How to force a Thunderbolt-ethernet connection when switching networks without rebooting the computer? Everything you need to know about Thunderbolt Why Thunderbolt is better than FireWire, USB, eSATA and others
Whatever the design features of the interface for connecting peripherals, it must have two characteristics: versatility and high data transfer speed. The combination of only these two qualities makes it truly effective. An example of such an interface is Thunderbolt - new technology connections peripheral devices, created jointly by two leading companies Apple and Intel.
What is Thunderbolt?
So what is Thunderbolt and what benefits does it offer? Without going into technical details, it can be characterized as a universal standard that provides the most convenient and effective communication between computers and tablets with various external devices. In more accessible language, Thunderbolt is an alternative to USB technology, only, as Apple claims, even more advanced.
Thus, the goal of creating a new standard is to eliminate the shortcomings of USB, and in the future, replace it. Among manufacturers computer equipment The idea of such a replacement, however, did not receive widespread support, and the main reason for this was the relatively high cost of Thunderbolt components, which has a significant impact on the final price of computers. Currently, the new standard is used mainly in Mac computers.
Pros of using Thunderbolt
The main advantages of the new technology are the ability to sequentially, that is, without using a hub or switch, connect several high-performance peripheral devices to one compact dual-channel port, as well as high data transfer speeds. Combining DisplayPort and PCI Express, the new standard allows you to connect external hard disks, high-resolution monitors, video cameras and other peripheral devices, without fear for the stability of their operation and the safety of transmitted data.
Thunderbolt transfer speeds are at least twice as fast as USB, and that's just the beginning. And although the technology has not become widespread among computer equipment manufacturers, it continues to develop successfully. The first version was followed by a second, and then a third, capable of supporting data exchange at speeds of up to 40 Gb/s.
It should also be noted that the standard allows you to simultaneously transmit and receive data. Thunderbolt supports connecting displays with Mini DisplayPort or DisplayPort adapter, HDMI, DVI, VGA, compatible with USB devices, FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 (connection is made via an adapter). However, it must be understood that new interface It won’t make devices faster, but it won’t slow down data transfer either.
Thunderbolt 3 interface
At the moment, the third version of the standard is already available, although the devices themselves based on the new technology will go on sale in 2016. Thunderbolt 3 got rid of the MDP connector, switching to double-sided USB-C, and at the same time doubled the data transfer speed, and if in the second version it was up to 20 Gb / s, now it will be possible to transfer files from one device to another at speed 40 Gb/s. This means that a 4K resolution video file can be transferred in less than half a minute.
Possibilities new version also include compatibility of the new version with the USB 3.1 standard, support for powering devices up to 100 W, connecting two 4K resolution displays, various peripherals and an Ethernet network at a speed of 10 Gb/s. By the way, if you connect one display, the resolution can be increased to 5K.
This article describes the main differences between Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1 (USB-C).
The USB-C connector is used in Thunderbolt 3 mainly because it is compact. However, the compatibility of these two technologies is limited.
Below are answers to frequently asked questions about Thunderbolt 3.
How can I tell if my computer has a Thunderbolt 3 port?
Check your computer's documentation. The Thunderbolt 3 port on a computer looks like this USB-C port with a Thunderbolt icon. See illustration below:
Is it possible to use Thunderbolt 3 instead of a drive? USB drive 3.1 (USB-C)?
- The Thunderbolt 3 computer port supports both the interface of the same name and USB-C.
- The computer's USB 3.1 (USB-C) port only supports USB devices.
- Thunderbolt 3 cables support Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1 (USB-C) devices.
- USB 3.1 (USB-C) cables do not support Thunderbolt 3 devices.
- To use a Thunderbolt 3 drive on your computer, you must have a Thunderbolt 3 cable and a Thunderbolt 3 port.
| Protocol | Estimated Pulse Rate Gigabit per second (Gbps) | Logo |
| USB 3.1 Gen 1 | Up to 5 Gbps | |
| Based on USB 3.1 Gen 1 platform | Up to 5 Gbps | |
| USB 3.1 Gen 2 | Up to 10 Gbps | |
| Based on USB 3.1 Gen 2 platform | Up to 10 Gbps | |
| Thunderbolt 3 | Up to 40 Gbps |
Are Thunderbolt 3 drives compatible with previous versions of the interface (Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2)?
