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WinMX World :: Forum  |  Discussion  |  WinMx World News  |  Intel launches high speed Thunderbolt connector
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Author Topic: Intel launches high speed Thunderbolt connector  (Read 934 times)

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Offline DaBees-Knees

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Intel launches high speed Thunderbolt connector
« on: February 26, 2011, 10:09:50 pm »
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12570323

Quote
Chip manufacturer Intel has announced it is to roll out a new technology for connecting computers and peripherals. The system, known as Thunderbolt, promises transfer speeds twice as fast as USB 3.0. However it won't reach its theoretical maximum because Intel has opted to use copper wires rather than fibre optic cables.

The company said it would gradually move to higher speeds over time.

Apple will become the first manufacturer to use Thunderbolt, on its Macbook Pro computers. The Cupertino firm is said to have been a major driver of its development, although it remains to be seen how may other manufacturers will adopt the new standard.

Light Peak

Intel has been working on the technology for several years. It was first announced, under the codename Light Peak in 2009. At launch, its top speed will be limited to 10 Gigabits per second - twice as fast as USB 3.0, but still well below the theoretical maximum using optical cables.
 
Intel claims that future versions will be able to reach 100 Gb/sec.

The faster data transfer rates are likely to be welcomed by those consumers who use high-definition video, said Sarah Rottman Epps, an analyst with Forrester Research. "This isn't an innovation that consumers have been asking for, but it's one they'll appreciate," she said. "Especially when transferring video, as that's when [USB] starts to feel slow."

The system also promises to reduce the number of cables a user has connecting their computer setup. It is able to carry multiple signal types at the same time, enabling power, display and peripherals to use a single cable. However, in the short term, users may need to invest in special adaptors to connect their older devices onto Thunderbolt sockets.

Its arrival on the consumer market also raises questions about the future of other connector standards, such as USB and Firewire.

Thunderbolt's most high profile supporter, Apple, is expected to gradually transition to a single connector, according to Karen Haslam, editor of Macworld UK. "In the long run there will be no need for Apple to support these multiple formats with individual ports - existing products can run through an adaptor," she said.

Not everyone is convinced that Thunderbolt will become the lone standard.

Ian Chiu, editor of the website Everythingusb.com told BBC News that the cost of components could put off some manufacturers. "I don't really know how Intel will make Thunderbolt appealing to all the other first-tier PC manufacturers," he said.

"HP, Sony, Dell, Acer, Asus make most of their money from the low-end and medium-end notebooks.

"On the other hand, Apple's Macbook Pro line-up is targeted at the prosumers, professionals and other people who aren't so price conscious," said Mr Chiu.
 

All methods for connecting computers to external devices have a theoretical top speed for transferring data:

USB 2.0 - 480 Mb/second

Firewire 800 - 800 Mb/second

USB 3.0 - 4.8 Gb/second

Thunderbolt copper - 10 Gb/second

Thunderbolt fibre optic - 100 Gb/second
 


An interesting product. All they have to do now is convince the PC world that it should become a standard and then get the price down to a reasonable level.  8)

Offline Trestor

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Re: Intel launches high speed Thunderbolt connector
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2011, 12:25:21 am »
It's a pity that, having gone nine tenths of the way, they are cutting corners and not using the fiber cable.




Offline White Stripes

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Re: Intel launches high speed Thunderbolt connector
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2011, 03:50:03 pm »
It's a pity that, having gone nine tenths of the way, they are cutting corners and not using the fiber cable.

...its intel.... just look at their invention of the i810 and the GMA chipsets that followed... all-in-one mobo chipset that -- uses system ram for video.... (what is this? the 1980s?) ... cutting that last corner is their modis operandi it seems...

as for apple.. scsi was used for most of the apple models released in times past.... but sata is the norm.... not scsi...

Quote
At launch, its top speed will be limited to 10 Gigabits per second

you mean like 10gigabit ethernet has been doing for some time now? .... *yawns*

...intel and apple... constantly reinventing the wheel to make you pay more....


....oh and speaking of firewire... there is one computer in this house with a firewire connector..... ive yet to even come across anything that can connect to it.... let alone care to buy an adaptor in the future...

ps/2 (keyboard for pc) rs232 (low level serial for... whatever you want...) usb (keyboard for mac, mice, thumbdrives and cheap toys)  sata/esata (mass storage) and the good ol 8wire ethernet... we already have a good thing going... lets not screw it up cos one size does not fit all.... (speaking of which i still prefer vga to hdmi -- i prefer my audio and video signals seperate...)

WinMX World :: Forum  |  Discussion  |  WinMx World News  |  Intel launches high speed Thunderbolt connector
 

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