Thunderbolt interface is an interface that integrates PCI Express data transmission technology and DisplayPort display technology; it can transmit data and video at the same time; the two channels of Thunderbolt 3 can not only transmit data at the same time, but each channel also provides a bidirectional 20Gb/s rate, that is, the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3 is up to 40Gb/s, which is 8 times that of USB3.0 and 4 times that of USB3.1.
Docking station, also known as port replicator, is an external device that expands the device interface. For example: it can make a laptop convenient to connect with multiple accessories or external devices in one stop, such as power adapter, network cable, mouse, external keyboard, printer, external display, card reader, etc.
The Thunderbolt 3 docking station is a high-bandwidth interface that expands external devices based on the Thunderbolt 3 interface; it is mainly used to expand common HDMI interfaces, DP interfaces, Type-c3.1 interfaces, USB3.0 interfaces, Gigabit network ports, SD/TF card reading interfaces, 3.5mm headset integrated interfaces, and Thunderbolt 3 loop-out interfaces, etc.; thanks to the high bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3, the Thunderbolt 3 docking station can support two external 4K or one 5K monitor.
At present, Thunderbolt 3 also uses the standard Type-c interface. In order to distinguish the Thunderbolt interface from the ordinary Type-c interface, there is usually a ⚡️ logo next to the Thunderbolt interface. If you see an interface with the ⚡️ logo on your laptop or graphics card, then it is a Thunderbolt interface. Friends who want to use the Thunderbolt 3 docking station must check in advance whether their device has a Type-c shaped interface with the ⚡️ logo.
