With the continuous development of Type-C interface, this interface has become the standard for more and more devices, in addition to mobile devices such as cell phones, tablets and laptops, graphics cards such devices also began to be equipped with Type-C interface, this weekend, I collected for you some cold knowledge about Type-C interface, partners together with knowledge!
Type-C on the graphics card looks like this
If you have looked closely at the RTX 20 and RTX 30 series graphics card interface, you should notice that the new graphics card seems to be missing something? Yes, that is, in many RTX 20 graphics cards on the small, but still quite eye-catching Type-C interface is missing. For those who have a deeper understanding of graphics cards, they must know that it is the VirtualLink interface for VR devices, which is supposed to be enhanced for new applications, so why has it disappeared?
The special thing about VirtualLink is that it can provide USB (control), audio and video (4-channel HBR3 DisplayPort), and even power (27W) for VR devices (mainly VR headsets) at the same time. This allows VR devices to get rid of the traditional bunch of cable connections, which is of course much cooler to use.
Because it also supports USB, DP and other signals, so it can be used to connect USB devices such as cell phones, or Type-C devices such as monitors, and so on. But be aware that it is essentially an interface optimized for VR, and compatibility with other devices is only incidental, so it’s no surprise if you find your own devices are not compatible.
However, due to the speed of VR penetration is indeed a bit sweaty, coupled with the VirtualLink version is a bit old, the total bandwidth of the 4-channel HBR3 DisplayPort is actually DP1.3/1.4 level, can only cope with 5K (2.5K × 2) and higher refresh rates, although better than the RTX 20 equipped with HDMI 2.0, but far less popular than the upcoming HDMI 2.1, DP 2.0, with the gaming display towards 4K/144Hz and 8K display, VR resolution and refresh rate must also be improved, it certainly will not be enough.
So VirtualLink, or the Type-C interface on the graphics card is so soon to retire? Do not forget that there is a GPU manufacturer in the support – AMD it. AMD has recently started to provide Type-C interfaces in professional-grade graphics cards, and it is very likely that it is also an extension of USB, that is, VirtualLink or similar technology.
The vastly different USB Type-C interface expandability
The USB Type-C interface is actually the best partner for a docking station when it comes to expandability. However, the USB Type-C interface itself is also different, and the different grades of USB Type-C affect the functionality and experience of the docking station it supports.
The USB Type-C type interface on many mainstream laptops only supports data transfer, so we can interpret it as a USB-A with a different look, which is the beggar of the Type-C interface family.
It has all the disadvantages of USB-A, such as the need to integrate a separate display chip in the docking station to extend HDMI.
If the USB Type-C on your home laptop belongs to the “full-featured” type, then congratulations, it not only supports data transfer, DP video output and USB PD protocol charging, but also supports more luxurious docking devices.
Since full-featured USB Type-C supports PD natively, the HDMI on the docking station can output up to 4K resolution and can be connected to a monitor and multiple USB storage peripherals and used simultaneously without consuming additional CPU resources.
However, the more features the USB Type-C docking station has, the more it needs to integrate the corresponding control chip, so it won’t be too cheap, except that when combined with a full-featured USB Type-C interface, it can deliver 100% of its full performance and bring a comparable experience to the native interface.
Whether or not it supports charging is an important measure of the USB Type-C docking station’s class, and is a major factor in widening the price gap. Because many notebooks use USB Type-C as the only charging port, they cannot be charged when connected to a docking station without charging capabilities.
Some docking stations that support PD2.0 have their HDMI and USB devices connected to them flash off when the charging cable is unplugged (with the docking station attached), while docking stations that support PD3.0 are unaffected.
Many full-featured USB Type-Cs are compliant with USB 3.1 Gen2 or 3.2 Gen2 standards and have 10Gbps transfer rates. However, the USB ports on USB Type-C docking stations are mostly USB 3.0 (5Gbps) compliant. When reading super-fast mobile SSDs, please connect directly to the USB Type-C on your laptop instead of borrowing the docking station.
Thunderbolt 3 (which will be upgraded to Thunderbolt 4 and incorporated into the USB4 standard, which still has a transfer rate of 40Gbps) is the ultimate in USB Type-C type interface capabilities and can be enjoyed at the Emperor level.
When it comes to this issue, it is derived from today’s title, why do you say Intel also gives people to play the game of horse armor?
