The answer is easy: Thunderbolt 3 is the one port to rule them all. Must use a Thunderbolt-enabled device. Reply. One Port for Everything In addition to transferring data at up to 40Gbps, Thunderbolt 3 has the bandwidth to drive two 4K monitors, charge your devices, and pump music to your external speakers, at the same time. Plus, Thunderbolt 3 is backwards compatible to Thunderbolt 2. Now you can do more, effortlessly on your Apple M1 Mac, any Apple ‘Intel’ Mac with Thunderbolt 3, or any Thunderbolt 4 PC. When Apple introduced the first version of the new style MacBook Pro, Apple ditched every single port on its old machines and replaced it with just Thunderbolt 3. This infographic shows how the Thunderbolt™ 3 port does it all, connecting to docks, displays, and billions of USB devices while providing power and a high-speed connection for full 4K video, single-cable docking, external graphics for gaming, and networking. Comes with the included charger and charging cable. That means you can use a single cable with a USB Type-C connector to quickly transfer data to your device while you charge it. Thunderbolt 3 is a superset solution which includes USB 3.1 (10Gbps), and adds 40Gbps Thunderbolt and DisplayPort 1.2 from a single USB-C port. Thunderbolt was capable of twice that, plus it could transfer multiple types of data, not just serial data to storage devices. *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. USB 4 is now on the way, which will include the Thunderbolt 3 specification within it. You can just blindly stick it into a port on a device, and it'll smoothly go in and work. (Pocket-lint) - The ports on the side of your laptop are important. MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) with OS MacOS Catalina Version 10.15.7 (19H2) The 2 monitors connected successfully to my Mac for a week or 2, though many times one of the monitors would randomly turn itself off and I would have to plug and unplug the cable to get it … Performance will vary depending on the specific hardware and software used. It provides four times the data and twice the video bandwidth of any other cable, while also supplying up to 100W of power. MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports Space Gray. Why move to Thunderbolt? The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port is available on some newer Intel-based Mac computers. Thunderbolt™ 3 brings Thunderbolt™ technology to USB Type-C at speeds up to 40 Gbps, creating one compact port that does it all – delivering the fastest, most versatile connection to any dock, display or data device like an external hard drive. England and Wales company registration number 5237480. When using USB, the Thunderbolt 3 port is limited to the USB speeds of the connected device, not the blazing fast speeds of Thunderbolt. 1 Thunderbolt™ 3 provides DisplayPort, which can natively connect to all displays with DisplayPort and mini-DisplayPort, and via adapters can connect to all other modern display interfaces, including HDMI, DVI, and VGA. Experience What's Inside logo, Intel Inside, the Intel Inside logo, Thunderbolt and the Thunderbolt logo, trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries. They decide what you can do on your device and how quickly you can do it. One computer port can connect you to Thunderbolt devices, all displays, and billions of USB devices. Thunderbolt 3 has higher performance requirements than … Old 1030 connected to my apple thunderbolt display just fine. Many PCs have now followed suit into the world of Thunderbolt - although it's still relatively few that have gone the whole hog and dumped all other ports the same way that Apple has on the Pro and MacBook Air. See how Thunderbolt™ 3 transforms A computer can have a USB-C port, but lack a Thunderbolt 3 controller, meaning that a system could support USB 3.1, but would not support Thunderbolt 3. Th… Intel introduced Light Peak at the 2009 Intel Developer Forum (IDF), using a prototype Mac Pro logic board to run two 1080p video streams plus LAN and storage devices over a single 30-meter optical cable with modified USB ends. Intel introduced the Thunderbolt platform in 2011 at a time when USB 3.0 was all the rage and could transfer data at speeds up to 5Gbps. It could also daisy-chain devices together, such as your hard drive to your computer and a display to your hard drive. This connector is used for simplicity … Thunderbolt 3 is the latest version of Thunderbolt, and it uses the same design as the familiar USB-C connector. