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By PURPLELEC | 16 November 2024 | 0 Comments

Comparative Analysis of USB Technology Evolution and Thunderbolt™ 4

  History and Development of USB
  The history of USB (Universal Serial Bus) technology is an epic of technological evolution. Initially launched by Intel and Microsoft in 1996, it aims to solve the problem of connecting computer peripheral devices and emphasizes the concept of "plug and play". However, USB 1.0 failed to be widely popularized due to its slow transmission speed. USB 2.0, launched in 2000, increased the speed to 480Mbps and became a standard interface, but it also brought a variety of USB interfaces, making the market complicated. USB 3.0 in 2008 further increased the speed to 5Gbps and introduced a new appearance, but the version and naming issues still exist.
  The USB Type-C interface introduced in 2014 is seen as the future of a unified USB interface. The USB4 launched in 2019 ended the naming confusion, supporting transmission speeds of 20Gbps to 40Gbps, using only the USB Type-C interface, and emphasizing support for Power Delivery (PD), providing up to 240W of power, backward compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 3.2, and supporting Thunderbolt™ 3/4.
  The Rise of Thunderbolt™
  Intel launched the high-speed I/O interface Thunderbolt™ in 2009, aiming to unify the transmission standards of computers and other devices. It debuted in 2011 with a speed of 10Gbps, integrated Mini DisplayPort interface, and supported Daisy-chain connection of up to six peripheral devices. In 2013, Thunderbolt™ 2 was upgraded to 20Gbps, and in 2015, Thunderbolt™ 3 reached 40Gbps, switched to USB Type-C interface, and supported dual 4K or one 5K screen. In 2020, Thunderbolt™ 4 was launched with 32Gbps PCIe bandwidth and retained 100W charging power.
  Thunderbolt™ technology is Intel's advanced connection standard that provides power, data and video signals through a single cable. It can connect up to 5 devices and is suitable for all types of users, providing an excellent user experience.
  USB4 vs. Thunderbolt™ 4 specification differences
  Thunderbolt™ 4 and USB4 have become the most popular connection standards and are widely used in laptops, gaming laptops and desktop computers. Both use the USB Type-C connector to achieve a maximum transfer speed of 40Gbps, support images and up to 100W power transmission.
USB4 vs. Thunderbolt™ 4
  Although the two are similar in appearance and function, the subtle differences are crucial:
  1. Supported bandwidth: USB4 provides two specifications of 20Gbps and 40Gbps, while Thunderbolt™ 4 only has one 40Gbps specification.
  2. Charging power: The minimum standard of USB4 is reduced to 7.5W, while Thunderbolt™ 4 is 15W.
  3. Data transfer speed: The minimum requirement of USB4 is to support USB 3.2's 10Gbps, while Thunderbolt™ 4 can reach 32Gbps.
  4. Support for display: USB4 has no minimum support resolution requirement, while Thunderbolt™ 4 must support two 4K 60Hz screens or one 8K 30Hz screen.
  Thunderbolt™ 4 is compatible with USB4, but whether USB4 supports Thunderbolt™ 4 is optional.
  Thunderbolt™ 4 vs. USB4: How to choose?
  Both are similar in specifications, but Thunderbolt™ 4 has higher minimum requirements. The choice depends on needs and device features:
  Performance priority: If performance is critical and price is not the main consideration, it is recommended to choose Thunderbolt™ 4, which provides higher transfer speeds and more expansion functions.
  Cost-effectiveness: If you are more concerned about cost-effectiveness, USB4 is a more affordable choice and provides sufficient performance for daily applications.
  Please note that some USB4 devices still have high bandwidth and high power transmission capabilities. Please check the product specifications carefully before purchasing.
  USB technology development trends
  The future development trends of USB technology are designed to meet modern data transmission and connection needs and provide a more advanced user experience:
  1. Popularization of USB4: High transmission speed and diverse data and video transmission standards make it widely used in a variety of devices.
  2. Popularization and standardization of USB-C: Reversible plug-in design and versatility make it mainstream and eliminate compatibility issues.
  3. Higher charging power and fast charging technology: The USB Power Delivery standard enhances charging power and improves the user experience.
  4. Support more application areas: Not only for data transmission, but also for display connection, audio transmission, external storage and other fields.
  5. Security and data protection: The new generation of USB standards includes higher levels of data encryption and authentication functions.
  These trends have enabled USB technology to continue to evolve, becoming the dominant standard for data transmission and device connection today, and laying the foundation for future technological innovation.
  In general, the development of USB technology has witnessed the rapid evolution from USB 1.0 to USB4 and Thunderbolt™ 4. The rise of these two provides faster and more powerful solutions for connectivity, and the subtle differences between them also reflect the diversity of user needs. As future trends develop, USB4 will continue to play a leading role and become a reliable choice for connecting devices. The vigorous development of USB technology will continue to affect all aspects of data transmission and device connection, bringing users a more advanced and convenient user experience.

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