Tag: Thunderbolt

While the USB-IF Alliance states that the current USB4 2.0 specification already achieves the same functionality as Thunderbolt 5, the difference lies in that the former allows manufacturers to decide which features to adopt, while the latter mandates all features and requires Intel product certification. Regarding the overly flexible USB-IF specifications, which have led to inconsistencies in USB connection specifications across the market, Microsoft plans to use the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP) to ensure that all USB-C ports on Windows PCs support display output, charging, and at least 5Gbps data transfer bandwidth. Microsoft believes that while the USB-IF specifications offer considerable design flexibility, this has resulted in numerous inconsistent USB port and cable designs on the market. This means that although most cables currently use the USB-C interface, their actual charging wattage, connectivity features, and data transfer bandwidth vary. To address this inconvenience, Microsoft states that its Windows Hardware Compatibility Program will ensure that all USB-C ports on Windows PCs support at least charging, display output, and data transfer bandwidth of 5Gbps or more. Microsoft's intention is clearly to leverage the overall market share of Windows PCs to improve the consistency of current USB-C connectivity specifications and avoid discrepancies in user experience. In Microsoft's plan, all USB-C ports must include at least 4.5W charging capability and the ability to connect to at least one external display. They must also have at least 5Gbps data transfer bandwidth, but are not required to have 1080Gbps, 2080Gbps, 4080Gbps, or 80Gbps transfer speeds, nor specific USB-PD high-wattage power delivery specifications. Furthermore, it does not mandate that all USB-C ports support connecting external PCI Express devices (such as external graphics card enclosures). This means that under Microsoft's specifications, Windows PC devices' USB-C ports must at least meet or exceed the specifications of Intel Thunderbolt 3. Simultaneously, the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program will provide automated testing tools, allowing OEMs to verify that their manufactured Windows PC devices are fully compatible with the Windows operating system and can fully utilize the built-in Windows USB drivers. Microsoft stated that it will continue to work with Intel on the Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5 specifications, with Intel providing the relevant certifications.

Last year at Computex 2024, the focus was on making more people familiar with the new USB cable markings. Therefore, after slowing down the pace of the new technical specifications, the USB-IF Alliance at Computex 2025 explained that the redesigned markings make it easier for users to distinguish the performance characteristics of different USB cables. ▲From left: Jeff Ravencraft, President and COO of the USB-IF Alliance; Rahman Ismail, CTO of the USB-IF Alliance. Most consumers can intuitively determine the characteristics of USB cables through the specification markings. Jeff Ravencraft, President and COO of the USB-IF Alliance, pointed out that the focus of specification promotion is no longer on version numbers for identification, but rather on using direct specification markings for clear identification, as proposed last year. For example, it lets users know the specifications of USB 80Gbps, USB 40Gbps, etc., so there is no need to know whether the specification is USB 2.0, USB 3.2, or USB4 2.0. ▲Currently, the focus of USB specification promotion is no longer on version numbers for identification, but rather on using direct specification markings for clear identification, as proposed last year. Jeff Ravencraft also pointed out that due to EU legislation and the widespread adoption of USB-C interfaces driven by products like Apple, users can easily charge different devices using various USB-C cables. Even with unsuitable cables, the most that happens is a lower data transfer rate, or at most, insufficient power supply, preventing normal power delivery, without causing any adverse effects. Therefore, for the naming conventions, consumers only need to identify the specification by the markings, without needing to know the specific specification details behind names like USB4 2.0. With Thunderbolt 5 products gradually entering the market, USB4 2.0 designs are also widely used. Furthermore, Jeff Ravencraft explained that more and more manufacturers are launching products designed with the USB4 2.0 specification. With Intel's promotion, many Thunderbolt 5 application products have also been released. From a specifications perspective, USB4 2.0 is not only compatible with Thunderbolt 5, but their actual specifications are also identical. The only difference is that Thunderbolt 5 is certified by Intel, while USB4...