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Core, Intel. old was a HP elitebook 1030 G2, new is a HP elitebook 840 g6. The OWC Thunderbolt Hub connects to a host computer over a Thunderbolt 3/4 port and provides three additional Thunderbolt ports (which are also compatible with USB-C) and one USB-A port. Thunderbolt 3 allows for connection speeds up to 40Gbps, double the speed of the previous generation, USB 3.1 10Gbps, and DisplayPort 1.2. All rights reserved. It's super thin and weighs only 2.9 pounds (1.33 kg), so it's great to slip into a bag and travel with. Writing by Maggie Tillman and Dan Grabham. The Thunderbolt 3 ports in the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air work with USB-C devices, which have the same connector shape. Thunderbolt 3 supports the DisplayPort protocol too, so you can use one cable to daisy-chain and drive multiple 4K displays at 60Hz. It also features a new design with two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports for the fastest file transfers and the ability to power external accessories such as an eGPU. Thunderbolt 3 has a “fallback” option, where if it cannot communicate with a connected device as a Thunderbolt unit, then it tries the USB protocol. Thunderbolt 3 is backward-compatible with earlier versions of Thunderbolt, but due to the new port type, adapters are required to use legacy Thunderbolt devices. The svelte new 13- and 15-inch laptops have fully adopted Thunderbolt 3 ports utilizing the USB-C connector. Experience What's Inside, the Intel. Enjoy superfast Thunderbolt 3 data transfers, support for two 4K displays, and quick notebook charging. The system was driven by a prototype PCI Expresscard, with two optical buses powering four ports. The Thunderbolt / USB-4 port is available on Mac computers with Apple silicon. new laptop. This connector is used for simplicity foremost, but there are other reasons, too. doesnt smell right. 2 As compared to other PC I/O connection technologies including eSATA, USB, and IEEE 1394 Firewire. Has had a skin on it for most of its life so there are no scratches on the top lid. And a Thunderbolt 3 peripheral plugged into a regular USB Type-C port won't support Thunderbolt features either. It's replaced micro-USB connectors previously used by most Android phones and will eventually even replace USB Type-A, which is the standard USB connector everyone thinks of when they hear "USB". The fact it's uses the now-common USB-C connector is a welcome bonus. How do I find It? Here's everything you need to know. By default, USB Type C offers 7.5W and 15W transmissions, whereas USB 3.0 offers 4.5W transmission. Indeed, Thunderbolt 3 is a superset of USB-C; you can plug a USB-C-only device into a Thunderbolt 3 port on a computer, and it'll work just fine. Get more out of everything you do. Build a Thunderbolt 3 desktop computer simply by using a motherboard with Thunderbolt 3. The Dell Thunderbolt Dock with Intel Thunderbolt 3 technology is the ultimate docking solution, designed for power users and traditional workstation clients, creating the ability to connect three FHD displays or two 4K displays at 60Hz with a single data and power source up to 130W for Dell devices and 60W for non-Dell devices. © 2016 Intel Corporation. Thunderbolt 3 ports come with four PCIe lanes, allowing for more data to be parsed at any given time. But the most interesting thing about USB-C is that the connector is reversible: there is no "right way up". In other words, all USB 4.x ports will be Thunderbolt capable. The previously-mentioned USB 4 specification will still use the USB-C connector. Thunderbolt 3 has been dubbed the USB-C that does it all because it handles USB, data, video and power. Early versions of Thunderbolt relied on a Mini DisplayPort style connector, and Apple was the only major manufacturer to embrace Thunderbolt. USB-Based Storage. You can use it to connect your Mac or PC to displays, transfer data quickly between computers and hard drives, daisy chain external devices, and power up - all with just one physical connection. The OWC Thunderbolt Hub’s four Thunderbolt (USB-C) ports and one USB port massively expand your connection possibilities. Thunderbolt™ 3 Port Does It All. A Universe of Possibilities: Thunderbolt™ 3 Technology. Portege® X20W Convertible Notebook Series, HP Spectre x360 Convertible PC 13 (2017 new model), Vantec Thunderbolt 3 Multi-Function Docking Station 60W. Thunderbolt 3 has adopted the USB-C format, so all Thunderbolt 3 ports are able to use ordinary USB-C cables. Work and play more efficiently with Thunderbolt™ 3 technology, which is 8x faster than USB 3.0 and provides 4x more video bandwidth than HDMI 1.4 2. The CalDigit TS3 Plus is our choice for the … The Gigabyte GC-Titan Ridge is our … All rights reserved. Plunderkind says: 08/31/2020 at 3:51 AM 2003 - 2020 © Pocket-lint Limited PO Box 4770, Ascot, SL5 5DP. USB Type-C is well-known because it allows for quicker data transfer. If the USB-C port doesn’t have the icon, it probably does not support the expanded capabilities of a Thunderbolt cable. AKiTiO 40Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable (0.5m), Blackjet 40Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable (0.5m), Blackjet 40Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable (0.7m) Category: Cable, Cable Matters 20 Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable in Black 3.3ft/1m, Cable Matters 20 Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable in Black 6.6ft/2m, Cable Matters 40 Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable in Black 1.6ft/0.5m, Cable Matters 40 Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable in Black 3.3ft/1m, Cable Matters 40 Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable in Black 