 watt energy provide
- Good design
Cons
- No KVM change
- No card slot
- Gigantic energy provide
Our Verdict
The BenQ beCreatus DP1310 is the best dock should you not solely need to work at your desk at house, but in addition use a display for gaming, particularly on consoles such because the PS5, Xbox Collection X/S, and Nintendo Swap. The dock helps a 4K monitor at 120Hz or 8K at 60Hz or as much as three 4K displays at 60Hz and has 100 watts of energy supply by way of USB-C, which is greater than adequate even for the M3 Max MacBook Professional.
Value When Reviewed
$299
Greatest Costs Right now: BenQ beCreatus DP1310 USB-C Hybrid Dock
$467
Displays have turn out to be so good, so huge, and so inexpensive that you just now not essentially want two of them, one in your work gear and one in your playthings. That is the place docks come into play. They’ve lengthy been an integral a part of artists’ workstations, however there at the moment are additionally fashions focussing on leisure, such because the BenQ beCreatus DP1310, which units the bar extraordinarily excessive, particularly with its output choices.
BenQ beCreatus DP1310: Specs, design, and workmanship
- Dimensions: 156 by 103 by 40 mm (6.14 by 4.06 by 1.57 in)
- Weight: 550 g (1.21 lbs)
- Energy provide: 180 watts
- Connections (entrance): 2 USB-A 3.0; USB-C; 3.5 mm jack
- Connections (rear): 2 USB-A 2.0; USB-A 3.0; USB-C (100W DP); HDMI 2.1 In; HDMI 2.1 Out; HDMI 2.0 Out; DisplayPort 1.2 Out; gigabit ethernet
As with most stationary docks, the beCreatus DP1310 is mostly a comparatively voluminous, anthracite-colored field. Aside from the back and front, the housing is made from metallic, with the highest and backside being ribbed to extend the floor space, because the housing serves to dissipate warmth–the DP1310 will get fairly heat throughout operation.
Eugen Wegmann
The quick left aspect is rubberized in order that the dock doesn’t slip simply while you stand it upright. There are additionally two rubber strips on the ribbed underside, which to my shock usually are not glued down and can be positioned on the highest should you actually need to stand the dock the wrong way up. Nevertheless, the principle objective might be to have the ability to put them nearer collectively if you’d like the dock to face on a smaller floor.
The entrance is made from darkish gray plastic and homes two USB-A ports with as much as 10Gbps information throughput and seven.5 watts of energy, a USB-C port, additionally with 10Gbps throughput, however with 36 watts of energy, a 3.5 mm jack for a headset and a small standing LED that lights up blue or inexperienced relying on the supply.
Eugen Wegmann
The attention-catcher and one of many options that visually units the beCreatus DP1310 other than comparable docks is a big inexperienced button that additionally features as an on/off change and lets you change the linked sources on the contact of a button. Its form means that it may be rotated, however sadly, this can be a false impression.
For those who keep in mind the wild Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s, you should still be accustomed to the idea of the boss button, which allowed you to superimpose a faux work display over video games similar to “Moorhuhn” on the contact of a button in order that your boss couldn’t see that you just had been busy doing something apart from working. That is precisely how the DP1310’s inexperienced button works however as an precise {hardware} answer. You actually can change between work and pleasure on the contact of a button.
The rear is filled with an important connections. There are two USB-A ports for a mouse and keyboard, one other USB-A port with 10Gbps throughput and seven.5 watts of energy, and a gigabit ethernet port.
The video connections are the place issues get attention-grabbing: The BenQ beCreatus DP1310 has an HDMI 2.1 enter, a USB-C port with DisplayPort assist and 100 watts of energy supply, two HDMI outputs (one HDMI 2.0, one HDMI 2.1), and a DisplayPort output.
Eugen Wegmann
There may be additionally a hole plug socket, because the dock, which may distribute round 160 watts to linked gadgets, is equipped with energy by a big, heavy 180-watt energy provide unit.
The dock doesn’t have a card reader, nor does it have any USB-C ports other than the one on the entrance. The previous makes the DP1310 lower than ultimate for the inventive trade, which it’s not geared toward anyway, whereas the latter is considerably extra severe, as many gadgets, particularly webcams, now depend on USB-C ports. Additionally noteworthy: no Thunderbolt assist.