OWC (Other World Computing) unveiled its new Thunderbolt 5 Dock at Computex 2025, and also showcased several products utilizing Thunderbolt 5 connectivity technology. ▲OWC showcased its Thunderbolt 5 Dock with a full range of ports at Computex 2025. The Thunderbolt 5 Dock is designed for the needs of thin and light laptops and Mac minis, which have relatively limited ports, and supports faster data transfer and a full range of ports. It features four Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports, two USB-A 10Gb/s ports, one USB-A 5Gb/s port, a 2.5GbE Ethernet port (supporting MDM), a micro SD card slot, and an SD UHS-II slot. It also includes a 3.5mm audio jack. Furthermore, by supporting Thunderbolt 5 ports, the Thunderbolt 5 Dock can support bidirectional data transfer speeds of up to 80Gb/s, or provide data transfer speeds of up to 120Gb/s in an asymmetric manner. When used with Macs, it can connect up to three 8K resolution displays or two 6K resolution displays. ▲The front features one Thunderbolt-enabled...

OWC (Other World Computing), which has previously released numerous Thunderbolt accessories, announced at CES 2025 the new ThunderBlade X12 RAID storage device built on the Intel Thunderbolt 5 standard. They also released an active fiber optic cable compatible with USB4, Thunderbolt 4, and Thunderbolt 3, and a Thunderbolt 5 Hub accessory. The ThunderBlade X12 is designed for the needs of video creators and other users. Its USB4-compatible Thunderbolt 5 interface supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10 configurations, supporting storage capacities from 12TB to 96TB, and data transfer rates up to 6500MB/s. This significantly improves the efficiency of creating 4K, 6K, 8K, or 12K RAW videos, or 360° VR content. In addition, OWC's newly launched active fiber optic cable is compatible with USB4, Thunderbolt 4, and Thunderbolt 3 standards, providing a stable 40Gb/s data transfer bandwidth and up to 240W of power delivery (within 3 meters). It can support 8K native resolution video playback within a 15-meter range, breaking the 2-meter length limitation of USB-C-based USB4 or Thunderbolt cables, which currently offer the best transmission performance. The newly launched Thunderbolt 5 Hub accessory provides three Thunderbolt 5 ports and one USB-A port, supporting data transfer rates up to 80Gb/s and display output rates up to 120Gb/s. It offers a maximum power delivery of 140W, is compatible with PCs and Macs, and supports USB, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort connection standards. Regarding suggested retail pricing, the exact price of the ThunderBlade X12 has not yet been confirmed, but it is expected to be available in the market in March of this year. The suggested retail price for the active fiber optic cable starts at $98.99 for 3 meters, while the Thunderbolt...

At IBC2024, OWC (Other World Computing) announced the launch of its Thunderbolt 5-compliant SSD, "Envoy Ultra," along with Thunderbolt 5 cables and the new NAS device, "Jellyfish Studio." The "Envoy Ultra" offers data transfer speeds of up to 6000MB/s, twice the speed of Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4. It is backward compatible with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, and USB 4 ports and can be used with PCs, Macs, iPad Pros, Chromebooks, and Surface devices. It features a waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof design, as well as fanless operation and an aluminum casing for heat dissipation. The "Envoy Ultra" will be available in 2TB and 4TB capacities, priced at NT$13200 and NT$19800 respectively, and is expected to be available for purchase in late October. OWC's concurrently launched Thunderbolt 5 cable offers bidirectional data transfer speeds of 80Gb/s and unidirectional data transfer speeds of up to 120Gb/s. It is also compatible with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, and USB-C connectors, and is available in 0.3-meter, 0.8-meter, and 1-meter lengths, priced at NT$759, NT$924, and NT$1320 respectively. The new NAS device, "Jellyfish Studio," offers read and write speeds of up to 3500MB/s, supports up to eight SATA hard drives or SSDs, and supports storage capacities from 16TB to 160TB (SSDs are limited to a maximum of 120TB). It features 128GB of built-in DDR4 memory to accelerate data transfer speeds. However, after deducting the space occupied by the NAS operating system and RAID configuration, the actual usable storage capacity is a maximum of 96TB when using hard drives and 80TB when using SSDs. The operating system is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, and it also supports mainstream video editing software for Windows and Mac environments. It integrates a DaVinci Resolve compatible database system to accelerate video editing workflows. "Jellyfish Studio" can be ordered through OWC's online customization service or with the assistance of official customer service personnel; the price varies depending on the customized specifications. Sizes range from ATX desktop to server-compatible, and storage capacity can be expanded to 300TB, of which approximately 240TB can be used for data storage.

