Thunderbolt 3 embraces USB Type-C connector, doubles bandwidth to 40Gbps

Post by calgoo » Wed, Jun 03, 2015, 7:46 AM UTC

seanp2k2 wrote: post #188

atonse wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The logic is actually simple: If you're trying to plug in a USB device, just plug it in. It'll work, regardless of whether it's TB 3 or just plain USB 3. (update: this is probably for 99% of cases since USB is much more common than TB) If you're trying to plug in a thunderbolt 3 device, it's very likely you know if you have thunderbolt.

What's the case for Thunderbolt not just being USB 3.2? Now that it's using the exact same connector, it really seems like a solution in search of an actual use-case. I thought the external GPU thing would be amazing, except that totally failed to materialize, and I've even heard that it's being actively blocked.

Post by bryanlarsen » Wed, Jun 03, 2015, 12:22 PM UTC

monocasa wrote: post #184

bryanlarsen wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Source? Sure, it's theoretically possible that a TB3 5K@60Hz monitor won't work when plugged into a USB Type C port. But there would be no good reason for that, it should downgrade smoothly to either 5K@30Hz or 4K@60Hz.

I'm running off of the assumption that Thunderbolt continues to use a different physical layer (which it pretty much has to to go faster than USB 3.1), and is piggy backing on USB Type-C's "Alternate Mode" which lets you negotiate different physical layers that you have a transceiver for. EDIT: Looks like my assumption is correct: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_Type-C

Post by monocasa » Wed, Jun 03, 2015, 6:46 PM UTC

bryanlarsen wrote: post #193

monocasa wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm running off of the assumption that Thunderbolt continues to use a different physical layer (which it pretty much has to to go faster than USB 3.1), and is piggy backing on USB Type-C's "Alternate Mode" which lets you negotiate different physical layers that you have a transceiver for. EDIT: Looks like my assumption is correct: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_Type-C

Sure, but why wouldn't the TB3 transceivers be designed to support USB 3.1 as well? Those transceivers have a wide range of dynamic adaptation to support high speed transmission, so it doesn't seem like much of a stretch to adapt to USB 3.1 signalling levels & protocol.

Post by tracker1 » Thu, Jun 04, 2015, 2:03 PM UTC

lsaferite wrote: post #167

tracker1 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you need a bunch? Most will be able to get by with a single port, to one-two monitors with a couple USB-A ports (and ethernet) on the monitors... or via a Thundebolt/USB-C dock.

To run multi-monitor you'd need the monitor to embed a DP-MST hub or embed a USB 3 video device if you only used a single port. The alt-mode capability cannot traverse a hub. More likely you'd have dual cables running to dual monitors. Each monitor could provide internal USB 3.1 hubs and associated devices plus feed 100W back up the line if needed.