Leaked Info on Third-Generation Thunderbolt Points to 40Gbps Transfer Speeds

[pgiguere1]

Because no one is using it and Intel thinks that is because of speed?

Just make it affordable. All this speed means nothing if no one can afford to use it.

I disagree. Thunderbolt isn't supposed to be a USB competitor. It'll never be as cheap to manufacture due to the technical nature of the cable (it's an active cable with its own chips and circuitry that doesn't rely on your CPU for processing like USB), so it likely will never compete with USB on accessory pricing.

Having two competing, roughly equivalent standards would a bit useless anyway. The point of Thunderbolt is to do things USB can't. The reason it struggles currently is that it doesn't do much USB can't and doesn't compete with USB on pricing for the things it does similarly (stuff like external hard drives).

Once we'll have actual relevant uses for Thunderbolt that USB can't do (stuff like powerful eGPUs), then it may sell. For now, it has mainly been used for the Thunderbolt Display (which is too expensive for the majority of people) and stuff like external SSD or RAID arrays which mainly target the multimedia pro market.

 

[goobot]

Apple is using slower technology in 2014 to transfer data between iPods and iPhones with computers than they were in 2001 (USB 2 vs. FireWire 400). Hope some of these technologies actually come to fruition eventually. If you fill an iPhone with video, it still takes a couple of hours to offload it.

Im surprised there is still no USB 3 for iOS devices, tho it seems apple has pretty much said screw syncing via wire.

 

[Michael Goff]

Thunderbolt updates are quick.

Now if only I had a use for Thunderbolt. I was so happy to read about the speeds at first, but the accessories are a bit too expensive to be worth it to me. I'mm just stick with USB.

 

[Jetfire]

Next year I hope.

Other reports say 2015 "Alpine Ridge appears to be associated with Skylake"

As to why the fast update cycle (Multiple 4k Monitors plus data on same chain.)
You should see how my second monitor nerfs my Pegasus2 R4 drive on my MacBook Pro early 2011 TB1. It drops to 226 MB/s.

 

[pgiguere1]

Apple is using slower technology in 2014 to transfer data between iPods and iPhones with computers than they were in 2001 (USB 2 vs. FireWire 400). Hope some of these technologies actually come to fruition eventually. If you fill an iPhone with video, it still takes a couple of hours to offload it.

Im surprised there is still no USB 3 for iOS devices, tho it seems apple has pretty much said screw syncing via wire.

The max theoretical speed of the cable is irrelevant when the limiting factor is the write speed of NAND flash inside your device.

 

[WhoDaKat]

Thunderbolt 3 is nice but the Thunderbolt 1 ports in my 2011 iMac are still virgins.

I'm firmly in this camp, and I've been angry about it since 2011! I'd pay $50 for a TB to USB3 dongle, but I'm not going to spend $300 (or more!) on a giant hub with every connection known to man. There is one reason, and one reason only that a product like this doesn't exist. Greed. They know there aren't millions of us so they are using higher dollar devices to keep their profits higher.

Assuming Apple wants TB to be widely adapted, Apple should be the one selling this! The TB rollout is truly baffling. Its really like they want to hold back adoption of it.

 

[goobot]

I disagree. Thunderbolt isn't supposed to be a USB competitor. It'll never be as cheap to manufacture due to the technical nature of the cable (it's an active cable with its own chips and circuitry that doesn't rely on your CPU for processing like USB), so it likely will never compete with USB on accessory pricing.

Having two competing, roughly equivalent standards would a bit useless anyway. The point of Thunderbolt is to do things USB can't. The reason it struggles currently is that it doesn't do much USB can't and doesn't compete with USB on pricing for the things it does similarly (stuff like external hard drives).

Once we'll have actual relevant uses for Thunderbolt that USB can't do (stuff like powerful eGPUs), then it may sell. For now, it has mainly been used for the Thunderbolt Display (which is too expensive for the majority of people) and stuff like external SSD or RAID arrays which mainly target the multimedia pro market.

I don't see it as a competitor either but that really doesn't change the fact that cost is crippling this tech, the 3rd gen should be focusing on making the tech more affordable.

 

[WhoDaKat]

No you don't. Thunderbolt 1 & 2 ports are the same. Thunderbolt 2 will work with 1 but not vice versa I believe.

He is talking about TB3... you know, like the article.

 

[wheelhot]

Hmm, besides the annoyance that intel is treating the format similar to their processors. Why does it have to use a different connector design? Can't they just shrink the components and keep the port the same?

I wonder when this hits into the market, will all MBPs be using Intel Iris/IrisPro and those who need more GPU processing will be attaching eGPUs via Thunderbolt 3

 

[Peace]

Folks aren't seeing this also has HDMI 2.0

4096×2160p 60Mhz instead of 30Mhz.

Dolby TrueHD streams

 

[goobot]

The max theoretical speed of the cable is irrelevant when the limiting factor is the write speed of NAND flash inside your device.

Do iOS devices not currently use usb 2 to its full potential?

 

[TechGod]

Do iOS devices not currently use usb 2 to its full potential?

Not even close.

 

[2499723]

Thunderbolt 3 is nice but the Thunderbolt 1 ports in my 2011 iMac are still virgins.

I was sold on the lie of Thunderbolt when I bought my 2011 MacBook Pro. I have since sold that for a 15" 2012 rMBP and I own a 2011 Mac Mini. The only thing I've ever plugged into a TB port was a third party MDP to DVI/HDMI adapter. I'm stuck with USB 2.0 on the Mac Mini and could never afford or justify the expense of a thunderbolt hard drive enclosure.

