Simplicity
From a manufacturer’s standpoint,
USB formats are easier to implement
and familiar to consumers, particularly
with the introduction of the USB-C
connector, which can be inserted either
way up—finally catching up to Apple’s
Lightning connectors. The traditional
USB connector, running up to 3.2, is a
recognizable staple of technology for
consumers everywhere. USB ports
have the potential for color-coding
for easier identification, given the
numerous variations on the format.
However, USB’s open design let
hardware producers create many
versions of USB port—DAC-focused
ports for speakers and headphones,
for example, provide superior sound
quality to a conventional USB port.
Thunderbolt’s closed design benefits
it here; there is no variation, so every
port delivers maximum performance.
The variety of connectors is more
refined with Thunderbolt; 1 and 2 used
a Mini DisplayPort connector, while 3
adopted USB-C. USB might be moving
toward USB-C as a standard, but still
has too many different connectors.
The Type A connector is common, but
there are still many devices that use
outdated Mini and Micro variations—
the Micro-B SuperSpeed connector
was supported all the way up to USB
3.0, and is horrible as connectors go.Winner: ThunderboltFuture
USB has existed for over 20 years. It’s
not going anywhere, but it’s also not
moving forward at any speed. USB 4
was recently announced, promising
Thunderbolt 3 speeds, and the USB
Implementers Forum (USB IF) is
committed to keeping the interface
updated; hence the numerous editions
of the third series—that’s right, USB
3.2 Gen 1x2 and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 are
subtly different. Extremely subtly.
USB lives up to the “universal” in its
name, having had far more time than
Thunderbolt to beat out competitors
and become the industry standard for
data and power connections.
Thunderbolt has existed for eight
years, but spent the better part of
this time serving as a display and
power interface for Apple products,
primarily MacBook and iMacs, where
Thunderbolt 1 could be used for
daisy-chaining monitors. The tech
went mainstream with Thunderbolt 3,
thanks to the adoption of the USB-C
model, but the requirements for
manufacturers to support Thunderbolt
formats may not bode well, particularly
with USB 4 being able to match its
speeds without demanding additional
control hardware. Thunderbolt 3 is an
Intel property, too, which means no
AMD chipsets or computers support it,
with no plans in sight for compatibility.
Winner: USBThis feels unfair, but the numbers
don’t lie: USB went three for two up
against Thunderbolt, and thus must
be declared the winner. Thunderbolt
might be the faster, sexier version, but
the fact remains that it owes its very
existence to USB. Will Thunderbolt—
perhaps the as-yet unannounced
Thunderbolt 4, presumably faster
th a n a n y thin g s e e n b ef o r e i t— b e co m e
the standard for buses in the future?
Possibly. But looking at the state of
things, it’s hard to picture that world.
USB might not be as fast, but the
USB IF knows this; with Thunderbolt
3’s protocol specs made public in
March, USB 4 was swiftly announced
to match it. With the sheer prevalence
of the Type A connector, USB may
have reached market penetration to
the point where nothing can unseat it.
The low cost of USB peripherals,
cables, and drives makes it the most
popular choice, and unless Intel can
drive down the costs associated with
Thunderbolt, it doesn’t seem likely
that it could overtake its competitor.
It’s had two decades to establish
itself as the gold standard for bus
interfaces, so USB isn’t going
anywhere anytime soon.And the
Winner Is...
ROUND 4 ROUND 5
maximumpc.com JUN 2019 MAXIMUMPC 21