BenQ beCreatus DP1310: Vary of features
What do you do with so many ports? Mainly, there are (at the least) two software examples, maybe you’ll be able to consider one or two extra.
Mac and recreation console with one show
The primary instance is the one BenQ primarily makes use of to advertise the beCreatus DP1310. In case you have restricted area, you need to use your workstation as a gaming nook comparatively simply, which is especially attention-grabbing if you have already got quick, high-resolution displays. Because of the 2 HDMI 2.1 connections (enter and output), the DP1310 helps both 4K decision at 120Hz refresh price or 8K at 60Hz, each with Dolby Atmos HDR expertise.
Whereas 8K/60Hz nonetheless largely falls into the class of desires of the longer term, 4K/120Hz has lengthy been a actuality, as each the Xbox Collection X and the Sony Ps 5 assist this mode on the supply aspect and it has additionally lengthy since arrived on output gadgets. LG’s well-liked OLED TVs have been in a position to output 120Hz natively since 2019, and pc displays with comparable specs at the moment are obtainable from all well-known producers, particularly within the gaming sector.
The dock comes into play should you don’t have area for a TV or don’t need to purchase one (or use one of many small fashions of LG OLEDs as a monitor in your Mac) and need to place your Xbox Collection X or Ps 5 at your workstation. Join your high-performance monitor to the DP1310’S green-blue HDMI 2.1 output, your console to the inexperienced HDMI 2.1 enter, and your Mac to the blue USB-C port on the again. You’ll be able to change between Mac and console utilizing the massive inexperienced button on the entrance.
In case you have as much as three displays, you’ll be able to develop the Mac output accordingly. Whereas I’ve no use for it myself, I can think about that streamers and builders will recognize having the ability to shortly change backwards and forwards between a console and a big workspace.
The particular factor is that just one display can change between the console and Mac; the opposite two are at all times reserved for the laptop computer and might proceed for use even if you’re enjoying in your console.
Eugen Wegmann
Lengthen Mac output to 3 displays
The second instance is expounded to the truth that because the introduction of the M-chips, the scenario with Macs supporting a number of exterior displays seems to be a little bit bleak and relies upon closely on the chip. While the scenario has improved considerably with the introduction of the M3 Professional and Max chips earlier this yr, it’s nonetheless so sophisticated that we now have an in depth information particularly for it. To summarise briefly: One of the simplest ways to do it’s with a dock.
As talked about above, you’ll be able to join three displays to the BenQ beCreatus DP1310: two by way of HDMI and one by way of DisplayPort. Your MacBook, however, might be linked as normal by way of USB-C, which additionally provides it with energy. As with many comparable docks, you want the DisplayLink driver for this, however it’s obtainable freed from cost.
Whereas the beCreatus DP1310 is actually appropriate for this software, there are additionally smaller and cheaper options. For those who solely want to attach extra screens to your Mac, you must due to this fact check out different docks. Nevertheless, there are additionally different docks in the identical measurement and value class, which is why the BenQ mannequin matches in fairly nicely.
BenQ beCreatus DP1310: No KVM change
Probably the most annoying factor concerning the beCreatus DP1310 is that it’s explicitly designed to be used with a console. As such, it additionally doesn’t act as a KVM change, which is why you’ll be able to’t merely use it to arrange a hybrid Home windows PC and Mac workstation with only one set of peripherals. A KVM change lets you use the identical peripherals (mouse and keyboard in addition to displays) with two completely different gadgets, on this case, a Mac and a Home windows PC.
I understand this can be a barely completely different area of interest, however I can’t think about it could have been that rather more cumbersome or costly to implement this function as nicely. And the icing on the cake can be if I may additionally join my Xbox or Ps inside this hybrid set-up.
