All about Thunderbolt 4! » Next Generation of Supercables

Have you wondered why more and more new computers don't have so many USB inputs anymore? This is because they have been replaced with either a USB-C or a thunderbolt input.

What is Thunderbolt 4.0? Thunderbolt 4.0 is one of the latest cables that is used to transfer data and e.g. For attaching monitors and docking stations to your computer. The cable is equipped with a USB-C connector and can therefore be used together with USB-C devices. In addition, it can transfer data at 40 GB/s.

If you would like to know more about Thunderbolt 4.0, read on below, where I, among other things, will explain the difference between Thunderbolt 4.0 and USB-C and what specifications Thunderbolt 4.0 has.

What is a Thunderbolt cable?

Thunderbolt technology is mostly used in Apple's MacBooks, where it has been their primary input/output system since 2012.

A Thunderbolt cable can be used for many things. It can, among other things, be used to connect your computer to an external monitor or transfer large files in a short amount of time.

In addition, it can also be used as a charger cable, as it can charge up to 100w. Therefore, you also have the option to charge your USB-C devices faster than with the USB-C cable.

The story behind Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt was presented by the company Intel in 2009, during Intel's semi-annual conference, where they show off new products. Here the cable was presented as Light Peak.

During the conference, the cable was connected to a prototype of a Mac Pro motherboard, to show what a single cable was capable of and it caused surprise in the room.

In addition to displaying images and playing sound on the screen, the cable could also be used to charge and connect other devices, such as external hard drives, USB and other devices.

However, it was not until 2011 that Apple announced that their upcoming MacBooks will include inputs for the new super cable, which was renamed Thunderbolt.

The cable was initially built with fiber wires and copper to ensure a high data transfer rate. However, the fiber threads were removed when it turned out that it actually didn't have that great of an effect after all.

The only effect the fiber threads had was on the price. Therefore, the developers decided to remove the fiber wire, in order to cut down on the price of the cable.

What is the difference between Thunderbolt 4.0 and USB-C?

If you look at the connectors on both cables, there is no difference, as Thunderbolt 4.0 is also built with USB-C connectors, so it can be difficult to distinguish between the two cables.

As mentioned earlier, the Thunderbolt 4.0 cable is mostly used for Apple products, as Apple has used Thunderbolt technology in several of their products, whereas Windows is more inclined on using USB-C.

USB-C vs Thunderbolt 4.0

Since both connectors are identical, it can be difficult to see what the difference actually is between them. Therefore, in the table below, I have made a comparison of both cables.

What is the difference between Thunderbolt 3.0 and 4.0?

Since Thunderbolt 3.0 was launched at the beginning of 2015, a lot of things have been added to the relatively new Thunderbolt 4.0.

The Wake function makes it possible to wake up the computer with a single key on the keyboard/mouse if your computer is connected to a docking station via Thunderbolt 4.0.

The difference between Thunderbolt 4.0 and the previous versions

Here is a small table of the most notable differences between the Thunderbolt cables. In the picture above, you can see which connectors the cables use.

You can use Thunderbolt 4.0 for that

Because Thunderbolt 4.0 is so flexible, it can be difficult to see what it really should or can be used for.

Below I have collected some of the most frequent areas where you can make use of Thunderbolt 4.0.

Charging various devices

Since the connector on a Thunderbolt 4.0 cable is a USB-C connector, it can also be used to charge devices that are charged with a USB-C cable, such as e.g. Android smartphones and headphones.

Connection of external monitors (4K or 8K)

If you work in an industry where you need to be able to see the smallest details, then Thunderbolt 4.0 is perfect for you, as it can be used to connect two 4K or one 8K monitor.

If you work on a laptop with a USB-C input, it is more practical to connect Thunderbolt cables than to have an adapter with HDMI and other cables hanging around.

USB-based hard drive

With 40 GB/s, it doesn't take long for you to move files from e.g. An external hard drive for your computer, via a Thunderbolt 3.0 or 4.0 cable.

So if you work with large files and your computer has an input/output for Thunderbolt 3.0/4.0 or USB-C, then there is a lot of time to be saved with a Thunderbolt cable.

With a transfer speed of 40 GB/s, a Thunderbolt 3.0 & 4.0 is twice as fast as typical USB-C cables.

Docking stations

If you work on a laptop, a docking station is a must-have. connect your laptop to a docking station and you get the ultimate workstation with all the inputs/outputs you need.

All it requires is a Thunderbolt cable from the docking station to your laptop and then you have the option of connecting the following to your laptop:

• HDMI
• DisplayPort
• Ethernet (RJ45)
• USB-A & C
• SD card

Of course, it varies depending on which docking station you have, but the above is typically what you should look for in a docking station.

Why is Thunderbolt not as widespread yet?

Although Thunderbolt technology has been out for approx. 10 years now, it is not at all as competitive as Intel had hoped and this is due to various reasons.

In the past, Intel required a small sum of money from PC manufacturers to include their Thunderbolt inputs, which helped to increase the price of the computers.

That's why there aren't that many laptops with Thunderbolt inputs, apart from Apple's MacBooks. It is, among other things, also why the prices of MacBooks are so high compared to others.

MacBooks and Apple in general are known for being the exclusive ones and this is typically because Apple takes a lot of care in the technologies they put into their products.

They have a goal to be the best in what they do and they can achieve that by including the best technologies in their products, such as Thunderbolt.

However, the other manufacturers know how to give Apple more competition to the technology. Manufacturers such as HP, Dell and Lenovo have included Thunderbolt inputs in their latest laptops.

Because Intel has stopped charging money to include Thunderbolt inputs. Besides that, the price of Thunderbolt cable is significantly more expensive than a USB-C cable.

This has also provided more balance in the showdown between Apple and Windows when it comes to operating systems.

However, it probably won't be long before more and more manufacturers open their addition to these 'super' cables.

What is Thunderspy & VT-d?

Thunderspy is the name of a hack on Intel's Thunderbolt inputs. This can only happen if the hacker gains physical access to the computer and its Thunderbolt inputs.

The first attack was reported on 10 May 2020, where it was possible to hack into a computer unattended in less than five minutes via. Thunderbolt port.

According to Björn Ruytenberg, who discovered the problem, it takes five minutes with the computer, a screwdriver and an external device, then it was possible to log into a locked computer via the Thunderbolt input.

It is not possible to find traces of Thunderspy on the computer and the problem does not arise either from phishing emails, viruses or other types of typical hacking attacks.

That's why you shouldn't leave your computer somewhere unattended, regardless of whether the computer has Thunderbolt or not.

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O

Along with the build of Thunderbolt 4.0, Intel launched their new protection program, VT-d (Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O).

It was supposed to combat the Thunderspy problem that was the problem with the previous Thunderbolt versions. Therefore, only Thunderbolt 4.0 has VT-d.

The way it works is that VT-d goes in and creates virtual layers of storage devices on your computer.

So when the computer is attacked by something that tries to "steal" from the storage, it doesn't actually know which storage to "steal" from, since there are now many layers.

Imagine a thief who has been given instructions to break into a home to steal a TV. When the thief breaks into the house, the thief sees a lot of rooms with a TV in each room.

Since the thief has only been told that the thief was going to steal a TV, the thief does not know exactly which TV it will be and therefore becomes doubtful and before long, the owner comes home (back to the computer).

Therefore, it may be worth the money to pay a little extra for a Thunderbolt 4.0 cable rather than a Thunderbolt 3.0, to get extra security in addition to the specifications.