Like its sibling, Thunderbolt, DisplayPort allows for daisy-chain configurations. Today, the most capable DisplayPort is version 2.0, with a maximum data rate of up to 77.3GB per second at max capacity, enough for multiple 4K monitors on a single connection or up to a single 16K display with compression enabled. DisplayPort 1.2 was capable of handling 4K connections at 60Hz in 2010, while HDMI was struggling to even manage 30Hz. It combines video and audio in a single connection and offers far more bandwidth than HDMI in comparable generations. On paper, DisplayPort is a technical masterpiece. This connection was developed specifically with computer monitors in mind and is meant to be the full-digital replacement for DVI. DisplayPortĭisplayPort was one of two A/V connections (the other being HDMI) developed in the middle of the last decade. It also makes it a bit easier for manufacturers to include Thunderbolt ports on their devices, allowing accessories with additional ports. Thunderbolt 4 is very similar to Thunderbolt 3, but updates minimum video requirements and improves caps on upper-limit data speeds. Thunderbolt 3 is set to be replaced by the new Thunderbolt 4, which will remain a proprietary connection that will face off directly against USB4. Even if you do have the port, there’s not much to connect to it besides DisplayPort-compatible monitors and a small (but growing) selection of external hard drives. Other manufacturers are beginning to follow this lead, but only on high-end products. However, USB 4.0 could incorporate Thunderbolt technology, so we may see the standards unified in the future.Īpple was the first to include it on production PCs. You can use Thunderbolt to connect to any USB device, display, or Thunderbolt product, and it’s proved to be competitive with USB technology thanks to its speed and versatility. It’s possible to daisy-chain up to seven different devices (both displays and peripherals) off one Thunderbolt port, though there are limitations based on the types of devices connected. This connection also doubles as a DisplayPort 1.2-compatible A/V connection. The current common generation, Thunderbolt 3.0, uses the USB-C physical interface and is capable of data transfer speeds of 40Gbps. This made Thunderbolt less expensive and gave it the ability to deliver power, a critical trait for any connection that dreams of widespread adoption.
Still, Intel engineers figured out how to accomplish this goal using only copper wire. As that name suggests, Thunderbolt was initially intended to be a fiber-optic connection capable of 10Gbit/s (nearly twice the bandwidth of USB 3.0). Thunderbolt is a new type of connection that was developed by Intel under the codename Light Peak. Device manufacturers will have the option of offering Thunderbolt 3 inter-compatibility. USB 4.0, now officially known as USB4, is also on the horizon, and though it likely won’t be any faster than USB 3.2 2×2, it will unify standards to make the naming scheme less confusing and improve device compatibility. USB is entirely backward compatible, but you’re limited by the speed of the oldest generation in the chain of devices and connectors.
You need to plug a compatible USB 3.x device into a compatible USB 3.x port to take full advantage of its generational speeds. USB 3.1 (officially USB 3.2 Gen 2) is faster still, operating at up to 10Gbps, while USB 3.2 (officially 3.2 Gen 2×2) can operate at up to 20Gbps in select circumstances. USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports can operate at up to 5,000Mbps, or 5Gbps. USB 3.0 ports, officially now known as USB 3.2 gen 1 ( we know, it’s confusing), are often USB-A type and are blue to make them more distinct from USB 2.0 and other ports. USB 2.0 is the slowest typically found today, at just 480Mbps. Both can operate at different speeds, depending on the generation of USB technology that they support. USB-A is the non-reversible, oblong connector with right-angle corners, while USB-C is the newer, reversible alternative with rounded corners. USB ports come in an array of shapes, though the most common are USB-A and USB-C. Only Thunderbolt may provide a serious challenge - but it’s years away from widespread adoption. It took well over a decade, but it happened.
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) would make a good role model for supervillains everywhere.
Let’s clear the air and make room for some modern knowledge of old-fashioned connectivity. It’s always important to know what cable or plug goes where, and what version of cables you may need to get the most out of your PC.
Physical connections are still the quickest, most reliable way to transfer data.