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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

#131

Post by kalleboo »

jl6 wrote: post #30
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.

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

No, because they will keep adding features at the high end as the previous high end features get cheaper and new high end features become possible

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

#132

Post by neither_color »

grawprog wrote: post #113
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.

I haven't had to delve into the world of trying to find an appropriate USB-C cable until fairly recently. I didn't actually understand the situation thinking a replacement USB-C cable should just work. Oh hell no and none of the packaging actually explains what features a cable supports, none of them actually explain what the cable is actually compatible with. The little android logo doesn't mean shit. Sure, you migh…

And every time I buy a new device and think I'll be able to use my existing USB-C cables I'm met with a new standard. Bought a new external GPU enclosure? My macbook charging cable wont work I need a 40gbps thunderbolt THREE(not 2) cable. Bought a new Oculus Quest? Neither my egpu or macbook cables work I need an $80 LINK cable.

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

#133

Post by gjsman-1000 »

burntwater wrote: post #127

Apple and Microsoft's Surface had (does the Surface still have?) the perfect connector - the Magsafe. The more we dig into this power over USB-C garbage, the farther away we go from that perfection. The patent expiration cannot come soon enough, I seriously hope all portable device vendors bring it back.

The leaks say MagSafe is coming back on the MBP 14" and 16" laptops coming, possibly, at WWDC next month.

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

#134

Post by grlass »

neither_color wrote: post #132
grawprog wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't had to delve into the world of trying to find an appropriate USB-C cable until fairly recently. I didn't actually understand the situation thinking a replacement USB-C cable should just work. Oh hell no and none of the packaging actually explains what features a cable supports, none of them actually explain what the cable is actually compatible with. The little android logo doesn't mean shit. Sure, you migh…

And every time I buy a new device and think I'll be able to use my existing USB-C cables I'm met with a new standard. Bought a new external GPU enclosure? My macbook charging cable wont work I need a 40gbps thunderbolt THREE(not 2) cable. Bought a new Oculus Quest? Neither my egpu or macbook cables work I need an $80 LINK cable.

I wonder if the the committee have looked at integrating colour or some other indicator into the standard so that cable/port capabilities are clear visually.

Though ofc the design challenge is for users to feel comfortable that putting red into blue won't break anything, it just might not give the expected features.

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

#135

Post by burntwater »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #133
burntwater wrote: post #127

Apple and Microsoft's Surface had (does the Surface still have?) the perfect connector - the Magsafe. The more we dig into this power over USB-C garbage, the farther away we go from that perfection. The patent expiration cannot come soon enough, I seriously hope all portable device vendors bring it back.

The leaks say MagSafe is coming back on the MBP 14" and 16" laptops coming, possibly, at WWDC next month.

I've sworn off the past 5ish years of Apple laptops, but if they bring MagSafe back, ideally along with a non-Touchbar option, that just might be enough to bring me back!

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

#136

Post by dr_orpheus »

grlass wrote: post #134
neither_color wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And every time I buy a new device and think I'll be able to use my existing USB-C cables I'm met with a new standard. Bought a new external GPU enclosure? My macbook charging cable wont work I need a 40gbps thunderbolt THREE(not 2) cable. Bought a new Oculus Quest? Neither my egpu or macbook cables work I need an $80 LINK cable.

I wonder if the the committee have looked at integrating colour or some other indicator into the standard so that cable/port capabilities are clear visually. Though ofc the design challenge is for users to feel comfortable that putting red into blue won't break anything, it just might not give the expected features.

This does seem like it would be helpful. They started coloring the USB-A ports blue for those that were compatible with USB 3 high speed data. I think the challenge may be to get people to understand it more than being afraid to plug blue in to black. I know quite a few people just assumed the color choice was a design choice and if the cable fits, plug it in.

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

#137

Post by burntwater »

hhh wrote: post #130
burntwater wrote: post #127

Apple and Microsoft's Surface had (does the Surface still have?) the perfect connector - the Magsafe. The more we dig into this power over USB-C garbage, the farther away we go from that perfection. The patent expiration cannot come soon enough, I seriously hope all portable device vendors bring it back.

Surface still does have this connector, but can also charge from USB-C at reduced speed!

That's the perfect way to do it. If it's docked, you likely don't care as much about the charging speed. And if you're using on your lap or coffee table, you probably care more about the MagSafe aspect.

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

#138

Post by polutropos »

asdff wrote: post #108
ak217 wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know, the flipside is that Thunderbolt delivers genuinely cutting-edge interconnect capabilities. I can run two 4K60 displays and a dozen peripheral devices, and charge my laptop, all via a single cable off of my $100 Thunderbolt 3 dock. There is no other technology that comes close to this capability at this price point.

At the same time, I have no idea if the cable I have is a thunderbolt or usb-c cable. There is no standard marking.

Your Thunderbolt cables don't have the lightening bolt logo on them? I didn't think it was a 'requirement' but every TB cable I've seen always has the thunderbolt icon.

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

#139

Post by kube-system »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #126

OK, call up the USB-IF and ask them a question. A simple question. When USB-PD was developed in the ancient year of 2014, was it truly unforeseeable that, you know, laptop GPUs use a lot of power, maybe we should support more than the arbitrary 100W number on this connector?

It doesn’t sound like 100w was arbitrary. Increasing power always means increasing either the voltage or the current, or both. Increasing the current means you need larger conductors, i.e. a larger connector and thicker wires. Increasing the voltage means mitigating arcing concerns, which was mentioned in the article.

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

#140

Post by shepherdjerred »

asdff wrote: post #112
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...

On the other hand, I would love to use an M1 chip that makes use of 240 watts. Could you imagine the power? Give me the option to trade efficiency for horsepower. When I hear things like "My M1 mac never turns on the fans" I wonder why the system isn't clocking higher if the cooling system is running so comfortably.

For most users the M1 is fast enough that a nicer user experience (no fan noise) is more worthwhile than slightly better performance.

My friend recently purchased a MacBook Air with M1. There's no fan at all. It's incredible. It's a block of metal that just works.

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