Based on Thunderbolt 3, the USB4 standard that provides a maximum bandwidth of 40 Gbps (5 GB/s) is announced, and it is true that the name has also been removed from the space.
Thunderbolt is a proprietary transport protocol from Intel that can achieve a maximum transfer speed of 40 Gbps, which was previously compatible with the USB-C interface. This time Intel opened up the technical details of Thunderbolt 3 and integrated it into USB4, making the transmission speed double the 40Gbps of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, making USB a step further.
The USB 3.2, introduced at the end of February, integrates three high-speed USB standards since USB 3.0, which are divided into USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, and the transmission rates are 5Gbps, 10Gbps, 20Gbps, respectively. The fastest USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 is based on the USB-C dual-sided interface, so it only supports USB-C.
USB4 is compatible with the above three USB 3.2 compatible, and is also compatible with a certain year of USB 2.0, and the addition of Thunderbolt 3 compatible makes the design and manufacturing difficulty of the USB-C interface will be reduced. Support USB4 can be compatible with all USB standards, thanks to Thunderbolt 3 can also be used for external graphics or DP output, a USB-C interface can be used in the future, and the days of USB-A exiting the mainstream stage are just around the corner.
However, if you want to use the USB-C interface that supports USB4, you have to wait until the middle of the year. Intel-led USB promotion organization is working with more than 50 companies to improve the USB4 specifications. The interface definition when using the USB-C interface is also Conducted, it is expected that specific news will be announced in mid-2019.