Thunderbolt 3 drives are compatible with Thunderbolt 1 and 2, however, since Thunderbolt 3 uses a different interface, an adapter is required. Additionally, some Thunderbolt 3 features, such as charging, are not supported in previous versions of Thunderbolt and may not work when using an adapter. It should also be noted that not all adapters are reversible, so if you connect a Thunderbolt 3 drive to a Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt 1 computer (and vice versa) using an adapter, the device may not work.
Some of our Thunderbolt drives offer multiple interfaces (such as Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1), allowing them to be used with systems that do not support Thunderbolt 3 technology.
Note. All adapters are not guaranteed to be fully compatible with Thunderbolt 3 devices.
Are all Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) cables the same?
No. There are two types of Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) cables: passive and active. Passive ones are cheaper and provide data transfer rates of up to 40 Gbit/s (with a length of up to 0.5 m) and 20 Gbit/s (with a length over 0.5 m). Active cables allow you to achieve speeds of up to 40 Gbit/s with a length of up to 2 m.
Thunderbolt technology - a joint development, one might say, between Apple and Intel - began to spread along with the latest generation of MacBooks. You probably know that Apple is in no hurry to include raw technologies in its equipment, but Thunderbolt cannot be called such. What attracted Apple to this ultra-high-speed data transfer technology? This article will tell you everything you need to know about the latest data communication standard.
What's happened ?
Thunderbolt(old name Light Peak) is a fairly new peripheral connectivity technology developed by Intel together with Apple, which allows the transfer of data, video, audio and power through a single port. Built on PCI Express and DisplayPort architectures, Thunderbolt allows for high-speed data transfer while interfacing with external peripherals such as hard drives, RAID arrays, video recording devices, network interfaces and other equipment. The port allows you to transmit high-definition video using the DisplayPort protocol. Each Thunderbolt port provides up to 10 W of connected equipment.
Is there a difference between Thunderbolt and Light Peak?
Light Peak it's just a code name for Thunderbolt, given by Intel when the technology was still in development - such names are given to any technology. The only thing worth noting is that Thunderbolt implies optical and electrical transmission data, but Apple only uses electrical diagram. Intel expects most manufacturers to use electrical circuitry due to low cost and power transfer capabilities. Optical versions are most likely to be needed in cases where cables longer than three meters will be used.
How does Thunderbolt enable PCI Express?
PCI Express it is a high-speed architecture that is used to connect various components inside a Mac, such as the processor, graphics card, and storage. As you might guess, PCI Express allows these components to exchange data with each other quite quickly. Because Thunderbolt uses PCI Express as a direct connection bus, the technology is impressively fast.
How fast is Thunderbolt?
In theory - very fast. The Thunderbolt link provides data transfer speeds of 10 Gb/s, and each port can support two channels. Thunderbolt is also bidirectional, meaning it can receive and transmit data at the same time. Even in practice, the speed reaches 8 Gb/s, which is much faster than FireWire 800 and USB 3.0. Not to mention the eSATA connection on many Windows personal computers.
Of course, as with any high-speed interface, the performance of each connected device will be lower due to limitations in the device itself. For example, many SATA drives have a peak operating speed of 3 Gb/s, and even SATA 3.0 is theoretically limited to 6 Gb/s. Even intermediary devices can “eat up” a fairly serious chunk of speed. 
Why is Thunderbolt better than FireWire, USB, eSATA and others?
The biggest advantage is of course the aforementioned performance. But an even bigger selling point is that Thunderbolt supports data, video, audio and power transfer through just one port - and therefore one cable - to many peripheral devices. At a minimum, you will be able to connect enough devices and adapters with Thunderbolt.
So Thunderbolt is something like the old Apple Display Connector technology?
Not exactly, although the idea is similar to the Apple Display Connector (ADC). While Thunderbolt supports video, audio, data, and power transfer—thereby reducing the number of cables sticking out of your computer—it doesn't provide the power needed to connect a large display. (ADC delivers 100W of power for power, video, audio and USB signals). On the other hand, an ADC connection requires specialized - and expensive - graphics cards, while Thunderbolt uses a standard Mini DisplayPort. 
What type of physical connection does Thunderbolt use?
Quite convenient - on all recent Macs Thunderbolt uses the Mini DisplayPort port, and on the latest MacBook models there is a separate Thunderbolt port, Mini DisplayPort is excluded from the available ones.
How can I connect my display if there is no Mini DisplayPort connector?