Intel has announced a software solution called Thunderbolt Share, enabling high-speed connectivity between two PCs via Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5, allowing for seamless sharing of files, monitors, keyboards, mice, and storage. Thunderbolt Share will be compatible with Thunderbolt-certified products. Intel has partnered with companies including Acer, Belkin, Kensington, Lenovo, MSI, Promise, Plugable, and Razer, and expects to roll it out to select PC models and peripherals in the second half of this year. This software solution is based on Thunderbolt networking, allowing two PCs to connect via Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 and share files, monitors, keyboards, mice, and storage. This solution does not affect Wi-Fi, wired network, or cloud-based collaborative computing performance, and emphasizes maintaining connection privacy and security. It also allows two PCs to share mouse and keyboard controls, share screen views, and intuitively exchange files or synchronize folders via drag-and-drop, even sharing large files. However, this software solution is currently only available for Windows PCs and does not support Macs with a specially designed Thunderbolt interface.

Following Intel's announcement at CES 2024 of its 14th-generation Core HX series processors supporting Thunderbolt 5, Microsoft has also begun adding support for the next-generation USB 80Gbps port design to the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23615, which is compatible with the Thunderbolt 5 port specification. Laptops including Razer's newly launched 18-inch Blade 18 will also support both USB 80Gbps and Thunderbolt 5 port specifications. Regarding the difference between USB 80Gbps and Thunderbolt 5 port specifications, according to the previous explanation from USB-IF, Thunderbolt 5 can be considered a complete version of USB 80Gbps and is officially certified by Intel, allowing the use of both Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 5 product labels. USB 80Gbps, on the other hand, follows the previous USB-IF approach, where manufacturers submit their products for certification, but this is not mandatory. Therefore, it can be understood that Thunderbolt 5 is compatible with all the functions of USB 80Gbps, but USB 80Gbps may not necessarily support Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. In addition to adding support for USB 80Gbps, Microsoft has also confirmed that the Copilot digital assistant service will be automatically enabled on Windows models designed for widescreen displays, and users who join the developer channel can directly use various preview features. Furthermore, the new version of the Microsoft Edge browser will expand its content sharing capabilities, allowing users to quickly share browsing pages via services such as WhatsApp, Gmail, "X", Facebook, and LinkedIn.

At its fall product launch event, Apple finally succumbed to market demands by equipping all iPhone 15 models with USB-C ports. This not only simplifies the connection between iPhones and current Macs but also significantly reduces the inconvenience for users who previously could only charge their iPhones with a Lightning cable. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this change? ▲The iPhone 15 series finally adopts a USB-C port interface. First, it's important to explain why the USB-C ports used in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus only support USB 2.0, with a data transfer rate of only 480Mbps, while the USB-C ports in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max support USB 3.0, with data transfer speeds reaching up to 10Gbps. Regarding charging specifications, all iPhone 15 models are labeled as capable of charging to 50% in 30 minutes with a 20W charger. This is essentially the same as the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14 series, but may still vary depending on the charger and charging cable specifications. Why are there differences even though they're all USB-C? The reason lies in the EU's requirements. While the EU mandates a consistent charging interface (e.g., initially micro USB was the mainstream, later replaced by USB-C), it doesn't require identical standards. Compatibility with the USB PD specification is only required for charging power exceeding 15W. Therefore, even with many USB-C charging devices like phones, game consoles, and laptops, actual transmission speeds and power outputs vary. Furthermore, the USB-IF (USB-IF), which designs the interface, doesn't mandate certification for all cables. The specification also allows for numerous optional solutions, resulting in different transmission and power specifications even among USB-C cables and ports. The recent USB 4.2.0 version, with its higher-power charging, now directly labels cables and ports with corresponding wattages, such as up to 240W. However, since USB-IF does not yet mandate that all cables be submitted for testing, only stating that consumers can choose suitable products based on the wattage indicated on certified cables, situations still arise where consumers encounter charging failures or even burnout due to poor cable quality when using ordinary USB-C cables to charge laptops or other devices. ▲USB-IF, up until its recent proposal regarding USB...

