{"id":63715,"date":"2020-07-10T17:25:57","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T22:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=63715"},"modified":"2020-12-11T09:44:09","modified_gmt":"2020-12-11T15:44:09","slug":"intel-introduces-thunderbolt-4-what-is-it-and-does-it-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/63715-intel-introduces-thunderbolt-4-what-is-it-and-does-it-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Intel Introduces Thunderbolt 4: What Is It and Does It Matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This week, Intel introduced the new Thunderbolt 4 standard, so let’s look at what it means for Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, USB4, USB3, the future of computing, how it will save humanity, etc. Well, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Infographic<\/a>
[Click to enlarge]<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What is Thunderbolt 4?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thunderbolt™ is Intel\u2019s trademarked name given to a high-speed protocol that can deliver power, and adjust data and video bandwidth on-the-fly depending on its use. It is now also the basis of the USB4 specification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 products will use the same underlying protocol<\/strong> spec to improve overall compatibility for products using USB-C. However, TB4 kicks USB4 up a notch by offering a more complete version of USB-C<\/strong> with a superset of capabilities not required by USB4. Think of it as USB4 on steroids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need a quick refresher on the difference between Thunderbolt and USB-C? Check out, “What\u2019s the Difference Between Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C and Which Should You Use?”<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is New in Thunderbolt 4?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To begin with, Thunderbolt 4 will be USB4 specification compliant<\/strong> and maintain the industry-leading 40Gb\/s performance of its Thunderbolt 3 predecessor. But there are some big changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Double Double<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thunderbolt 4 raises and standardizes the minimum host system requirements. It offers 40Gb\/s, two 4K displays or one 8K display, and PCIe data at 32Gb\/s on all<\/em> ports, effectively doubling the minimum expectations<\/strong> of Thunderbolt 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) has two 40Gb\/s ports on the left and two 20Gb\/s ports on the right1<\/sup>. That means specific ports would throttle PCIe speeds to 16Gb\/s and only support one 4K display. With Thunderbolt 4, this will not be allowed \u2013 all four ports will be required to be 40Gb\/s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1<\/sup>Speeds as originally reported by Apple. See comment below<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thunderbolt 4 will also expand end-to-end solution capabilities:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n