Since Thunderbolt was introduced in 2011, there have been a number of different versions of it. Introduced in 2015, Thunderbolt 3 features a USB-C connector, a max transfer speed of 40GB/s, and up to 15W of power for running accessories.īut these days, if you’re shopping for a device that features Thunderbolt’s use, you’re probably looking at Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4. It can also support one 4K display and is compatible with USB4 specification. Launched in 2020, Thunderbolt 4 is the latest version of its connection technology that’s currently available. Thunderbolt 4 still has the same max transfer speed as Thunderbolt 3: 40Gb/s, but it mandates that as the minimum, whereas for Thunderbolt 3, it’s not enforced. Like Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4 also has a USB-C connector and offers up to 15W power delivery for accessories. They both offer Thunderbolt Networking as well. But that’s where the similarities between the two pretty much end.
Unlike Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4 can support two 4K displays and is rated as “compliant” for USB4 specification. Is Thunderbolt the same as USB-C? Dan Baker/Digital Trends Thunderbolt 4 also has double the PCIe SSD bandwidth speed (32 Gb/s) of Thunderbolt 3 (16 Gb/s). Though Thunderbolt has recently incorporated the use of USB-C connectors, they’re still different connection technologies. Do Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 accessories work with Thunderbolt 3? So just because Thunderbolt 3 and 4 ports are designed for use with USB-C connectors, not all USB-C ports are designed to support Thunderbolt. How do I know if I have a Thunderbolt port? Thunderbolt 3’s USB-C connection isn’t compatible with devices based on Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 without an expensive adapter.
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There are two main ways to know: You can either see if there is a thunderbolt icon next to your device’s USB-C port or you can check your device’s tech specs online to see if it mentions Thunderbolt ports in the product description.Īdditionally, Intel suggests downloading its Intel Driver & Support Assistant, which can be used to show you what kind of ports your device has, provided that your device uses Intel products and is running a supported version of Windows.
The exact launch date for Thunderbolt 5 has not been announced yet. Thunderbolt 5 is expected to be Thunderbolt 4’s successor but since Thunderbolt 4 was only released in 2020, it’s unlikely that Thunderbolt 5 will be available anytime soon. For now, we just know that it’s in development.
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We’ll update this section once we know more.If you're building a Ryzen system, then you'll be needing the ASRock Phantom Gaming ITX TB3 motherboard. This Mini-ITX board is something of a Frankenstein, not just because it carries Thunderbolt 3 certification, but because it also sacrifices the traditional AMD cooler mounting system in favor of Intel's. This is mostly down to the space available, but it's a pretty incredible creation. The Phantom Gaming ITX TB3 also supports Wi-Fi 6 with an included antenna, and as it carries the AMD X570 chipset, you also get super-fast PCIe 4. ITX motherboards are inherently limited by their size, but if you're looking for Thunderbolt connectivity, this is the one. The USB-C port on the motherboard doubles as both USB 3.2 and Thunderbolt 3.
If you're building something a bit more workstation-oriented, then you'll be looking for the Gigabyte TRX40 Designare, a motherboard for Threadripper systems that also supports Thunderbolt 3. The implementation is a little less elegant than on the ASRock but still effective. Gigabyte bundles its GC-Titan Ridge PCIe expansion card with the motherboard, which opens up access to the Thunderbolt 3 connection.