Because Thunderbolt handles both data and DisplayPort video, you can connect your Mini DisplayPort display—or another display with a Mini DisplayPort adapter—to a Thunderbolt port, or daisy chain it with other Thunderbolt devices, as described below.
What are the video and audio capabilities of Thunderbolt?
Remember that every Thunderbolt port includes both a DisplayPort and a PCI Express connection. This means Thunderbolt can handle the same types of video and audio - at 1080p resolution and 8 channels of audio - as DisplayPort. When it comes to video, the biggest limitation is the graphics card. For example, new MacBooks support an external display with a resolution of 2560 by 1600 pixels and millions of colors in addition to the built-in display or dual display mode. On a desktop Mac, the Thunderbolt port supports two high-resolution displays. You can connect your display directly with Mini DisplayPort or with a DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI, or VGA adapter.
Is Thunderbolt compatible with USB and FireWire?
Adapters are already available so you can connect USB, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800 devices to the Thunderbolt port. The new port will not make devices faster, but it will not limit their speed either. FireWire 800, for example, will not be able to transfer data faster than 800 Mbps.
What about other types of connections?
As noted above, Thunderbolt can transfer data, video, audio, network data and power, so adapters are indispensable. For example, adapters for audio and Gigabit Ethernet are already in stock.
Can I connect multiple devices to one Thunderbolt port?
You can connect up to six devices to each of the Thunderbolt ports by daisy-chaining them together. Of course, this means that each device in the chain must have two Thunderbolt ports (or two other types of data ports with a Thunderbolt adapter).
Does connecting multiple devices affect performance like USB 2.0?
Unlike USB 2.0, where connecting to a low-speed device or USB 1.0 can reduce the performance of the entire USB bus, Thunderbolt is specifically built to work with many devices without compromising the link itself. Of course, these devices will share the total bandwidth of the Thunderbolt link, which may limit the performance of an individual device if it carries a large traffic flow, but at the same time, the performance of the Thunderbolt link itself will not suffer.
How does connecting a device without Thunderbolt affect performance?
Depends on a lot. If you connect these devices to the end of your Thunderbolt chain, they can slow down the performance of faster equipment that receives data from the computer. If you're plugging a device without a Thunderbolt port into the middle of a ring chain, it all depends on exactly how you plug it in.
For example, if you are using two FireWire to Thunderbolt adapters to connect HDD With FireWire in the middle of the Thunderbolt ring chain, the performance of the rest of the chain that transfers data to the computer will be limited by the FireWire bus, which physically cannot transfer data faster than Thunderbolt.
Unless there is an adapter to bypass this limitation (or create a T-branch), the last device in the chain must be the display.
Will all Macs get Thunderbolt?
Apple doesn't comment on future products, but the fact that Thunderbolt is being given due attention is evidenced by the fact that this standard is included in the current MacBook Pro line - even in the entry-level model. The company hopes for widespread adoption of Thunderbolt technology. A much more interesting question is...
Will Thunderbolt replace FireWire and USB on Mac?
It is quite possible, but in any case, it will take some time. Thunderbolt has not yet matured and will remain in a “new” state until it becomes as commonplace as USB and FireWire.
However, we all remember the original iMac, when Apple abandoned ADB connectors in favor of USB - long before USB peripherals became commonplace and inexpensive. In any case, the idea of a single port and connector attracted Jobs and attracts Apple. Just look at the port that the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Will iOS devices get Thunderbolt?
As noted above, Thunderbolt is built on PCI Express, the architecture that underpins the Mac and many personal computers. But iOS devices do not use PCI Express, so it will be quite difficult to enable the Thunderbolt port on the iPhone. Plus, the 30-pin port on iOS devices has quite a lot of capabilities. Most likely, Apple will sell optional cables connecting Thunderbolt and the dock connector for charging and syncing.
What Thunderbolt-connected devices are available today?
The boom of Thunderbolt-connected devices occurred only at CES 2012. Elgato The SSD costs £349.95 for the 120GB version and £569.95 for the 240GB model. Another interesting option - from MSI - GUS II. The external device has a Thunderbolt interface and an internal PCIe slot. Another Thunderbolt-enabled accessory is the design from Belkin, it allows users to connect multiple USB devices to a single docking station. The product is expected to hit the market in September 2012 and will cost $299.
