Next Gen Thunderbolt Displays

[nuckinfutz]

3840 x 2160 resolution is the likely next model. This suffices for 4k nomenclature (even though officially it's 4096 horizontal width)

I'm not buying the 5120 x 2880 resolution. Apple doesn't "have" to double the resolution to call something Retina. It's all about the point at which the eye can no longer perceive individual pixels.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the next Retina TB Display utilize perhaps a Sharp IGZO display running at 3840 x 2160.

The problem is that I do not think that current Thunderbolt technology utilizes DisplayPort 1.2. I think it's still using DisplayPort 1.1 which doesn't have the bandwidth for 3840 x 2160

Gonna have to watch for DP 1.2 support in future Thunderbolt revisions.

 

[innominato5090]

Isn't already out?Isn't the Thunderbolt Chip here ,the Cactus Ridge one?
Look here
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1384012/

Don't know about the controller, but on apple.com/thunderbolt apple says their implementation of thunderbolt is capable of 10Gbs/10Gbs.

 

[andrepelly]

i'm on the same boat aswell.
I don't expect any retina update to the TBD, and i feel there's no need for it, is a little too early and that should overload the graphics on MBAs..
Anyway i need an external monitor and feels like an update can come this autumn.. so i'm a little blocked atm. The only wish i really have is Apple to de-gloss a little the display, a very hard to predict refresh....

 

[mattkidd]

The Retina MacBook pro is already struggling to cope with the hardware strain such resolution is causing on the CPU and GPU in general everyday tasks. I simply cannot see a higher resolution display coming soon, we don't have the hardware to cope.

 

[amarcus]

Gonna have to watch for DP 1.2 support in future Thunderbolt revisions.

I simply cannot see a higher resolution display coming soon, we don't have the hardware to cope.

Not necessarily guys, everyone seems to overlook the fact that with thunderbolt they could integrate a GPU into the screen. This would enable even MacBook Air to drive the panel with relative ease. Right now the only real concern is pricing and panel availability. With Apple's command of the supply chain I wouldn't put it past them...

Adam

 

[hitekalex]

Not necessarily guys, everyone seems to overlook the fact that with thunderbolt they could integrate a GPU into the screen. This would enable even MacBook Air to drive the panel with relative ease.

Necessarily.

Thunderbolt doesn't have the bandwidth to push uncompressed video to PCIe x16 GPU. The current version of Thundebolt has enough capacity for PCIe x4 GPU tops - that comes nowhere near what's needed to drive 4K display. Maybe a future version of TB will overcome that, but that will require a new generation of Intel chipsets and all new Macs.

Bottom line - the technology for retina quality 27" displays is years away.

 

[amarcus]

Necessarily.

May I cast your attention to ViDock (http://www.villagetronic.com/vidock/techspecs.html) that happily supported dual 2560x1600 monitors on a 2.5Gbps ExpressCard/34 connection.

Thunderbolt runs at 10Gbps or 4 times that of the ExpressCard connection and so should be able to support at least the same number of pixels in 1 retina 3840x2160 display.

While I agree that full screen uncompressed 4k video could choke the connection - bear in mind things aren't that obvious given that PCI-e data can be compressed as evident by Nvidia's Optimus solutions.

Adam

 

[KPOM]

I'd put my money on a simple bump up to USB 3.0 and Magsafe 2 whenever the iMacs are refreshed, in a month maybe, or later in the year. A 3840x2160 screen would be lovely (5120x2880's not going to happen), but I don't think it'll be soon.

Since they still ship notebooks with MagSafe 1 (the non-Retina MacBook Pro), my guess is that they will just include the adapter for MagSafe 2, which apparently they are doing now. Either that, or they will release yet another adapter (MagSafe 2 to MagSafe 1). It may just be a "quiet" update to USB 3.0 ports. Video cards aren't ready yet to make at 27" "Retina" display, at least not mainstream.

 

[Aco Strkalj]

Is this thing out yet?