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

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

#61

Post by rini17 »

cletus wrote: 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.

Are there cheap devices that measure USB cables? So that user plugs the cable into it (both ends) and it will list what protocols/bandwidth does it support. And electrical resistance of course.

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

#62

Post by yboris »

mavhc wrote: post #52

Powering 90% of the things in your house via DC power should be the future, no more switching from DC solar/battery back to AC and then back to DC again for no reason.

Semi related question: has anyone come across a product that would let me replace an outlet or a light fixture with a flush (clean design) thing that provides enough power for an LED strip?

I don't like having a large DC converter hanging off a switch hanging off an outlet. And I can't have a DC converter hang off a ceiling (nor do I want to wire it directly and hide inside the ceiling either).

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

#63

Post by bin_bash »

selfhoster11 wrote: post #36
burundi_coffee wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think he was referring to the absurd amount of power some Intel CPUs require.

Then other power-hungry device categories will become the beneficiaries of this. External GPUs with a high power draw, for instance.

don't external GPUs have their own power?

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

#64

Post by szhu »

dijit wrote: post #16
TeMPOraL wrote: post #13

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.

Your carpet cannot negotiate a high power, but two devices might negotiate a high power while not being aware that that the cable has a cut in it and is in direct contact with the carpet.

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

#65

Post by throwawaybchr »

USB has become pretty confusing.

Is it safe to charge a USB-C phone with a MacBook M1 charger? Vice versa? What about fast charging? There was a time when a Google employee released a spreadsheet of specific USB accessories (chargers, cables, adapters) which were safe to use. Is that still relevant?

What if I have USB A to USB C cable, can I charge my M1 macbook from my desktop?

Is there some kind of YouTube video or online resource that explains how it all works?

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

#66

Post by tshaddox »

mavhc wrote: post #52

Powering 90% of the things in your house via DC power should be the future, no more switching from DC solar/battery back to AC and then back to DC again for no reason.

The reason is that AC can be easily transformed to very high voltages which allow power transmission over long distances with lower losses. I doubt this is going to change any time soon.

Of course, you could still have central DC conversion in your house (or maybe even neighborhood) and use USB or similar in your home’s wall outlets, instead of each device needing its own little power brick.

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

#67

Post by MR4D »

croon wrote: post #9
jeffrallen wrote: post #7

Plus, if you thread the cable through your hot dog, it will be warm in time for lunch. Meanwhile, Apple's M1 chip is showing us that 240 watt laptops are the problem, not the solution...

Having one USB-C dock powering your laptop (maybe with a hungry GPU), as well as a couple of monitors with everything through just usb-c cables is my hope, and this is one step closer.

I had to reread your comment a few times, and then I figured out why it was so hard to parse:

For me, my monitor powers my laptop.

More specifically, my two 32" 4K monitors are plugged into the wall, and then both have USBC cables into each side of my 16" MBP (2019). I keep my MBP power cable in my suitcase for when I travel.

I love the setup - only two cables on my desk, and there is a nice symmetry about it.

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

#68

Post by cletus »

SAI_Peregrinus wrote: post #57
aboringusername wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 look…

The issue isn't the number of things supported, it's that there are optionally-supported things. If every cable needed to support everything, and every host port needed to support every valid device type, it'd be fine. But instead you get cables that don't properly work with alternate modes, host ports that don't implement DisplayPort, etc. It's cheaper, but ridiculously frustrating.

Sorry but not true. To get full bandwidth really limits how long the cable can be. Like I don't think you'll find 40Gbps cables longer than about 0.5m.

This is more expensive too (eg there are generally chips in the plugs at either end to handle attenuation).

But there's obviously a use case for cables longer than that.

It is true that we have cables that support data but not power and power but not data or data at different bandwidths and so on. It's a mess. But it's not a case of simply choosing not to support optional features.

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

#69

Post by tshaddox »

meowster wrote: post #46
amelius wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Simple. The really bulky chargers will be suitable for charging laptops. Everything else is for phones.

If that becomes that standard to judge by, then there will be really bulky chargers from China containing lead weights with inadequate circuitry.

Isn’t that already the standard to judge by? You can already buy both small and large chargers from China.

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

#70

Post by wsinks »

rini17 wrote: post #61
cletus wrote: 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.

Are there cheap devices that measure USB cables? So that user plugs the cable into it (both ends) and it will list what protocols/bandwidth does it support. And electrical resistance of course.

Wow, the tool that I didn't realize I wanted. Let me know if you find one. I don't have an inexpensive one.
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