The storage unit went on sale in February LaCie 2big Thunderbolt. The new product is available in 4 TB (cost $650) and 6 TB (cost $800) versions. LaCie 2big provides data transfer speeds of up to 327 MB/sec, offers quick replacement of drives, allows you to create RAID arrays and, of course, create a chain between each other via Thunderbolt ports.
For comparison, LaCie 2big offers three times higher data transfer speeds compared to FireWire 800 and together can provide transfer speeds of up to 676 MB/sec.
And as an example of the chain that the Thunderbolt channel allows you to create - 24 terabytes in one chain of drives.
IDF Already this year we should begin selling special docks that simplify connection various devices With various types data transmission. 
Thunderbolt | Now on PC
Mac and PC users will never agree on which platform has the best operating system. But when it comes to hardware, PC owners have a clear advantage. When selecting processors, video cards and motherboards, we have much more choice. If you use a Mac, you'll have to wait until Apple adds support for the device you want (if it ever does).
Thunderbolt broke the rule that PCs get the latest technology first. For almost a year now, owners of new Macs have been using the interface Thunderbolt, which was developed by Intel in collaboration with Apple. Experienced PC users had to just sit and wait, although the lack of products with this interface made the wait much easier.
MSI recently introduced the first motherboard to support Thunderbolt. The Z77A-GD80 ends Apple's monopoly on the coolest interface since the first USB standard. The board we received is almost identical to the Z77A-GD65 model, which we reviewed in review of six Z77 motherboards priced at $160-220 except for the presence of a port Thunderbolt 10 Gbps on the rear I/O panel (instead of the DVI port), along with a new 14-phase voltage regulator.
If you are not yet familiar with the technology Thunderbolt or its implementations, we are sure that you will want to have such an interface in your next system, even though the number of devices that support it is not very large yet.
Thunderbolt is the name of an Intel initiative that was originally codenamed Light Peak, an optical interface for connecting peripheral devices. When Intel first introduced Light Peak technology at IDF 2009, it was believed that the optical interface would provide 10 Gbps throughput. However, the copper version turned out to be better than previously expected, and allowed Intel to switch to it, reducing the cost of the final solution and adding power lines for connected devices (up to 10 W).
What enthusiasts don't like most is that USB 3.0 already exists as a standard part of the functionality of AMD and Intel chipsets. Why should we pay for another interface? After all, USB Gen 3's 5 Gbps throughput is nearly on par with the peak performance of today's SSDs. However Thunderbolt not just another interface for peripherals. It combines DisplayPort and PCI Express into a serial data stream, allowing for fairly high-speed connections between devices (along with innovative ideas such as the MSI GUS II).
Manufacturers have been toying with USB graphics solutions for years, but none have really succeeded because USB's unique command set simply wasn't designed to handle high-performance graphics I/O. However, the interface Thunderbolt It has low latency and high throughput, making it a reliable data transfer technology that supports highly accurate time synchronization, ideal for external video and audio devices.
How does Thunderbolt work?
Two schemes for connecting a Thunderbolt controller in the system
Controllers Thunderbolt are integrated into the system in one of two ways: either they are connected directly to the PCI lines Express processors class Sandy Bridge or , or communicates with the chipset (PCH) via its PCIe lanes.
It seems to us that in the desktop segment, most motherboard vendors will implement the connection via PCH, so as not to take up lanes on the processor, which are mainly intended for discrete graphics. This configuration could potentially create a bottleneck, since the DMI connection between the processor and the chipset can theoretically handle 2 GB/s flows in both directions. If you have connected many SATA drives, then maximum interface performance Thunderbolt may be limited.
In the image above you can see how DisplayPort data flows between the controller Thunderbolt and Flexible Display Interface (FDI) on the PCH. FDI has its own path dedicated to transmitting information, and it does not burden DMI 2.0.
Data from PCIe and DisplayPort enters the controller Thunderbolt separately, mixed pass through the cable Thunderbolt and are separated at the end.
For Thunderbolt you need an active cable, that's why it's so expensive (around $50). Each end of the cable uses two tiny Gennum GN2033 low-power transmitter chips, which are responsible for amplifying the transmitted signal to provide data transfer rates of 10 Gbps over distances of up to three meters.
Initially Thunderbolt had to transmit data using an optical transmitter and fiber optic cable. But Intel engineers discovered that the 10 Gbps target could be achieved with cheaper copper cable. However, the implementation of the fiber optic option is ongoing, and in the future we hope to see optical cables that allow devices to be connected over fairly long distances. As we already mentioned, the wired version is capable of powering devices up to 10W. When the optical option appears, all connected devices will need a separate power source.