Eugen Wegmann
BenQ beCreatus DP1310: Efficiency
Video
There may be little to say concerning the video connections. Right here, the beCreatus DP1310 delivers what it guarantees: 4K/120Hz (examined with an Xbox Collection X and an LG OLED B1 from 2021) is output by the beCreatus with none issues. I used to be unable to check 8K/60 Hz attributable to an absence of {hardware}. However as I stated, 8K is just not very widespread anyway and gained’t catch on any time quickly.
The most important shortcoming of the output considerations switching between the 2 sources. This isn’t instantaneous, as you’d anticipate, however takes just below 8 seconds on common. That will not sound like a lot, however have you ever ever pressed a button after which needed to look forward to one thing to occur? It looks like an eternity.
Of explicit curiosity to MacBook customers is the power to attach as much as three exterior shows with the dock with out having to pay the additional value for a mannequin with an M2 or M3 Max chip. This manner, you’ll be able to even develop a M1 MacBook Professional with three screens, every with 4K decision and 60Hz refresh price. This not solely works in clamshell mode, the place you’re employed along with your MacBook closed and use it with an exterior mouse and keyboard, but in addition unfolded. This lets you develop your MacBook setup to a full 4 screens should you want that a lot area.
For those who then change to your console, you’ll lose one display on the MacBook, however you’ll be able to nonetheless use it with the remaining two screens. In fact, it’s as much as you what you do on it: handle the chat of your Twitch stream, show the walkthrough for the sport within the browser, watch a TV present on the aspect.
Whereas the operate itself labored easily throughout testing (even with an older MacBook) I had a number of hindrances when setting it up. After putting in the DisplayLink driver, one display wouldn’t work in any respect, after restarting the dock it did work however displayed psychedelic colours on one half and after one other restart (and after each restart) every little thing lastly ran easily. So it’s good to know that “have you tried turning it off an on again?” remains to be legitimate.
USB speeds
So far as the pace of the USB ports is anxious, there are hardly any surprises with the DP1310. Total, the pace examined with the Blackmagic Disk Pace Take a look at is in actuality considerably decrease than the USB customary truly used. Nevertheless, it’s not solely depending on the expertise used, but in addition on the machine with which it’s examined and even the cable with which it’s linked.
For my checks, I used a 1TB Samsung T7 USB-C SSD, which isn’t the quickest SSD in the marketplace. Related on to a M3 MacBook Professional M3 Professional, it achieves common learn speeds of 720MBps and write speeds of 835MBps, which is already nicely under the USB specification. In distinction, the identical SSD on the identical MacBook looped by the beCreatus DP1310 achieves common learn speeds of 680MBps and write speeds of 820MBps.
This corresponds to a distinction of 6 % in learn pace and solely 2 % in write pace, which is totally negligible. It may well due to this fact be assumed that higher-performance storage gadgets than the Samsung T7 deviate simply as little from what the connection truly delivers.
Eugen Wegmann
BenQ beCreatus DP1310: Value and availability
Like most high-performance or extremely specialised docks, the beCreatus DP1310 is just not precisely low cost. The producer’s value is US$299/UK£309 and it is usually uncommon to search out it for much less on third-party retailers, though it must be talked about that the value isn’t out of the vary for such a specialised dock.
For this value, you get the dock with the aforementioned specs, a huge and heavy 180-watt energy provide with an influence cable, a totally specified USB-C cable and a totally specified HDMI 2.1 cable. The truth that BenQ contains the final two alone should be credited to the corporate, as there may be an unbelievable quantity of snake oil on Amazon, particularly with regards to USB-C cables. So having the proper cables proper within the field is one much less downside you must take care of.
Do you have to purchase the BenQ beCreatus DP1310?
The BenQ beCreatus DP1310 is the proper dock if you wish to add a recreation console to your workstation setup. To get the absolute best setup, your setup ought to include at the least a 4K display with 60Hz and a MacBook. In case you have a desktop Mac, you often have sufficient connections anyway and might do with out docks.
It’s additionally nice for including as much as three exterior shows to your present MacBook workstation, even when your mannequin doesn’t truly assist it. For those who merely need to develop your vary of connections, there are additionally extra appropriate (and extra inexpensive) docks.
This text initially appeared on Macwelt and was translated by Roman Loyola.
This text initially appeared on our sister publication Macwelt and was translated and localized from German.