My M1 Ultra (while obviously more powerful), feels quite old in comparison.
Bravo apple!
I hope I'll be able to afford an M4 ultra next summer, as I'd like a more modern machine (HDMI 2.1, Bluetooth 5.3, Wifi 7, Thunderbolt 5)
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Thunderbolt 5 in New Macs: Features, Benefits, and Is It Needed?
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Bravo apple!
I hope I'll be able to afford an M4 ultra next summer, as I'd like a more modern machine (HDMI 2.1, Bluetooth 5.3, Wifi 7, Thunderbolt 5)
So bummed that we never got eGPU support with AS Macs. TB5 Mini Pro + an eGPU would be an insane beast for gaming!
Lack of EGPU support on M series devices is still a huge letdown, and would be a big reason many would want TB5.
Respectfully, but strongly disagree.
USB3 v.s. Thunderbolt (even 4) for external M.2 drives is a Massive difference. USB3 is just too dang slow to edit with FCPX, batch work on Lightroom, and many, many, many other uses that "so-called Professionals" like myself need to be fast.
Actually, Thunderbolt 4 is too slow for editing some 4K and ProRes codecs without proxy media. Biggest reason why I purchased a Mini M4 Pro was the support for (eventually) faster external storage.
Fully agree..
As far as I`m concerned, backups would be where I find it most useful, but anyone with juicy photo/movie gear would see great benefits, Besides, it makes it easier to keep work done from congesting the Mac.
Most welcome, although I will get the base Mini with Thunderbolt 4, 5 is a great advocate for the Mini Pro.
The main point is that tech keeps advancing. The question is not "Do I need TB5 now" any more than it is "Do I need xxx RAM now?" None of our new purchases are used in the past, they are only used in the future. So as we buy new products we buy for the future; ergo prefer TB5 devices over TB4 devices, buy more RAM than necessary today, etc.
We may not know what the capability of some display or external mass storage may be 3 years from now, so as we today buy new devices/cables/etc. we buy with the latest tech like TB5.
We may not know what the capability of some display or external mass storage may be 3 years from now, so as we today buy new devices/cables/etc. we buy with the latest tech like TB5.
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None of us really know what tech we will be addressing three years from now. Call choosing TB5 simple insurance.
Back when we had eGPUs I would say it is needed. Now? Not really, not for the vast majority of users by far.
Also USB4 2.0 is the dumbest name I've ever heard.
Also USB4 2.0 is the dumbest name I've ever heard.
What has happened to USB4v2 support? From my understanding Thunderbolt 5 was built to align with the USB4v.20 specification (mainly 80 Gbps symmetrical or 120 Gbps asymmetrical). Apple's spec pages for the new M4 Pro/Max machines still list the ports as USB4 (40 Gbps).
You might think, what's the difference? I'm guessing that as with previous generations, Thunderbolt branded/certified peripherals will add a hefty price premium over USB branded/certified versions.
You might think, what's the difference? I'm guessing that as with previous generations, Thunderbolt branded/certified peripherals will add a hefty price premium over USB branded/certified versions.
Apple has a much more useful breakdown of what displays are supported in what combinations in this article here:
How many displays can be connected to MacBook Pro - Apple Support
The number of external displays that you can use at the same time depends on your Mac model and the resolution and refresh rate of each display.
They don't address DSC directly, although macOS does support it and the Pro Display XDR utilizes it. But it does confirm a few things:
- Four external displays maximum are supported.
- You can connect all four external displays (four 6K at 60Hz) all via Thunderbolt if using docks to multiply ports or daisy chaining.
It would be awesome if Asahi Linux got external eGPUs working over thunderbolt, any version. They already ship OpenGL 4.6, OpenCL 3.0, and Vulkan 1.3 drivers for Apple Silicon, so we know they don't feel constrained by Apple's support decisions. Sadly, looks like they don't have any TB or USB4 officially working at all, yet. (They also don't have M4 support, yet, but that seems to be more iterative and a matter of time.)
Folks that think TB just "add a hefty price premium over USB" fail to get it.
Sure other cheaper connectivity specs exist. Fortunately Apple continues with the evolving superior TB ever since bringing the world the first real desktop replacement laptop thanks to having TB exclusively for a year ~2011.
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I would think that Thunderbolt 5 would be fine 10 years from now as far as I`m concerned, thus even if I will go Thunderbolt 4-mini now, Thunderbolt 5 cables are increasingly likely, same goes for backup ssd replacement. To ensure I just have to replace the Mini and nothing else a next time around. Will see when the cable/dock/disk market for #5 sobers up.
according to caldigit, a single thunderbolt 3,4&5 device can only support up to two displays on M4 MBP lines. caldigit released this article as soon as Apple released M4, so I think they know what's going on.
and yes, you can do more than 2 displays from M4 and a thunderbolt dock as long as the 3rd monitor is from different thunderbolt bus or dock. look at the support table on caldigit - Apple Silicon Max chips can support up to 4 monitors when using 2 CalDigit Thunderbolt docks across multiple Thunderbolt ports.
It's starting to feel like Thunderbolt is this decade's FireWire.
Selection is sparse and prices aren't going down. More manufacturers are opting for USB instead of Thunderbolt.
Selection is sparse and prices aren't going down. More manufacturers are opting for USB instead of Thunderbolt.
They're quite a bit thicker and less flexible. Best to use the shortest (obviously) that work for their application. I got a .8 meter one for my SanDisk Pro-G40 external SSD and transfer rates are practically instantaneous for all intents and purposes.
I work regularly with huge datasets and get performance on par with a single TB5 connection using two 4TB m.2 SSDs in a RAID0 (8 TB total storage) over TB4. OpenZFS on macOS is great! Just be sure to attach drives to opposites sides of a MBP, so you're using separate TB4 buses.
I expect Apple's adoption and the popularity of its hardware will drive and accelerate 3rd party support. Remember the original iMac with USB? There was very little support for USB at the time of its release. TB5 is clearly more complicated to support, but it's at least generational.
USB was one of Apple's rare wins. I called TB FireWire because Thunderbolt existed since 2011 (or 2016 with the current USB-C connector) and it still hasn't taken off.
The USB consortium has done a good job of becoming competitive to Thunderbolt, although the marketplace is rather a mess. But IMHO if TB5 support approaches what we have for TB3/4, I'll be happy. I do hope more docks supporting 10GbE appear though.
Does anyone know yet:
(1) if a TB3/4 device is hanging anywhere along a TB5 chain, does it bring down the entire chain to TB3/4 speed?
(2) do the TB5 Macs have 1, 2 or 3 separate TB5 buses--are there 2 buses like before with their ports arranged like before?
(1) if a TB3/4 device is hanging anywhere along a TB5 chain, does it bring down the entire chain to TB3/4 speed?
(2) do the TB5 Macs have 1, 2 or 3 separate TB5 buses--are there 2 buses like before with their ports arranged like before?
It all sounds great. While I don't have any peripheral that takes Thunderbolt 5 speed, it is nice to have on a Mac when the longevity is far more superior than Intel-based era Mac. Hopefully Thunderbolt 5 will be across the board when the M5 CPU launched (2025/2026), then it's the time for me to upgrade along with other newer tech.
I hope so they will update by the first semester of 2025. I am hoping for a 30"+ ASD display at a reasonable price than the crazy expensive XDR. Better yet would be a new XDR update and the old (current) version at half price. Do it Apple! LMAO