Despite many unique features, many ideas Thunderbolt borrowed from other places. For example, it supports hot plugging. And, like FireWire, it is designed to work in a chain with other devices. Systems with controllers Thunderbolt will be equipped with one or two ports, each will support up to seven devices in a chain, two of which can be DisplayPort-enabled monitors. Combinations can be as follows:
- Five devices and two displays with Thunderbolt ports
- Six devices and one display with Thunderbolt port
- Six devices and one display via mini-DisplayPort adapter
- Five devices, one display with Thunderbolt port and one display via mini-DisplayPort adapter
Of course, daisy chaining requires that each device (except the last one) have two ports Thunderbolt. So when you have attached a display that does not have a port Thunderbolt(via a mini-DisplayPort adapter), or it has only one port, it will not be possible to transmit the signal further along the chain. Thus, when connecting many components, displays should be placed last.
The connector itself Thunderbolt physically compatible with mini-DisplayPort, so there will be no problems connecting.
If there are any conditions for placing PCIe and DisplayPort data on the same cable? In theory, no. Apple and Intel addressed the output quality issue on early devices through a firmware update in 2011. The interface uses two data channels, each of which is capable of transmitting information at a speed of 10 Gbit/s in both directions. IN this decision one channel is used to transmit data between devices, the second for display signals. And even in this case we are talking about 10 Gbps as an official characteristic Thunderbolt, since adding the speeds will not be a completely correct approach.
Thunderbolt | Interface Bandwidth: Comparison with USB 3.0, FireWire and eSATA
According to Intel partners, ultrabooks will use a single-port Cactus Ridge controller due to the low power consumption of the platforms. Enthusiast-oriented desktop systems and chained devices will use the Cactus Ridge 4C controller. Both Cactus Ridge controller models use four PCIe 2.0 lanes. It was previously believed that version 2C would only occupy two lanes, but the developer has confirmed that this belief was wrong.
The Intel Port Ridge controller is also a second-generation development. However, it was specifically designed for end devices. Such devices must be connected to the end of a daisy chain or used separately. A good example of an end device is the portable 2.5" Elgato SSD with one port Thunderbolt. And since the interface can power devices up to 10W, there's no need for additional power.
But why do we need controller differentiation? Thunderbolt? Intel is trying to make the technology more accessible where possible. We've heard that Light Ridge costs about $25-$30, and Eagle Ridge is about half that. Port Ridge has one channel removed Thunderbolt, used for DisplayPort signals, and is essentially one half of the Eagle Ridge controller. Thus, Port Ridge's single-channel, single-port controller allows suppliers to significantly reduce the cost of end devices.
Dual display support
The Cactus Ridge 4C and Light Ridge controllers use two DisplayPort outputs. On desktop systems, one channel is connected to the processor's integrated graphics Sandy Bridge or . The second is given to the discrete video card. Of course, the ability to connect a second screen is important for high-end systems, so motherboards based on the Z77 chipset will use a four-channel Cactus Ridge controller. The implementation will look a little strange since you will need a DisplayPort return cable between the discrete graphics card and motherboard. But this is the only way to establish a second connection to the Cactus Ridge 4C controller.
The question arises, why not just connect the monitor to the video card and not suffer? Because Thunderbolt uses an active cable.
The active cable allows the controller Thunderbolt interact with displays over long distances without compromising signal integrity. However, a long DisplayPort cable is not the best option because after two meters the signal begins to deteriorate. DVI uses only passive cables, and the resolution and refresh rate decrease as the length increases (that's what DVI extenders are for). Thunderbolt solves these problems and simplifies monitor connection.
| Thunderbolt-enabled platforms | Thunderbolt controller | Thunderbolt ports | Integrated Graphics | Discrete graphics | Max. Number of connected displays |
| MacBook Air (Mid 2011) | Eagle Ridge | 1 | There is | No | 1 |
| MacBook Pro (13", early 2011) | Light Ridge | 1 | There is | No | 1 |
| Mac mini (Mid 2011) 2.3 GHz | Eagle Ridge | 1 | There is | No | 1 |
| Mac mini Lion Server (Mid 2011) | Eagle Ridge | 1 | There is | No | 1 |
| MacBook Pro (15" and 17", early 2011) | Light Ridge | 1 | There is | There is | 2 |
| iMac (Mid 2011) | Light Ridge | 2 | There is | There is | 2 |
| Mac mini (mid 2011), 2.5 GHz | Light Ridge | 1 | There is | There is | 2 |
The HD Graphics 4000 architecture engine supports up to three independent displays. Therefore, configurations without an additional video card, but equipped with a Light Ridge/Cactus Ridge 4C controller, make it possible to control two screens Thunderbolt when the laptop display is running.