Intel also plays the vest strategy
A careful comparison between Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 reveals this phenomenon –
The speed of Thunderbolt 4 is actually 4 times that of USB3.1 Gen2, which is 10Gbps x 4, totaling 40Gbps, exactly the same as the existing Thunderbolt 3 interface.
In fact, the USB field is still not yet fully popular USB3.2, this interface will all switch to Type-C form, the traditional USB-A type interface only supports up to USB3.1 Gen2, while USB3.2 there are USB3.2 Gen1, USB3.2 Gen2 and USB3.2 Gen2 × 2 three standards, the speed are 5Gbps, 10Gbps and 20Gbps.
Since the speed is still 40Gbps, there is no difference in the functional characteristics with Thunderbolt 3, why Intel has to re-establish a high ” Thunderbolt 4″ interface role?
The answer is simple: the Thunderbolt interface is an Intel-led technology, and in 2019 Intel had donated the Thunderbolt 3 standard to the USB-If organization, which also launched the USB4 standard on the basis of the Thunderbolt 3 protocol. In other words, all future devices with the USB4 interface are backward compatible with USB2.0, 3.0, 3.1 and 3.2 and Thunderbolt 3, but then Intel will lose revenue in terms of licensing fees for the Thunderbolt protocol.
In the future, whether TIger Lake platform notebooks or new Intel motherboards, if you want to play a differentiated publicity stunt, USB4 name is certainly not as loud as Thunderbolt 4 (although the two are theoretically an interface). OEMs (including PC, peripheral and cable brands) may need to continue to pay licensing fees if they want to use the Thunderbolt 4 interface name to promote it.
On the similarities and differences between Thunderbolt 4 and USB4, Intel says that both Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 are based on Type C physical interfaces that complement and are compatible with each other. However, the “lower bound” of Thunderbolt 4 has been raised significantly – defining strict product functionality, verification testing and certification requirements that are even higher than those of Thunderbolt 3. So devices that support Thunderbolt 4 are more likely to have a great experience. Intel notes that USB4 still has to be carefully screened – not all USB4s are on par with Thunderbolt 4.
Intel also makes five points about the differences between Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3.
In scenarios such as connecting a monitor, the minimum PC video specification is doubled, and support for two 4K displays or one 8K display is a basic requirement, while the previous generation may only support one 4K display.
In scenarios such as connecting external graphics cards and hard drives, the minimum PC data specification requirement has been doubled, with the minimum PCIe transfer speed increasing from 16Gb/sec to 32Gb/sec, and speeds up to 3000MB/sec when connecting storage devices, which is closer to the performance when plugged into a motherboard.
For the first time, it supports 4-port docking stations and cables up to 2 meters long, extending three Thunderbolt 4 ports with a single cable, meaning multiple Thunderbolt 4 devices can be connected and extended at once.
PCs with Thunderbolt 4 require at least one port to be able to charge the device.
With the Thunderbolt docking station connected, wake up your computer from sleep with the touch of a keyboard or mouse.
Streamlined phone Type C interface
The USB Type-C ports of high-end phones under the Huawei, Honor, Samsung and Nut brands all support video output, and these brands have also customized their proprietary Windows 10-like operating interfaces for ” wired screen casting” (when connected to a monitor using a cable), such as Huawei / Honor’s PC mode, the Samsung Samsung DeX and Nut’s TNT system, etc.
However, the video output capability of the USB Type-C interface is also at risk of being streamlined. Many cell phones equipped with USB Type-C interface connected to the TV today can not support “wired casting” to start the “computer mode”.
The phone Type-C interface is streamlined in addition to video, audio is also controversial.
USB Type-C can be used for charging, transferring data, USB3.0, video output, audio analog signal output and audio digital signal output. However, only charging and data transfer are mandatory for the USB Type-C interface, while all other functions are optional and can be traded off by phone manufacturers based on product positioning and cost.
Many cell phones with headphone jack, the audio output function of USB Type-C interface is naturally not necessary, while many cell phones that have eliminated the 3.5mm headphone jack design, use the USB Type-C interface headphones to achieve audio output.
From PCs, tablets to cell phones and even boards, many of the things we take for granted, there are often a lot of interesting ” cold knowledge “, compared to the pure hardcore knowledge and skills application, this kind of cold knowledge will let everyone like it?
