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Intel reveals plans to integrate Thunderbolt 3 into future CPUs

by Mark Tyson on 24 May 2017, 18:01

Tags: Intel (NASDAQ:INTC)

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Intel envisions a future where the everyday PC experience will be enhanced by state-of-the-art single cable docks, faster-than-ever storage, epic gaming, and lifelike Virtual Reality. It foresees Thunderbolt via USB Type-C to be a key enabler of these goals.

In a blog post today Chris Walker, the vice president of the Client Computing Group and general manager of the Mobility Client Platform​ at Intel Corporation, claimed Intel's Thunderbolt 3 solution is the natural successor to the ubiquitous USB port.

The new Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C connector can do it all, says Walker, "today, and for many years to come." Intel hopes Apple, which has gone all-in with the port for its modern computers, is an example of history repeating itself - as the success of the original gel-coloured iMacs drove production and wide adoption of USB peripherals. At the current time Intel is claiming success as shown by more than 120 PC and peripheral designs with Thunderbolt 3, expected to ramp to 150+ by year end.

Two key strategic decisions have been made by Intel to help its visions of widespread Thunderbolt 3 adoption become reality. First of all Intel today announced that it will drive large-scale mainstream adoption of Thunderbolt by integrating Thunderbolt 3 into future Intel CPUs. Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, Intel will release the Thunderbolt protocol specification, royalty-free, to the industry next year.

The compact and functionally flexible Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C port has already enabled slimmer and sleeker designs from portable PC and mobile device makers. Intel reminds us of the wide variety of purposes which such a port can be utilised for. Docking devices and external storage are obvious uses, as it just takes over from where ye olde USB currently is ubiquitous. However external GPUs, single cable VR headset connections, and its greater power delivery possibilities put its ancestors in the shade.



HEXUS Forums :: 11 Comments

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I'm sure it's nice but I'll wait for “USB 3.1b Type C-II Gen 3 with Superspeed++ 80Gb” :(
It won't become widely accepted until it is ubiquitous on even low end mobos and oem-boards for the likes of Acer/Dell/Lenovo/HP. Right now the only way for most of us to get on the Thunderbolt bandwagon is to buy a stupid-tier motherboard at 2x the price of a “normal” consumer board, which is no way to gain traction.
Correct me if i am wrongb but isn't thunderbolt Intel proprietary? If they want full mainstream adoption they should share the standard as royalty free or nda share it with AMD. Because if they integrate as well then thats nearly 100% of cpu manufacturers employing it. And if they share with armb then all low power mobile devices will utilise it too?
Tabbykatze
Correct me if i am wrongb but isn't thunderbolt Intel proprietary? If they want full mainstream adoption they should share the standard as royalty free or nda share it with AMD. Because if they integrate as well then thats nearly 100% of cpu manufacturers employing it. And if they share with armb then all low power mobile devices will utilise it too?

If you read the article, you will see that the whole basis is that INTEL are making it royalty free! In fact that is in the thread headline post!!
Tabbykatze
Correct me if i am wrongb but isn't thunderbolt Intel proprietary? If they want full mainstream adoption they should share the standard as royalty free or nda share it with AMD. Because if they integrate as well then thats nearly 100% of cpu manufacturers employing it. And if they share with armb then all low power mobile devices will utilise it too?


Sir, you have messed up! ;)