If your laptop has an Eagle Ridge or Cactus Ridge 2C controller, you will only be able to connect one display Thunderbolt. This is a limitation of the controller, so even if you have a discrete graphics card, you will not be able to connect a second device with a socket Thunderbolt .
It is technically possible to connect two displays via Thunderbolt using Intel integrated graphics on a desktop system, but it must meet the following requirements to do so.
- The motherboard must have a Light Ridge or Cactus Ridge 4C controller.
- The motherboard must have a DisplayPort input to route the signal to the second display.
- The motherboard must have a built-in DisplayPort output (from Intel HD Graphics 3000/4000) that feeds back to the input.
Even though connecting the return cable is extra work, it still makes sense. The cable gives you the ability to control a second screen using a discrete graphics card. Without this, connect the monitor Thunderbolt to a high-performance video card is not possible.
Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 103: controller from the inside
When you use a serial circuit or end device, the controller Thunderbolt provides PCIe 2.0 x4 connection. However, it also provides greater flexibility for multiple connected devices. For example, with four devices connected, you can configure the connection as four separate PCIe 2.0 x1 lanes. According to Intel, the Cactus Ridge (2C/4C) controller can be configured as follows:
- 1 * x4: one device for four lines
- 4 * x1: four devices, one line each
- 2 * x2: two devices with two lines each
- 1 * x2 + 2 * x1: one device for two lines and two devices for one line each
Most often, one device is used connected to the controller. Thunderbolt, i.e. 1*x4 configuration. However, there are situations where one controller Thunderbolt controls multiple devices.
Thunderbolt | Active cable temperature
You may not have thought that external solutions would have temperature issues, but Thunderbolt is literally a “hot” technology.
Infrared image of where the cable is Thunderbolt connects to the motherboard shows that the temperature there reaches 43.30 degrees, even when the device is idle. With active data exchange, the temperature rises to 48.80 degrees.
These results refer to the active cable Thunderbolt with two Gennum GN2033 chips on each end. When the flow of information passes through the cables, the chips process the data more actively, which is why we get such temperature readings.
Not surprisingly, in a more space-constrained environment, such as a 13.3" MacBook Pro, thermal performance is even more alarming. In the image above, the cable temperature Thunderbolt is in the 50 degree range. To the left of it is a FireWire 800 cable. On the other side is a USB 2.0 cable. And although these interfaces also seem to emit heat, they are actually heated by the cable Thunderbolt, located nearby. Fortunately, only the ends of the cable heat up, and the wires themselves remain cold.
High temperatures won't be a problem for you if you use a mini-DisplayPort adapter. The display signal is always present in the cable.
So, in comparison with USB and FireWire, cables Thunderbolt quite hot. But the heat is generated only at the plug, which you touch for a short period of time when you disconnect/connect the cable, and the temperature is not so high that you will get burned.
Thunderbolt | Beating the path to high-speed interfaces
Despite a lackluster debut on PC, the interface's pure performance Thunderbolt impressive. It provides approximately 1 GB/s of throughput, making ultra-fast external storage a reality. But Thunderbolt not only allows you to use large external drives, but also extends the PCIe bus of your motherboard, thereby helping to realize innovations that we have already seen to some extent, and those that will no doubt surprise us in the coming year.
Perhaps the biggest drawback Thunderbolt is the price, which is not very suitable for budget solutions. Seagate GoFlex based adapter Thunderbolt costs $190, which, you see, is not cheap at all. By comparison, FireWire 800 adapters, which used to be considered expensive, cost around $80, and USB 3.0 adapters sell for around $30. For such a high price, you can thank Intel controllers Thunderbolt, especially given the fact that device vendors based on Thunderbolt Cables are not included. Those. Expect to spend another $50 just to connect the new toy to the motherboard.
However, Intel representatives claim that the company is doing everything possible to reduce the cost: cheaper controllers are presented Thunderbolt second generation (Cactus Ridge and Port Ridge), and the company provides subsidies to partners to help cover costs.
