USB-C vs. USB 3.1: What’s the difference? (opens in new tab)

(extremetech.com)

17 pointsX-combinator11y ago10 comments

10 comments

> USB 3.1 will continue to lag Intel’s high-speed standard (Thunderbolt), but as bandwidth rises this gap becomes increasingly academic.

This may be true of bandwidth, but to the best of my knowledge Thunderbolt is vastly superior in terms of latency. I've heard Thunderbolt likened to pluggable PCI-Express, which is to say that it's both low latency and high bandwidth. USB may be closing the bandwidth gap, but without reworking the way USB is integrated into most motherboards it's going to continue to have latency that isn't well suited to certain tasks.

This isn't an issue if devices continue to ship with Thunderbolt in addition to USB-c, but the new MacBook comes with a single USB-c connector and nothing else.

MengerSponge11y ago

The new MacBook isn't designed to be used by anyone who needs super low latency attached device access. It looks like a lovely Facebook/blogging machine to me.

I'd watch Apple's Pro lines--if they take thunderbolt away, then we can break out the pitchforks.

harshreality11y ago

I do not want pluggable PCI-express. I do not want someone to be able to hack my password-protected computer in 5 seconds and without so much as a screwdriver.

Someone123411y ago

This is going to put companies like Dell in an awkward position. For the longest time people have been asking them to produce several universal PSUs, but instead at least in the consumer space they keep producing a new incompatible brick every year or so, now sometimes shipping with chips in them to assure nobody can make generic/compatible ones.

So if USB-C laptop charging becomes popular, what will Dell do? Conform and lose the golden egg which is PSU sales, or keep doing what they're doing and let their competition gain ground?

PS - Yes, Dell already somewhat produces a "universal" PSU for their business grade laptops. As does Lenovo with their Thinkpad line(s). However in the consumer space few if anybody does.

agumonkey11y ago

Great point. I'd like to see a system to tame artificial segmentation like this. Whether it's PSU sockets, display interface etc

If people wanna make concrete profits, then they'll have to bring real value.

Brakenshire11y ago

I imagine an EU regulation will force it to happen in laptops within a few years, as it has with smartphones.

eloisant11y ago

This is bound to happen, just like it happen for mobile phones (except iPhone).

AlyssaRowan11y ago

Indeed, I wouldn't be shocked if the existing micro-USB standard for charging mobile devices in the EU is replaced/supplanted with USB 3.1 Type-C. It'd make a lot of sense, all round.

sjwright11y ago

What are you talking about? The iPhone uses standard USB chargers, and the only non-standard part (a USB-to-lightning cable) can be purchased from third party manufacturers for less than $10.

Yes you can find micro-USB cables for less than $2, but I don't mind because the utility of the connector outweighs the small price premium. What do Dell chargers do to deserve a premium price?

X-combinatorOP11y ago

Yahoo: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/the-upcoming-usb-c-cable-is-about...

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse