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USB-C is about to go from 100W to 240W, enough to power beefier laptops

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21–30 of 498 posts

Re: USB-C is about to go from 100W to 240W, enough to power beefier laptops

#21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GPUs in gaming laptops use WAY more power than even the hungriest mobile CPU. Strong mobile CPUs like the Ryzen 5800H are usually in the 45W ballpark while mobile RTX 3080 class GPUs can go as far as 170W+ and that is still half of what the desktop equivalent can draw.

What's the cooling situation on such a laptop?

Somewhere between "drone" and "fighter jet" in most cases.

Re: USB-C is about to go from 100W to 240W, enough to power beefier laptops

#22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GPUs in gaming laptops use WAY more power than even the hungriest mobile CPU. Strong mobile CPUs like the Ryzen 5800H are usually in the 45W ballpark while mobile RTX 3080 class GPUs can go as far as 170W+ and that is still half of what the desktop equivalent can draw.

What's the cooling situation on such a laptop?

Many of them use vapor chambers, they are quite good as a cooling solution[0].

[0]https://www.1-act.com/resources/heat-pipe-fundamentals/diffe...

Re: USB-C is about to go from 100W to 240W, enough to power beefier laptops

#23
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At which point do we change assumptions about safety of USB cables though? Myself and most people I know always considered USB connection to be safe-ish - that is, you can keep the cable connected on the supply side, and have the receiver end just lie on the desk on the floor, and the worst that could possibly happen is some tiny sparking if the stray end touches something conductive in a very unlucky way. But the mo…

I mean, I share that worry, but isn’t the “-PD” part of “USB-PD” a negotiation step? I have very little worry that my carpet can accidentally negotiate 60w and up. I _am_ worried about cheap USB-PD devices that forgoe this negotiation as it is complex and expensive to implement.

There's the cheap devices but even more worrisome are cheap, possibly not up-to-spec cables.

If you buy a fake cable that pretends to have display-port alternate mode or something but doesn't, meh, you're out 10 bucks. But if it pretends to be able to carry 200 W but isn't and burns your house down instead, you might be out a tad bit more...

Re: USB-C is about to go from 100W to 240W, enough to power beefier laptops

#25

50 volt @ 5 amps? Better make sure your ports don't have any lint inside. And don't forget your special EPR certified 240W USB-C cable, of course. The U in USB stands for "universal", but it feels like USB is trying to target a very niche market with this.

100 niche markets combined is no longer a niche market.

Re: USB-C is about to go from 100W to 240W, enough to power beefier laptops

#26
post #11

I look forward to USB 4.1a Type C.2 Phase iii.b Gen 3E and the 482646282 different cable capability combinations that all plug in and have no distinction of those capabilities whatsoever. I also look forward to all the necessary and helpful posts telling me how the identical ports on my laptop are in fact diffferent despite their identical appearance. But at least everything uses the same plug, so that’s nice.

USB-C sure turned into a mess, didn't it? So far, I only have two such devices (a cell phone and a set of headphones), and there's no problem charging either. But even there, we already have proprietary extensions (Qualcomm quick charging, for instance), and then there's Thunderbolt, and now this.

I'm not enthusiastic about wading into the world of "every port looks identical but isn't" that USB-C has given us. I have to keep my cell phone charger cable with the charger at all times, because it's my only cable compatible with Qualcomm quick charging. Naturally, there's no visible indication of this.

Re: USB-C is about to go from 100W to 240W, enough to power beefier laptops

#28
post #12

Laptops shouldn't ever need 240W. That's just getting stupid. Buy a desktop if this is what you need!

I can't take a desktop with me on an airplane.

You can’t take a laptop with a battery larger than the 16” MacBook Pro on an airplane either! https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/13/20962380/apples-16-inch-...

Re: USB-C is about to go from 100W to 240W, enough to power beefier laptops

#29
post #11

I look forward to USB 4.1a Type C.2 Phase iii.b Gen 3E and the 482646282 different cable capability combinations that all plug in and have no distinction of those capabilities whatsoever. I also look forward to all the necessary and helpful posts telling me how the identical ports on my laptop are in fact diffferent despite their identical appearance. But at least everything uses the same plug, so that’s nice.

We should give anyone involved in the USB-IF a test:

Here are 10 different cables, you must accurately describe each of their features in detail (USB speeds, charging speeds/power delivery, video out? What version of Display Port does it support?). Make one mistake and you'll be executed.

Obviously I don't advocate for that but it's damn annoying you can have one cable do so many different things and not know by looking at it. At least USB 3 was often times blue to offer a distinction.

These days I plug in a cable and prey it functions as advertised (sometimes it's 50/50).

Awful mess.

Re: USB-C is about to go from 100W to 240W, enough to power beefier laptops

#30
post #11

I look forward to USB 4.1a Type C.2 Phase iii.b Gen 3E and the 482646282 different cable capability combinations that all plug in and have no distinction of those capabilities whatsoever. I also look forward to all the necessary and helpful posts telling me how the identical ports on my laptop are in fact diffferent despite their identical appearance. But at least everything uses the same plug, so that’s nice.

Is there a possible outcome where cable components become cheap enough that every USB-C cable is a universal cable that does everything?
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