Despite its technology and higher performance, enthusiasts should still stick to cheaper drive controllers, SATA-based SSDs and internal graphics cards. Number of tasks that require interface capabilities Thunderbolt still very little. You can get high-speed external storage using JBOD arrays, and most people don't find the limitations of DVI cables to be a constraint. At the moment technology Thunderbolt It fills a niche in desktop computing, appealing to professional audio and video editors who need low latency and high throughput to quickly move large amounts of data.
Interface Thunderbolt, perhaps more promising in the field mobile devices. We love laptops for their portability. But they usually lose in performance and flexibility. By bringing the PCI Express and DisplayPort interfaces outside, Thunderbolt makes it possible to add a fast drive, an external graphics processing device and a large monitor to small laptop, who previously could not work with such equipment.
There's no doubt that Thunderbolt compensates for the shortcomings of modern external interfaces. Thanks to the standards on which the technology is based Thunderbolt, outside the case (mobile or desktop) you can do things that were previously impossible.
The advent of Thunderbolt technology promised to revolutionize the market and it seemed that it was a real harbinger of the future, which, however, has not yet arrived. This standard is still not very widespread - what is the reason and what are the consequences of this phenomenon? Ben Lovejoy from 9to5mac reflects on this in his article. It turned out very interesting and we offer you a translation of this article into Russian.
I'm a big fan of Thunderbolt. A single cable carrying both DisplayPort and PCIe6 data is an incredibly elegant approach to at least eliminating cable clutter even if you're not too speed-conscious. Especially if you use Apple Thunderbolt Display as a USB hub for your devices.
I admire smart technology. Thunderbolt works with multiple devices, splitting and combining signals as needed. Thunderbolt 2 was a step forward, combining two 10-Gigabit channels into one 20-Gigabit channel. This is truly impressive.
The fast and smart technology developed by Intel and brought to the market by Apple should rapidly gain popularity, but, unfortunately, this is not happening yet. And it's all reminiscent of Firewire.
Firewire was vastly superior to USB. Despite the fact that USB 2.0 declared a speed of 480 Mbit/s, the actual figures were much lower. Firewire 400 delivered an “honest” 400 Mbps, which in real conditions made it significantly faster than USB. Firewire 800 brought USB to its knees.
But we all know that technological superiority does not guarantee commercial success. The mass market chose USB, largely simply because it was cheaper.
Firewire isn't dead. It is still used in many high-end devices, but it has definitely become a niche product. Eventually, Apple also removed the Firewire port from its laptops.
Thunderbolt now appears to be heading down a similar path. Of course, this was not planned - Intel hoped that Thunderbolt would replace USB in every computer. But that did not happen.
The reason is USB 3.0. Yes, it's not that fast. Yes, it's not that good. But it's cheap and it's familiar. You can practically count the number of Windows PCs with Thunderbolt ports on one hand. It's probably not an exaggeration to say that without Apple Thunderbolt would already be dead.
The new 10Gbps Superspeed USB protocol matches standard Thunderbolt, and Thunderbolt 2—like Firewire 800 before it—is unlikely to make much of a dent in USB's market position.
But there are glimmers of hope. First of all, these are new Mac Pro. They have as many as six Thunderbolt ports, and given that each port can handle up to six devices, Apple is clearly hoping to succeed in at least one market segment.
This is the video processing segment. Here you need the computer to transfer data at lightning speed to multiple displays, including those with 4K resolution, and also work with big amount external drives. It looks like the Mac Pro will be just such a computer, and Thunderbolt 2 will be one of the key elements of its appeal.
Of course, the high cost of the Mac Pro will prevent Thunderbolt 2 from becoming a mainstream protocol. But it seems to me that the Mac Pro is able to guarantee the existence and relevance of this technology - albeit in not too large volumes.
Another feature of Thunderbolt 2 will appear over time. We're talking about support for multiple 4K displays. For now, such displays are still too expensive, but in a couple of years they will appear in every home, and this is where Thunderbolt 2’s finest hour may come.
But it may not come. DisplayPort and HDMI also work with multiple high-resolution displays, and these technologies are familiar and familiar. And the fact that Thunderbolt allows you to get by with one cable instead of several does not make it a clear winner.
What's my forecast? I'm confident that Thunderbolt will remain on the market for at least another five years. But I'm not at all sure that such ports will remain in the MacBook by this time. I hope I'm wrong.
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