Articles about Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt 3 is excellent technology -- it is fast and allows laptop users to expand the capabilities of their computers. For instance, you could add a TB3 docking station to gain additional ports, or an external GPU enclosure to add a desktop-class graphics card. So, yeah, Thunderbolt 3 rules.

Unfortunately, to get the full performance of Thunderbolt 3, it usually means using a very short cable, like 0.5m. While longer cables are available, they often provide slower transfer speeds (20Gbps) rather than the faster 40Gbps that TB3 can theoretically achieve. Not to mention, longer cables usually provide lesser charging power. Sure, there are some longer cables that provide top charging and data speeds, such as this 0.8m one from Apple, but as you can see, at $40, it is quite expensive. Today, Plugable launches a new cable (TBT3-40G80CM) that matches the performance of Apple's cable but at much more affordable price!

Continue reading →

As the owner of a 2016 MacBook Pro, I was forced to tolerate dongles at first, but over time, I have actually come to like using them. Do I wish my Apple laptop had additional ports, such as USB-A, Ethernet, and an SD Card reader? I suppose, but to be honest, I find myself needing those connection types less and less these days -- especially on the go. I'd rather a thin and minimalist approach.

When at home, however, I do like having those ports as an option, so I typically use a Thunderbolt 3 docking station -- it's a great way to turn a notebook into a makeshift desktop. Lately, I have been testing a TB3 dock from IOGEAR called "Quantum Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station Pro 85." As the name suggests, it is designed for professional use, but it can, of course, be used by home users too.

Continue reading →

Intel's Thunderbolt 3 uses the USB-C connector, which is sort of confusing. Basically, all TB3 ports can also handle USB, but standard USB Type C ports cannot work with Thunderbolt 3. This can lead to confusion for consumers. Intel's standard is much faster, meaning Thunderbolt 3 accessories are often superior to regular USB-C models. Of course, TB3-related things are usually more expensive too.

In an effort to make Thunderbolt ubiquitous, Intel is sharing its TB protocol with the USB Promoter Group. What does this mean? Well, the future of the Universal Serial Bus, USB4, will not only work with USB 2.0 and 3.x devices, but Thunderbolt 3 too. In other words, by having a USB4 port on your computer, you also have TB3.

Continue reading →

Thunderbolt 3 is great for many reasons -- it is fast, uses the USB-C connector, and allows you to expand the capability of your laptop. It used to be notebook owners were very limited for gaming, for instance, as you couldn't upgrade the graphics. Even if you opted for a quality mobile GPU from, say, AMD or NVIDIA, it still wouldn't compare to a high-end desktop graphics card. With Thunderbolt 3, however, you can easily add a top-tier desktop GPU to your laptop by leveraging an enclosure.

Today, VisionTek launches a new such enclosure, and it looks amazing. I tried -- and loved -- the company's previous model, but it was rather large. This new model, called "Thunderbolt 3 Mini eGFX," is smaller, and believe it or not, is less expensive too -- all while retaining the same functionality. Not only does it allow the user to add a desktop GPU to their laptop, but it introduces USB-A ports, Ethernet, and SATA 3. And yes, it will charge the laptop while connected too.

Continue reading →

With the exception of extremely low-cost budget models, all modern computers (laptops and desktops) should have Thunderbolt 3 these days. Why? Because TB3 is simply amazing -- it uses the USB-C connector, but is much faster than USB 3.1 Gen 2.

With Thunderbolt 3 being so fast, many consumers -- including yours truly -- have been waiting for external PCIe NVMe TB3 drives to begin hitting the mainstream. I am happy to say I have been testing one from VisionTek with my 2016 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, and as you can imagine, it is super quick.

Continue reading →

For a while, it was hard to find a decent Thunderbolt 3 docking station. Oh, there were plenty of USB-C docks, but believe me, other than sharing a connector type, they are nowhere near as good as TB3 variants. From my experience, USB-C models can be a bit problematic -- especially with macOS.

Nowadays, however, there are many Thunderbolt 3 docks on the market. Today, Accell -- a company known for selling quality products at affordable prices -- launches a TB3 dock that looks quite beautiful and futuristic. Rather than being a simple rectangle, it slopes downward on the front. This is not just for looks -- it is designed to prop up the laptop for better viewing and typing angles.

Continue reading →

Thunderbolt 3 docks can be quite amazing. I recently reviewed such a dock made by StarTech and came away very impressed. That dock can transform a MacBook Pro or Windows 10 laptop into a desktop. It is designed to be kept at home or in the office -- stationary on a desk.

But what if you want a Thunderbolt 3 dock for when you are on the go? If you have a MacBook Pro, for instance, that isn't so crazy. Since you only have USB-C ports, a portable dock can be a great way to expand connectivity without carrying multiple dongles. In fact, there are already some portable TB3 docks on the market, Today, Elgato (a company recently acquired by CORSAIR) unveils its latest such product -- Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock.

Continue reading →

When I bought my first-ever Apple computer in 2016 -- a MacBook Pro with touchbar -- I was a bit nervous about the lack of ports. While on the go, I am pretty much fine with only having USB-C, but when home, I like to connect my laptops to a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and hardwired Ethernet. In other words, I make my notebooks serve double-duty as makeshift desktops too. I would need to leverage dongle/adapters to meet my needs.

Thankfully, the MacBook Pro USB-C ports are also Thunderbolt 3, meaning the laptop is compatible with high-end docking stations. Yes, there are normal USB-C docks on the market too, but the Thunderbolt 3 models are far superior -- they can have more ports and provide better quality video to monitors. Since they are pricey, selecting the best model can be daunting. Luckily, after much testing, I am confident to say I have found one worth your hard-earned money -- StarTech Thunderbolt 3 Dual-4K Docking Station with SD Card Slot.

