iMac Pro USB-C Ports?

[kcrossley]

Do the USB-C ports on the back of an iMac Pro support USB 3.2 Dual Lane?

Thanks!

 

[chrfr]

Do the USB-C ports on the back of an iMac Pro support USB 3.2 Dual Lane?

Thanks!

Apple lists the specs of the iMac Pro here:

Mac

The most powerful Mac laptops and desktops ever. Supercharged by Apple silicon. MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio.

www.apple.com

Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for:

• DisplayPort 1.2
• Thunderbolt (up to 40Gb/s)
• USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)

 

[kcrossley]

Yeah, I saw that, but I've also read that some post-2017 Macs support USB 3.2 Dual Lane. I'll reach out to Apple.

 

[chrfr]

Yeah, I saw that, but I've also read that some post-2017 Macs support USB 3.2 Dual Lane. I'll reach out to Apple.

I've seen no indication that any Mac does anything other than 10Gbps. Where did you find that info?

 

[kcrossley]

USB 3.2 update gets faster and maybe less confusing

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) today released a description of the next version of USB. This brings welcome improvements in data transfer speeds,

www.cultofmac.com

 

[chrfr]

USB 3.2 update gets faster and maybe less confusing

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) today released a description of the next version of USB. This brings welcome improvements in data transfer speeds,

www.cultofmac.com

USB 3.2 Gen 2 is the 10Gb version of USB, which is what this article (and my experience) says is in Macs.

 

[CWallace]

USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 is a new standard that supports a total of 20Gb by bonding two 10Gb channels together, but it will require a new USB chipset to support it. In the case of Macs, this will likely have to wait until Thunderbolt 4 is released, unless Intel decides to back-load USB4 or USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 into a new Thunderbolt 3 controller (their current controllers only support 10Gb over USB).

 

[sublunar]

I get the impression that Apple will want to bring in Thunderbolt 4 rather than USB4 - to make sure that all their standards are sorted under one roof. It's all a bit balkanised and confusing otherwise.

 

[CWallace]

Yeah Apple is all-on on Thunderbolt and since TB4 will incorporate everything in USB4, as you stated that way they cover all bases.

 

[sublunar]

And just to be clear, Rocket Lake S - the desktop successor to Comet Lake S - is supposedly due to support Thunderbolt 4. Tiger Lake is the equivalent mobile solution coming as soon as late this year.

As you can see from the link Rocket Lake S seems to being support for USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20Gb/s) which on the face of it is as fast as the old Thunderbolt 2 standard.

I think we'll all agree that Apple will prefer to simplify things by waiting on Thunderbolt 4 support via Rocket Lake and Tiger Lake making the forthcoming 2021 product updates - already rumoured to be carrying mini LED screens where applicable - very interesting indeed.

 

[Fishrrman]

I think any improvements to USB3.1 gen2 (i.e., "USB3.2") are now going to get rolled into the USB4 standard, when it gets implemented... coming pretty soon...

 

[Traverse]

USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 is a new standard that supports a total of 20Gb by bonding two 10Gb channels together, but it will require a new USB chipset to support it. In the case of Macs, this will likely have to wait until Thunderbolt 4 is released, unless Intel decides to back-load USB4 or USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 into a new Thunderbolt 3 controller (their current controllers only support 10Gb over USB).

I do appreciate that CWallace can always chime in on these type of threads. The only reason I can keep up with the latest chips from Intel is because of their contributions to in the redesigned iMac thread. 🙂