 

[CptSky]

Maybe Sonnet will postpone again its Echo dock to support Thunderbolt 3

 

[2499723]

I'm firmly in this camp, and I've been angry about it since 2011! I'd pay $50 for a TB to USB3 dongle, but I'm not going to spend $300 (or more!) on a giant hub with every connection known to man.

It's still expensive at 'under $99', but have you seen this? It's a shame it doesn't come with 2 USB 3.0 ports: http://www.kanexlive.com/article/thunderbolt-adapters

 

[genovelle]

I love how they're already talking about Thunderbolt 3 when companies barely even released tolerable accessories for Thunderbolt 1.

I'm refreshing Lacie's page everyday for the Thunderbolt 2 family being released this month and now this. Ohhhh the bleeding edge.

That's just it. They aren't talking about it. This was leaked info.

 

[jayducharme]

But i just bought a mac pro.

And its 20 gbps T-Bolt probably will do you fine for now, unless you're working with a lot of 8k video on external drives.

As someone else said, Intel is aiming for that 100 gbps speed that was originally promised. And the way data streams are heading right now, we're going to need it.

 

[11thIndian]

I don't see it as a competitor either but that really doesn't change the fact that cost is crippling this tech, the 3rd gen should be focusing on making the tech more affordable.

Apple puts USB3 ports on their machines for those that don't need the speed that Thunderbolt affords. Those that need it are professionals for whom the extra cost is easily recouped with the work they do.

I've never once complained about what I've had to pay for any Thunderbolt product I've purchased. Cause I make it all back.

 

[JoEw]

I was sold on the lie of Thunderbolt when I bought my 2011 MacBook Pro. I have since sold that for a 15" 2012 rMBP and I own a 2011 Mac Mini. The only thing I've ever plugged into a TB port was a third party MDP to DVI/HDMI adapter. I'm stuck with USB 2.0 on the Mac Mini and could never afford or justify the expense of a thunderbolt hard drive enclosure.

Get a dock it will give your mac tons of ports! Calidigit has a Great one.

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Not even close.

Exactly, flash memory needs to get faster, much faster before it makes sense to switch off USB 2.0

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Apple puts USB3 ports on their machines for those that don't need the speed that Thunderbolt affords. Those that need it are professionals for whom the extra cost is easily recouped with the work they do.

I've never once complained about what I've had to pay for any Thunderbolt product I've purchased. Cause I make it all back.

It really is for the pros.

 

[proline]

Apple is using slower technology in 2014 to transfer data between iPods and iPhones with computers than they were in 2001 (USB 2 vs. FireWire 400). Hope some of these technologies actually come to fruition eventually. If you fill an iPhone with video, it still takes a couple of hours to offload it.

Apple knows how their devices are used. There are only three people left in the planet who connect their iOS devices to PCs using wires. Everyone else either syncs wireless or doesn't sync at all. If you are one of those three, Apple is not going to spend a bunch of money just to pleasure you. Get used to it.

 

[827538]

Once we'll have actual relevant uses for Thunderbolt that USB can't do (stuff like powerful eGPUs), then it may sell. For now, it has mainly been used for the Thunderbolt Display (which is too expensive for the majority of people) and stuff like external SSD or RAID arrays which mainly target the multimedia pro market.

Using an external GPU via Thunderbolt is what really interests me - infact I've seen homebrew hacks that work (MacBook Air if I recall).
Problem is Intel doesn't want that happening and the reason it's not surfaced yet, silverstone were building an external thunderbolt enclosure for a GPU before Intel stopped it. Not sure exactly why, perhaps to do with their own iGPU's.

While rapidly upgrading a port like Thunderbolt is great when you keep backwards compatability, the problem is changing the port just kills adoption. I barely see any thunderbolt devices aside from overpriced raid enclosures, so what use do I have for it?
HDMI for connecting to a projector or TV.
USB3 for my fast 64GB memory stick or external HDD.
SD card slot if I need to transfer pictures from my digital camera.
I have no doubt Thunderbolt is fast and full of potential I struggle to see any use in it for me. Intel needs to focus on lowering cost in order to boost adoption if it wants this to succeed. USB3.1 which is backwards compatible is more than enough for my needs. Tbh I'd rather have 3 x USB and 1 x TB over the current 2 x 2 configuration.

 

[CrAkD]

pffft. it needs users first.

 

[goobot]

Apple puts USB3 ports on their machines for those that don't need the speed that Thunderbolt affords. Those that need it are professionals for whom the extra cost is easily recouped with the work they do.

I've never once complained about what I've had to pay for any Thunderbolt product I've purchased. Cause I make it all back.

Thunderbolt does things other than transfer data.

 

[827538]

Exactly, flash memory needs to get faster, much faster before it makes sense to switch off USB 2.0

My 64GB USB drive regularly hits 240MB/s. USB 2 has a theoretical max of 60MB/s. No, flash memory is very fast if you buy decent hardware, USB 3 is very much needed and utilised (500MB/s max). I'm looking forward to seeing the new rMBP's with USB 3.1.

 

[Will Lambert]

"There is no indication of when the third-generation of Thunderbolt could make its way to consumers."

Umm... Maybe Sky Lake? Course, with Intel deciding to delay ticks and tocks until AMD catches up, maybe 5 years