Continue reading →

Both Thunderbolt 3 docking stations and bus-powered USB-C hubs are nothing new. But what about bus-powered Thunderbolt 3 docking stations? Ah, that is a much more rare product. In fact, today, StarTech is launching two bus-powered portable Thunderbolt 3 docking stations that it claims are an "industry first." If you aren't familiar, "bus-powered" means there is no need for an AC adapter -- the port on your laptop powers the dock. This is great because, without a power adapter, you have one less thing to carry.

Why are there two models? Well, while they are both similar, they are are also quite different. The TB3DK2DP features two DisplayPort connections, a USB 3.0 Type-A port, and gigabit Ethernet. The TB3DKM2HD in comparison has two HDMI ports, gigabit Ethernet, a USB 3.0 Type-A port and a USB 2.0 Type-A port. Both portable docks can push two 4K monitors at 60Hz, but only the DisplayPort variant can do 5K at 60Hz. Neither feature female USB-C ports.

Continue reading →

Thunderbolt 3 is awesome. The connection is blazing fast, and for convenience, it uses the same connector as USB-C. It allows a computer user to expand the functionality of their laptop with ease. Keep in mind, however, while USB-C devices will generally work with all Thunderbolt 3 ports, TB3 devices won't work on normal USB-C ports. Ultimately, Thunderbolt 3 is the superior standard. Best of all, it is supported on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

StarTech is no stranger to Thunderbolt 3 adapters, and today, it unveils two new products. The company's motto is "hard-to-find made easy" and both of these offerings match that. One product is a Thunderbolt 3 to eSATA adapter -- quite niche these days. It also offers a USB 3.1 gen 2 Type-A port. The other new product is a Thunderbolt 3 to USB 3.1 controller, which is sort of like a USB hub on steroids.

Continue reading →

Ever since I bought my 2016 MacBook Pro, I have been obsessed with Thunderbolt 3 docks. Why? Because I like to use my laptop as a desktop when I am home. I need to connect a monitor, keyboard, mouse, external hard drive, USB webcam, and more. A TB3 docking station allows me to easily connect all these things to my MacBook Pro with a single cable, while also charging it. This solution works with compatible Windows machines too.

Today, StarTech launches the Thunderbolt 3 Dual-4K Docking Station with SD Card Slot and it looks amazing. As the name implies, it can push two 4K monitors -- one using its DisplayPort, and the other with an included (and optional) USB-C to DisplayPort cable. In addition to dual-4K, it can also handle a single 5K display. Also indicated by the product name, there is an SD card slot on the front. This is very much appreciated, as the MacBook Pro has no such card reader.

Continue reading →

I love my MacBook Pro for many reasons, but one in particular is the Thunderbolt 3 ports. If you aren't familiar, Thunderbolt 3 is insanely fast at 40Gbps, but also, it is very versatile. It can transmit video and data, for instance, but also, it is compatible with USB-C devices too. By connecting a single Thunderbolt 3 cable to my Mac, I can simultaneously charge it and transform it into a desktop thanks to a docking station. Seriously, folks, TB3 is amazing.

The company Patriot is leveraging Thunderbolt 3 for data storage, and its new EVLVR (pronounced "evolver") Portable SSD is blazing fast as a result. Not only is it very speedy, but it is physically small too -- a big win for portability. Despite being diminutive, it has big capacity -- up to 1TB of storage. Wow!

Continue reading →

When I decided to buy my first-ever Mac last year, I was beyond excited. Unfortunately, I hit a quick roadblock. You see, I spend half of my time using laptops as makeshift desktop computers; when I am home, I prefer to use a large monitor, keyboard, and mouse. For the best experience, I would need some sort of dock, and Apple just doesn't make one.

Luckily, Apple's wise use of Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C meant it would be easy to obtain a docking solution. I quickly learned, however, that many solutions on the market were terrible. USB-C based solutions caused the most issues, such as various sleep/wake errors and disconnecting USB storage drives. Even some Thunderbolt 3-based products had similar issues. Thankfully, I finally found a quality TB3 dock. Made by OWC, it features 13 "ports," allowing you to convert a MacBook Pro into a legitimate desktop alternative.

Continue reading →

The MacBook Pro only has USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 for connecting devices. For many, this is not a problem. After all, with wireless accessories, it is quite possible that a user might never need to connect anything by wire -- other than the charger, of course.

With that said, some users absolutely need to connect legacy devices, such as USB Type-A hard drives, mice, keyboards, and more. Heck, they may even need to connect to a monitor or Ethernet. Luckily, Thunderbolt 3 makes this a breeze, as single-cable docking solutions can bring all of the needed ports and more. Best of all, they can charge the computer too. Today, Elgato announces that its Thunderbolt 3 Dock will be available for purchase on June 6. While it looks amazing, it is certainly not an inexpensive affair.

Continue reading →

Owning a MacBook Pro (2016) has been a very fun experience. While some people are unhappy not having USB Type-A ports, I am happily embracing the Type-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports. Sure, I have needed a dongle a few times when connecting some devices, but it hasn't been too bad. I've even embraced a USB-C dock (with power delivery) to create a Mac desktop experience in my home -- mouse, keyboard, and monitor.

So far, however, I haven't been very satisfied with USB-C docks. I sometimes face issues where USB ports don't work while delivering power. On a few occasions, my connected USB hard drives have disconnected when the Mac goes to sleep, leading to macOS warning messages. The market will soon be saturated with true Thunderbolt 3 docks that should provide a much better experience. Today, StarTech announces a new line of Thunderbolt 3 devices, including docks and display adapters.

Continue reading →