This is a common point of confusion with USB-C as while Thunderbolt 3 uses a USB-C shaped port, it requires additional hardware versus USB-C. Thunderbolt 3 is capable of the same 40Gbps data
The wiring is the same, so you don’t necessarily need a Thunderbolt-specific cable, but with standard cable the speed will drop off over longer distances. A decent-quality 0.5-metre cable will
The OWC Thunderbolt 4/USB-C cable is fully compatible with any modern USB standard and will connect any two USB-C devices without issues. with the same posted specs, not being "universal" or
The big news, however, is the fact that Thunderbolt 3 is designed to work in the same-shaped port as USB-C and is compatible with USB-C cables and devices.
Intel is behind thunderbolt (4), and it positions Thunderbolt similarly to how USB-IF positions USB-C. It’s a standard for ports and cables with a data protocol. It just so happens it can use
Simple summary: common "basic" USB-C cables are USB 2.0 only, and are only required to have 5 wires. Thunderbolt, USB 3.x, DisplayPort Alt Mode, and USB4 all require 15 wires to operate. These differences are inside the cable itself. If you cut apart a USB 2.0 USB-C cable and compare it to a USB4 USB-C cable, you'll find 10 extra wires in the
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is usb c cable the same as thunderbolt