Update 07/08/20 : Appleconfirmed to The Vergethat it specify to continue supporting Thunderbolt on Macs with Apple silicon .
The USB Type - blow connecter is wonderful in many way , but its ubiquity among modern figurer interconnects has made it home to a emcee of puzzling standards and capacity . When you see that connector , you never know what you ’re going to get : Is it USB 3 or 3.2 ? Maybe the approaching USB4 ? What is the maximal fastness ? Does it have Power Delivery ? Can I filch up an external display , and to what resolution ? How fast is it ?
level on top of it theThunderbolt 3standard and its optional specifications , and it is punishing to jazz what to what will do work with that Type - C connector and what wo n’t .
Intel has a new measure , Thunderbolt 4 , that it hopes will help trim down through the confusion . It does n’t bestow faster speeds ( the utmost is still 40Gbps ) or major new capabilities , but it has exacting minimum requirements and certification guidepost . The promise is that Thunderbolt 4 will be the “ complete translation of USB - one C , ” as Intel puts it .
How Thunderbolt 4 is different
In many ways , Thunderbolt 4 is the same as Thunderbolt 3 . At least , it has many of the samemaximumcapabilities : 40Gbps throughput , 15W lower limit big businessman delivery for accessories , support for two 4 K monitors , and so on . But many Thunderbolt 3 ports on microcomputer do not actually fit these upright - caseful spec , and they ’re not all required for authentication . bolt of lightning 4 raises theminimumrequirements substantially .
Thunderbolt 4 has similar maximum capabilities to Thunderbolt 3 , but much higher minimum requirement .
You might think of Thunderbolt 4 as a sort of “ guaranteed maximal capability Thunderbolt 3 . ”
What this means for future Apple products
While Thunderbolt and USB - C implementation has been a big mess on Windows PCs , Apple ’s recent Macs have been a shining case of top - nick Thunderbolt implementation . Modern Macs tend to support the maximal throughput , eGPUs , and multiple 4 jet monitors on their Thunderbolt 3 ports .
But not every Apple product with a Type - nose candy port wine support Thunderbolt 3 . The iPad Pro has a USB - C embrasure and defend external displays using the DisplayPort standard , but isnota Thunderbolt interface . The 12 - column inch MacBook , now discontinued , had a USB - C interface with no Thunderbolt as well .
Thunderbolt 4 is mean to clean up the USB case - C mess .
Will future Macs support Thunderbolt 4 ? The I that are based on Intel processor probably will . Intel will inclose Thunderbolt 4 controllers in its “ Tiger Lake ” processors , due for release near the end of the class . Macs using those microprocessor chip will in all probability strike the market in the first half of next year . A stand - alone Intel controller chip will follow at a previous date .
Apple recently announced that it willtransition Macs from Intel processors to its own Si . That throws a scrap of a wrinkle in things .
Macs that utilize Intel processors ( there will still be some of those for the next year or two ) will probably put up Thunderbolt 4 , once Macs with Tiger Lake C.P.U. show up . It wo n’t make a huge difference of opinion in hardheaded terms — Apple ’s Thunderbolt 3 implementation is unremarkably so robust that it forgather most of the Thunderbolt 4 minimal specs .
What about Macs that use Apple ’s own silicon ? One requirement for Thunderbolt 4 corroboration is “ Intel VT - d DMA protective covering ” which is a security measure that prevents memory access from connected devices . PCWorld points outthat Intel aver it would certify an “ tantamount ” DMA tribute engineering , though . So Apple could conceivably have its own Thunderbolt 4 controller that meets Intel ’s certification physical process , or it could practice an Intel controller microprocessor chip when one becomes available in the future .
Appleconfirmed to The Vergethat it does intend to continue stomach Thunderbolt on Macs with Apple silicon : “ Over a 10 ago , Apple partnered with Intel to design and grow Thunderbolt , and today our customers enjoy the speed and flexibleness it brings to every Mac . We remain attached to the future of Thunderbolt and will support it in Macs with Apple Si . ”
This does n’t tell us what adaptation of Thunderbolt we can carry , or whether Apple will employ and Intel or Apple controller , but we can likely await at least the same level of compatibility and musical accompaniment present on current Macs .
