The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Thunderbolt port, what good is it?

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by Mike Littlewood, Sep 2, 2018.

  1. Mike Littlewood

    Mike Littlewood Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Hi all

    I could be missing the whole idea here but I bought a USB C hub to run multiple UBS 3 + 2 devices off of.

    But the thunderbolt port on the back just makes a sound that I plugged the port in but then nothing else

    It supplies power to my S8 but I cant access it.

    If I plug the hub in to the C port on the left all fine, So I must be not understanding this thunderbolt thing

    Help anyone

    Mike
     
    Mike Littlewood, Sep 2, 2018
    #1
  2. GrandesBollas

    GrandesBollas Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    370
    Messages:
    417
    Likes Received:
    563
    Trophy Points:
    106
    More info here:

    https://www.dell.com/support/articl...out-the-thunderbolt-port-on-a-dell-pc?lang=en

    From wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbolt_(interface)

    "Thunderbolt is the brand name of a hardware interface standard developed by Intel (in collaboration with Apple) that allows the connection of external peripherals to a computer. Thunderbolt 1 and 2 use the same connector as Mini DisplayPort (MDP), whereas Thunderbolt 3 uses USB-C. It was initially developed and marketed under the name Light Peak, and first sold as part of a consumer product on 24 February 2011. [1]

    Thunderbolt combines PCI Express (PCIe) and DisplayPort (DP) into two serial signals, [5] and additionally provides DC power, all in one cable. Up to six peripherals may be supported by one connector through various topologies."

    The problem is that OEM's are not implementing that standard consistently.

    Another link: http://blog.fosketts.net/2016/10/29/total-nightmare-usb-c-thunderbolt-3/
     
    GrandesBollas, Sep 2, 2018
    #2
    Vasudev likes this.
  3. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    12,050
    Messages:
    11,278
    Likes Received:
    8,815
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Most of them on AW models are Bus powered acc. to Thunderbolt website unlike Clevo models which are self powered. So TB3 port works on AkiTO Thunder or Razer Core and Thunderbolt 3 to USB C on mobile phone might not work at all, so USB Hub only works flawlessly. I learned it the hard way. Its good thing I researched it before investing on those cables. So to update TB3 firmware you need to buy AkiTO Thunder or similar. That's plain non-sense when I have AGA port. USB PD might work I haven't tested it since I intend to use Quick Charge 3.0 and anything higher might destroy the mobile device. Its a lost cause. You can check Intel NUC docs for more info. http://compatibleproducts.intel.com...arch=True&searchTerm=Intel® NUC Kit NUC6i7KYK
    I posted skylake version, you can check Kaby/Coffee lake NUCs for more info.
     
    Vasudev, Sep 3, 2018
    #3