Intel showcased its next-generation Thunderbolt technology at a technology event in Israel last year, and subsequently confirmed its compatibility with the USB4 2.0 design specification. Officially named Thunderbolt 5, the technology has now been released, including increased data transfer speeds to 80Gbps and asymmetric transmission capabilities for display output applications, supporting speeds up to 120Gbps. ▲Thunderbolt 5 Officially Unveiled. According to Intel, unlike the USB4 2.0 specification which offers highly flexible optional features to meet different product needs, Thunderbolt has always been built with the most complete specification. Therefore, Thunderbolt 5 is designed based on the complete USB4 2.0 specification, providing up to 120Gbps transfer speeds via asymmetric transmission, offering three times the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4, and a power consumption of up to 240W. ▲Compared to the USB 4 2.0 specification, many features are optional, while Thunderbolt 5 fully utilizes all specifications and adds Intel's design. Thunderbolt 5 continues Intel's past practice of using a single line to meet the needs of data transfer, display output, and high-power supply. This is especially relevant as more creators connect laptops to external graphics cards and then to a monitor, or gamers connect gaming laptops to external monitors, highlighting the advantage of simplified wiring with Thunderbolt. ▲Before its official name was announced, Thunderbolt 5 was internally referred to as "Thunderbolt 80/120G". In terms of specifications, Thunderbolt 5 is based on the USB 4 2.0 specification, primarily doubling the bandwidth for bidirectional transmission and tripling the unidirectional bandwidth in asymmetric transmission mode, achieving a maximum transmission speed of 120Gbps. Furthermore, it doubles the PCIe data throughput, allowing users to utilize external storage devices or external graphics cards with faster data transfer speeds. ▲Thunderbolt 5 can support output speeds up to 120Gbps through asymmetric transmission. ▲Thunderbolt 5 enables even higher data transfer rates. Besides being compatible with the USB4 2.0 specification, Thunderbolt 5 also supports DisplayPort 2.1 and PCIe...

During Computex 2023, Jeff Ravencraft, President and COO of USB-IF, detailed the new branding design for consumer use announced last October, as well as the technical specifications of the new USB 4.0 Version 2.0. He also anticipated that with Intel's continued push for Thunderbolt technology and Apple's adoption of USB-C ports in iPhones, the application of USB-C connectivity would become more widespread. ▲Jeff Ravencraft, President and COO of USB-IF. Ravencraft explained that in future branding, consumer-facing products will feature a simpler design, eliminating version numbers and retaining only the word "USB," along with added transmission speeds and power specifications such as "5Gbps" and "240W." However, communication with developers and product manufacturers will continue to focus on the actual version, such as the currently proposed USB 4.0 Version 2. Jeff Ravencraft explained that this adjustment stems from the fact that consumers often find it difficult to intuitively judge a cable's transmission performance based solely on its specifications. Therefore, it's better to directly label the performance data on the cable itself, allowing consumers to make a direct assessment. ▲The new identification mark corresponds to the transmission speed design. ▲The new identification mark simultaneously corresponds to transmission speed and power output. Jeff Ravencraft further illustrated this with his brother, a truck driver, as an example. Given his work and lifestyle, he doesn't need to know the USB cable's specifications; what he needs to know is whether the cable can transmit faster data or be used as a higher-wattage charging cable. Regarding future developments, Jeff Ravencraft also stated that USB cables will indeed be developed to meet market demands, moving towards higher transmission specifications and designs that can handle higher charging wattage and voltage. However, he believes these specifications won't appear too quickly because the new specifications have only just been proposed, and related application products are only just beginning to enter the market. Manufacturers will need some time to recoup their costs. On the other hand, since USB 4.0 version 2 can currently support transfer speeds of up to 120Gbps under asymmetric conditions, while supporting power wattages of up to 240W and a maximum voltage transmission of 48V, it is actually sufficient for most products that require power. Therefore, the current design specification is considered to be at a sweet spot in the market. ▲ The newly labeled certified cables Regarding cable materials and durability, Jeff Ravencraft emphasized that USB-IF certification has relevant standards. Basically, as long as the cable passes the certification, its safety and durability can be guaranteed. Therefore, he also urged consumers to purchase certified cables to avoid problems such as cables easily coming loose or even causing overheating during charging. At the same time, regarding the Thunderbolt specification that Intel continues to promote, Jeff Ravencraft explained that even the Thunderbolt 4 design is still based on USB 4.0 version 2. The reason Intel emphasizes the difference between the two designs is mainly due to whether they have passed Intel lab certification, but there is no difference in actual use. He even emphasized that USB has a wider range of applications, unlike Thunderbolt, which is mainly limited to PC devices. However, Jeff Ravencraft believes that Intel's continued push for the Thunderbolt specification, coupled with Apple's expected switch to USB-C port design, will make the USB-C connection design more widely used.