12 ms·

Apple's strong presence in content creation didn't help Firewire. It's tough to see if their newer, stronger position might help, but I think we'll see history

Apple's strong presence in content creation didn't help Firewire. It's tough to see if their newer, stronger position might help, but I think we'll see history repeat itself and find that USB3.x will eventually support high-performance graphics. Alternatively you'll just see PC makers shipping 4k+-capable HDMI ports.

chronid 12y ago
I doubt it's even possible for USB3 to support high-end graphics. The bandwith for intensive applications is just not there, and not having direct access to memory (like with PCI-E) could be another obstacle. Everything is possible, sure, but... I don't see thunderbolt-like technologies to be an USB replacement, though. More like a definitive standardization of docks for laptops with interesting side effects.
- Dylan16807 12y ago
  I'm not sure if you're talking about connecting a monitor or connecting a graphics card. Graphics card is easy, USB is only a small multiple slower than thunderbolt, and as long as you have room for the textures 4Gbit/s is fine. Uncompressed 4k is trickier. It looks like thunderbolt 2 has barely enough bandwidth, and USB 3.1 has barely not enough. No reason to expect they won't have a 3.x that supports it.
  - 0x0 12y ago
    Is it still the case that USB causes heavy CPU usage? Even if there was enough bandwidth for 4k video, it'd be a drag if it meant pegging a CPU or two to 100%...
modfodder 12y ago
I always see comments like this and wonder what they expected from firewire. I've never had trouble finding firewire hard drives and peripherals. Best Buy and CompUSA always carried them (staples and office depot never really carried them, but firewire is/was only useful for needing large/fast throughput like that needed for video editing). Firewire was never as ubiquitous as USB and I don't believe Apple ever intended it to be, but it was far from being a failure.

chronid 12y ago

I doubt it's even possible for USB3 to support high-end graphics. The bandwith for intensive applications is just not there, and not having direct access to memory (like with PCI-E) could be another obstacle. Everything is possible, sure, but... I don't see thunderbolt-like technologies to be an USB replacement, though. More like a definitive standardization of docks for laptops with interesting side effects.

Dylan16807 12y ago
I'm not sure if you're talking about connecting a monitor or connecting a graphics card. Graphics card is easy, USB is only a small multiple slower than thunderbolt, and as long as you have room for the textures 4Gbit/s is fine. Uncompressed 4k is trickier. It looks like thunderbolt 2 has barely enough bandwidth, and USB 3.1 has barely not enough. No reason to expect they won't have a 3.x that supports it.
- 0x0 12y ago
  Is it still the case that USB causes heavy CPU usage? Even if there was enough bandwidth for 4k video, it'd be a drag if it meant pegging a CPU or two to 100%...

modfodder 12y ago

I always see comments like this and wonder what they expected from firewire. I've never had trouble finding firewire hard drives and peripherals. Best Buy and CompUSA always carried them (staples and office depot never really carried them, but firewire is/was only useful for needing large/fast throughput like that needed for video editing). Firewire was never as ubiquitous as USB and I don't believe Apple ever intended it to be, but it was far from being a failure.