Will we finally get an updated 4K (or rather 5K) Apple Thunderbolt display thanks to Thunderbolt 3?
The current one is so outdated it's not even funny...
The current one is so outdated it's not even funny...
Well, Thunderbolt's problem was that it was great for connecting external PCIe devices, high speed disc arrays and specialist A/V equipment for uses where USB3 just doesn't cut the mustard, but just too darned expensive for everyday external drives etc. which didn't need TBs extra speed.
Since computer makers (especially on laptops and SFF systems) will no longer have to decide whether to give valuable port space to USB3 or Thunderbolt (...and you get extra USB3 controllers into the bargain) this might allow Thunderbolt to concentrate on its strengths.
So, maybe both of them.
But Superman would still beat Batman unless Batman had Kryptonite.
For everyone hoping to power from any port on a future redesign of the MBP line, I imagine that Apple would elect to only have this on one or two ports - the reason being the complications with having to have circuitry/a controller for each port in that case? I mean, I am sure they will be looking to take cues from the new rMB amd shrink the motherboard down to its absolute minimum, right?
Maybe someone with more knowledge on the matter can chime in?
Only have charging in one or two ports? Sounds like it will be in all of them then!
Surprised 5K with one cable wasn't mentioned.
TB3 and HDMI 2.0 are both on the way and worth waiting for.
Except that Thunderbolt is never really going to be a 'for the masses' product. USB 3 (and now 3.1) offers enough bandwidth via a nice cheap passive cable to fill pretty much every mass market need on a peripheral. Thunderbolt is there for those users who need a lot more speed or need to make use of the daisy chain functionality and don't mind (or, at least, don't have a better option than) paying for the privilege.
Talking of which there's another bit of this announcement MR missed out - the introduction of a passive cable. Doesn't allow access to the full 40Gbps, just 20Gbps, but it'll help bring the cost down a bit and that's still quick enough for all current TB devices.
I should still have student discount when 7,1 comes out, so I should hopefully not lose much on my current d700 1tb and 64 ram on 8 core and some apple care left and be able to pick up the new one with some money offLooking forward to when Apple refunds my $6000 MacPro which can't drive a 4k/5k monitor.
Does this mean the fiber optic Thunderbolt is no longer going to be a thing?
So now if I want TB 3 I need an active cable, but if I want DP (1.2) I need a passive cable, and if I want TB 3 and DP, I need two cables.
The technology is exciting, but it still looks like it is cutting its teeth. I expect the second generation will include DP 1.3 and hopefully support DP 1.3 and TB 3 at the same time.
Looking forward to when Apple refunds my $6000 MacPro which can't drive a 4k/5k monitor.
Still around. From Anantech's coverage.
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http://anandtech.com/show/9331/intel-announces-thunderbolt-3
The problem with optical has far more so been that Intel (and partners ) can't deliver on the affordable fiber aspect. Not so much the "fiber". Expensive fiber exists for Infiniband and Ethernet which probably could be used on Thunderbolt, but if the cable costs more than the devices few folks will want to buy.
The problem is that this is in the "under development" stage. It is like fiber is an after thought ( or is being suppressed by Apple who is more so in assigning MagSafe duties to TB than top end speed and distance.) TB v3 gets a cheaper copper cable at 20Gb/s max. What about a far more affordable fiber cable at 20Gb/s (and keep the 80-90m distance) ? At some point distance is a place and fiber is going to be far more viable if it is reasonably affordable. If it stays far more expensive it won't reach critical mass.
I like the new specs too and might upgrade then, but that's old news - I already have two Dell 4k displays capable of 60Hz on my desk and connected to my late 2013 15" rMBP...Wow.. now we are talking. Two 4k displays at 60Hz.
Ok, now THAT is something!It all comes together. Finally this usb-c thing makes sense.
As long as peripherals stay at ridiculous prices thunderbolt has no chance
Redesgins coming up for all Macbook Pro's!
What does this mean for lightning tho?
Very unlikely, probably more like early 2016.
I wonder...will the iPhone update this fall include USB-C instead of lightning connector, they are about the same size connection?
With these specs, will you be able to power an external gfx without speed loss?
You may be in for a long wait.
Intel seems to have moved to some sort of weird Dance of the Seven Veils model of releasing CPUs which allows them to get lots of press while delaying things forever. Chips are "announced" then three months later "launched" then six months later "shipped". All launch means is "here are the model numbers and prices".
Broadwell-M was launched in mid 2014, and you couldn't buy anything worthwhile using it until what, Feb or so 2015. Meaning
- the quad-core i7 Broadwell's launched today may be available in bulk some time in November. Which suggests why Apple launched their very minor rMBP speed bumps two weeks ago.
- Skylake has barely hit stage one of this hype machine yet. All we have is a name (and how super incredibly awesome it is going to be, way more awesome than anything earlier). Even when we get to "announced" stage, all that will mean is nine months till the low-power mobile parts ship. Then the dual core laptop parts. ONLY THEN the quad-core laptop parts. Good luck getting a Skylake rMBP before 2017.
Plot-twist: Apple's 5k Thunderbolt 3 Retina Display will run entirely over PCIe with dedicated 5k GPUs installed per unit reducing DisplayPort bandwidth allocation enabling for up to two to be daisy-chained while allowing for FaceTime HD webcams, stereo speakers, and backside hubs of USB 3.1 and Ethernet to remain active.
At first, I was typing gibberish, but this could be Apple's implementation of 5k. Think about it! Dell's 5k Monitor is $2,299, but Apple's cheapest 5k iMac is $1,999. Remove the processor, memory, and storage, use a slightly lower cost assembly process given the absence of certain high cost components, and the display could retail for $1,499, just $500 more than the original Thunderbolt Display.
If they did that, then people with MacBook and Macbook airs can easily buy these displays or 2 of them and attach them. Without having to worry about the ultra-thin laptops lacking the GPU power to push them
Can tb3 do dp1.3? Answers seem to go both ways