Haha when pigs fly!
If the new thunderbolt Display is "only" 4k it could be annonunced in January too.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Waiting for Skylake MBP thread
- Thread starter adildacoolset
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
- Status
If the new thunderbolt Display is "only" 4k it could be annonunced in January too.
Wait, I thought we were still waiting on Intel to release the chips.
We do, but if I remember correctly Q1 seams to be Intels target for the release. Also, we need some hope.
The XPS 15 uses a midrange Skylake chip with HD530 integrated graphics, and the GTX960M is no better than the current AMD dGPU. Apple has never used such a low end chip in 15" MBPs before - it's always picked the highest binned ones with Iris Pro level graphics for 15".
I actually see this as an option since TB3 can't run two 5K screens at the same time. If they choose to upgrade the Mac Pro with Skylake (with TB3) this is indeed plausible
On the other hand TD hasn't seen an update since 2011, it's the new Mac Mini.I actually see this as an option since TB3 can't run two 5K screens at the same time. If they choose to upgrade the Mac Pro with Skylake (with TB3) this is indeed plausible
One single Thunderbolt 3 port can't even run one 5k screen at 60hz. We will have to wait until Kaby Lake for that and even with KB it will only 30hz for two 5k screens =(
So if they want to keep the "thunderbolt" display it has to be 4k even if it's a 27 inch display or wait until 2017 for the 5k
Let me take you back to the year of 2010, when I bought my first and current MBP. Or actually, let me take you back to june 2009, when I decided to buy my first MBP. I had read so much fantastic about the i5 and i7 processors soon to be out, scheduled to be released in SEPTEMBER 2009 (quite similar timeframe as the skylake). So I waited. September came, september went. I hoped and wished that I could at least get my new laptop before christmas. But no. The waiting continued. The MBP-compatible processors were not released until JANUARY 2010! (just like the Skylake). I was not able to get my hands on an updated MBP until APRIL 2010, after almost a year of waiting, just like now. So I wouldn't get my hopes up for january. History repeats itself.
"Thunderbolt 3 is capable of driving up to two 4K external displays at 60Hz or a single 5K display at 60Hz running off a single cable" https://www.macrumors.com/2015/06/02/intel-thunderbolt-3-usb-c-displayport-1-2/
It is well known already that TB3 is capable of 5K at 60Hz. The next Apple cinema Display and iMac 5k Display Target mode can be enabled with TB3. Also, as of now, Kaby Lake is slated to use the same Alpine Ridge controller, no new TB controllers have been announced. In other words Kaby Lake stays with TB3.
Noope, macrumors mixed information from initial intel plan which was to include and provide DP1.3 throught the TB3 but finally it doesn't support it. So TB3 only has only DP1.2 support which means that it can only drive two 4k displays separately but not 5k in one screen.
For 5k you need either a DP1.3 or HDMI 2.0 port and no one of them are released yet nor inside the TB3 standard.
The only solution is a dirty one which consists in conecting 2 ports from the laptop (DP 1.2 or TB3) and link both together into the 5k screen, then through internal software display half 4k with each other, and then mix the two 4k pictures to fill one 5k frame. In my country that's called a botched job and it's far from being "official support" not to talk about tearing and latency issues. That's a thing Apple wont do that to their products.
Edit: one TB3 port has inside (x2) DP 1.2 so theorically the split and join image mess could be done with using just one TB3 port in the laptop and one TB3 port in the screen and one single cable. But internally it's still a messy solution, nor official nor native 5k support. I doubt Apple will do that, but could be... who knows.
Last edited:
Yes, your post verified my answer
. Absolutely correct, TB3 doesn't include DP 1.3 but DP 1.2 which as we all know is not capable of feeding a 5K 60Hz display. So the only solution as you stated, is to power said display with two ports. Now this is where it gets interesting, a typical DP 1.2 port has 4 lanes, but TB3 has 8 lanes, double the amount, which accounts for a total of 2 DP 1.2 Ports in a single TB3 port. The display would need to have a TB controller (just like the current Cinema Display) to join the signals, that's all. Way better than using two display ports like we do now. You can check the brochures in Thunderbolt's website. Also there is a lenghty document with lots of interesting diagrams, you may want to check them out.It should be noted that the Alpine ridge controller also supports HDMI 2.0 output.
Last edited:
Yes, your post verified my answer
It should be noted that the Alpine ridge controller also supports HDMI 2.0 output.
lol I realliced about the 8 lanes at the end, but still have my doubts about it. What about the image quality with this split and join method? Doesn't sound good to me.
Actually I wish TB3 could display 5k without problems, because I want that feature and I'm not sure if I could wait till future generations until it's "official" lol.
From what I've heard (have to research more deeply on this) the Dell 5K display that is powered by 2 DP 1.2 cables looks fine an doesn't suffer from tearing or any other type of image quality issue. And yes, I know what you mean by "official", I'm also not a fan of "improvised" solutions. So while it's not "official" as you said, "it just works" like Apple would say.
History repeats itself?
So what about all of the history with processors coming out within 4 weeks of their respective release? How about 8 weeks? How about 6 months?
Cherry picked evidence for the win!
->
I wonder - the current Thunderbolt Display has two cables - MagSafe for power and TB - what if it just had two cables with both going to a TB3 port? Using 2x TB ports to drive the screen?
Not like Apple hasn't done some graphic problem solving for the 5k display already. (That and has been known to have problems with new products' graphics till they fix them).
Maybe something only for a Mac Pro refresh of it's too many pixels to drive for a refreshed MBP. Makes sense the Mac Pro would be the first in line.
I like that, but a 5k screen is about 80watts + speakers... for the Mac Pro or even the iMac could work, but for the rMBP, future versions of rMB with x2 ports or Mac Mini an adapter from USB-C to electrical input should be needed, so you only take on port on the device and the electricity cames directly from the house system, I don't know if this could be done, but it would be my solution.
Speaking of the Thunderbolt 3, is it compatible with USB-C?
It sounds like USB-C it's the only need in the future.
Yes if your device has a TB3 port then you can use it as a standard USB-C port. Same shape conector.
But eventually TB3 and USB-C are different ports? Like the one for TB3 have slightly different technology?
Last edited:
Check out this link for your answer:
https://thunderbolttechnology.net/blog/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-does-it-all
Apple will very likely make USB C compatible with Thunderbolt 3. I can't see why they wouldn't, more input options in fewer slots.
And
I was just looking at the mac buyer's guide and its looking really sad:
Only iMacs are worth to buy now.
It's a time for update, I wouldn't worried too much about this. Better Macs are coming
Now the only thing I'm worried it's when..
A
Also I would think next rMBP will only have these USB-C/TB3 Hybrid port, others including a headphone jack and a card slot.
- Status