A Guide to Computer Ports and Adapters.
Also Known As: Thunderbolt
Description: The fastest common connection on the market today, Thunderbolt 3 can transfer data at up to 40 Gbps, four times faster than the fastest USB connection (USB 3.1 gen 2). This high-speed standard can also output to up to two 4K monitors at once, because a single port carries dual DisplayPort signals. On several new devices you can use Thunderbolt 3 to connect to an external graphics card, which allows you to play high-end games on an otherwise slim laptop.
All Thunderbolt 3 ports use USB Type-C connections and double as USB Type-C ports, allowing them to connect to an entire universe of USB peripherals and, in most cases, to charge a laptop or tablet.
Before Thunderbolt 3, which started appearing in laptops at the end of 2015, there was a Thunderbolt 2 and original Thunderbolt standard, but very few systems used them. With an adapter cable, you can connect your Thunderbolt 3 computer to older Thunderbolt devices.
Adapters Needed: You can get a Thunderbolt 3 cable for under $25, but be sure to read the specs before you buy; not all Thunderbolt cables can handle the full 40 Gbps, with some topping out at 20 Gbps. Thunderbolt 3 docking stations, which let you plug into a variety of monitors and peripherals, go for around $200. You can also use any USB Type-C cable, dock or device with a Thunderbolt 3 port. A Thunderbolt 3-to-Thunderbolt adapter for attaching to legacy Thunderbolt devices is pricey, going for over $100.
MORE: Thunderbolt 3 Explained: Why You Need the World's Fastest Port
Source: www.bing.com
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