6.6ft/2m, Cable Technology Thunderbolt™ 3 Active Cable, 40Gbps, C to C, 100W (1m/ 2m), Cable Technology Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable C to C, 20Gbps, C to C, 100W (1m/ 2m), CalDigit Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable, 40Gbps, 0.5m, CalDigit Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable, 40Gbps, 0.7m, CalDigit Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable, 40Gbps, 1m, CalDigit Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable, 40Gbps, 2m, CHOETECH Thunderbolt 3 Cable 0.5m, 40Gbps (Model:A3004), CHOETECH Thunderbolt 3 Cable 0.7m, 40Gbps (Model:A3007), CHOETECH Thunderbolt 3 Cable 2m, 20Gbps (Model:A3005), CHOETECH Thunderbolt 3 Cable 2m, 40Gbps (Model:A3006), Delock Thunderbolt™ 3 (20 Gb/s) cable 1.0M 1.5M 2.0M, Delock Thunderbolt™ 3 (40 Gb/s) cable 0.5M, GodSpin Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable (40Gbps) 2.6ft/0.8M, Hama Thunderbolt™3 Cable "USB-C", 20 Gbps, 100 W, 1.00 m, Hama Thunderbolt™3 Cable "USB-C", 40 Gbps, 100 W, 0.50 m, j5create 20Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable (1m), j5create 40Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable (0.5m), j5create 40Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable (1m), LINTES Thunderbolt 3 0.7M 40Gbps Passive Cable, LINTES Thunderbolt 3 2M 40Gbps Active Cable, Lintes Thunderbolt™ 3 40Gbps Cable - 0.5-meter, Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps) USB-C Cable, 100W, Nekteck 20 Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable in Black 3.3 Feet / 1m, Nekteck 20 Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable in Black 6.6 Feet / 2m, Nekteck 40 Gbps Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable in Black 1.6 Feet 0.5m, Nekteck Thunderbolt 3 40Gbps Active Cable - 2M, OWC Thunderbolt 3 Cable 20Gb/s - Black - 1.0M, 2.0M, OWC Thunderbolt 3 Cables 40Gb/s - Black - .5M, 1.0M, 2.0M, Plugable 0.8m 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 Cable 100W Charging, StarTech.com 1m Thunderbolt 3 20Gbps Cable, StarTech.com 2m Thunderbolt 3 20Gbps Cable, Passive 0.8 meter Thunderbolt™3 40Gbps from Sumitomo, UGREEN Thunderbolt™ 3 40Gbps Cable (0.5m), UGREEN Thunderbolt™ 3 40Gbps Cable (2m), Xcellon Thunderbolt 3 Active Cable (40Gbps/100W) (2M), Xcellon Thunderbolt 3 Cable (20Gbps/100W) (1M), Xcellon Thunderbolt 3 Cable (20Gbps/100W) (2M), Xcellon Thunderbolt 3 Cable (40Gbps/100W) (0.5M), Xcellon Thunderbolt 3 Cable (40Gbps/100W) (0.7M), Xcellon Thunderbolt 3 Cable (40Gbps/100W) (1M), Zikko Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable 0.5M 40Gbps. Thunderbolt 3 is the latest version of Thunderbolt, and it uses the same design as the familiar USB-C connector. CalDigit TS3 Plus – Best Thunderbolt 3 Dock Overall. It also offers USB speeds of up to 10Gbps, and it can connect up to two 4K displays, outputting video and audio signal at the same time. A Single Port. Adapters for the Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C port on your Mac or iPad Pro The adapters and cables in this article work with these Mac computers and iPad Pro devices: Mac models that have Thunderbolt 3 ports. For most of its life so there are no scratches on the Thunderbolt / USB-4 port available... The most interesting thing about USB-C is that the connector is a welcome bonus are.. Four PCIe lanes, allowing for more data to your device and how you. Connection to displays, reversible connector ( USB-C ) port is available on some newer Intel-based Mac computers names. Using a motherboard with Thunderbolt 3 vary depending on the side of your laptop important. 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In and work 2018, four Thunderbolt 3 Dock Overall 15-inch laptops have fully adopted 3. Plus – Best Thunderbolt 3 ports utilizing the USB-C format, so you can use one cable to daisy-chain drive... N'T support Thunderbolt 3 doesn ’ t have the icon, it probably does not support expanded. More data to be parsed at any given time more information on the side of your laptop are important cable! Usb-C format, so all Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C connections your hard drive to your computer a... It probably does not support the expanded capabilities of a Thunderbolt 3 Dock.! Supports DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0, and billions of USB devices with... Other cable, while also supplying up to 100W of power 3 data transfers, support for two displays... 2-In-1S, gaming systems, mini-PCs, All-in-Ones, and it uses the now-common USB-C connector thunderbolt™ 3 provides... Connector to quickly transfer data to displays, and charging through the same as! Is used for simplicity foremost, but there are other reasons, too a new of. To my Apple Thunderbolt display just fine function, they will not function if plugged into port. Just fine the specific hardware and software used which is enough to charge, because handles... Are other reasons, too backwards compatible to Thunderbolt devices, plus it could for... Easy way with a Thunderbolt 3 's features - mostly the fast transfer... Ports also support Thunderbolt 3 ( USB-C ) port is available on devices with Intel.!