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Intel to Support Both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt in 2012 'Ivy Bridge' Platform


CNET reports that Intel has publicly committed to supporting both USB 3.0 and the company's new Thunderbolt connectivity standard developed in cooperation with Apple on its forthcoming "Ivy Bridge" platform due for introduction next year.

"Intel is going to support USB 3.0 in the 2012 client platform. We're going to support Thunderbolt capability. We believe they're complementary," said Kirk Skaugen, a vice president at the Intel Architecture Group, speaking at Intel's developer conference in Beijing today. The event was streamed over the Web.

The "2012 client platform" that Skaugen referred to is known more commonly by the code name "Ivy Bridge," which is the family of chips that will follow the "Sandy Bridge" processors shipping in PCs today.

USB 3.0 offers ten times the speed of current USB technology, but has not yet been embraced in Intel's current platforms, leaving USB 3.0 compatibility a fairly rare feature for most Intel-based computers given the need to rely on a separate part from NEC rather than having it built directly into Intel's silicon.

Intel is still encouraging peripherals developers to embrace Thunderbolt, which can support data and video on a single cable and made its debut in Apple's new MacBook Pros introduced earlier this year. Notably, Apple was recently granted a patent for a new iOS device dock connector that could support both Thunderbolt/DisplayPort and USB 3.0 connectivity, as well as the existing USB 2.0 standard.

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11 months ago
This is great news! One of the reasons I didn't buy a Sandy Bridge MBP is that I want USB3.

Edit: oops, I shouldn't post in the early hours of the morning
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11 months ago
I think my next computer will be an Ivy Bridge MBA with Thunderbolt. My 2007 Macbook is getting a bit long in tooth.
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11 months ago
Now that it's part of the platform Apple has no excuse for not including it. However, it wouldn't surprise me to see a MBP with this platform that still only has 2.0 connectors.
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11 months ago

This is great news! One of the ReadyNAS I didn't buy a Sandy Bridge MBP is that I want USB3.


Did "reasons" get autocorrected to "ReadyNAS"? lol
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11 months ago
Thank goodness Intel will be supporting USB3 for our peripherals.

I'm sure I'm not the only one here who is barely tolerating the mouse and keyboard lag from the slower USB2 port.
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11 months ago

Now that it's part of the platform Apple has no excuse for not including it. However, it wouldn't surprise me to see a MBP with this platform that still only has 2.0 connectors.


Well, it would surprise me. USB3.0 and Thunderbolt will come included in Intel''s Ivy Bridge. Apple would have to add more hardware and disable USB 3.0 to make it 2.0 only. Makes zero cents.
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11 months ago

I think my next computer will be an Ivy Bridge MBA with Thunderbolt. My 2007 Macbook is getting a bit long in tooth.


Same thoughts here. My early '08 MBP is starting to really show its' age (especially its' 8600M GT).

Thank goodness Intel will be supporting USB3 for our peripherals.

I'm sure I'm not the only one here who is barely tolerating the mouse and keyboard lag from the slower USB2 port.


You know that hard drives and other devices see a nice speed gain wi-- never mind, I know you must be joking and know the real benefits of USB 3.

Now that it's part of the platform Apple has no excuse for not including it. However, it wouldn't surprise me to see a MBP with this platform that still only has 2.0 connectors.


Heh, that is totally something Apple would manage to do.

"But sir, we can't remove it, it's built into the chipset itself..."
"I don't care, damn it. Re-solder an older chipset on to it then."
"But..." *head asplodes*
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11 months ago
I'll have to seriously considering delaying getting a new iMac until 2012 now. I don't want to be caught having to buy more expensive Thunderbolt external drives. Thunderbolt is great only if the drives are no more expensive than USB 3.0 drives.
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11 months ago
Does this mean I should hold off on getting a 27"iMac this year and wait for the 2012 Refresh instead of the 2011 Refresh? I assume the Sandy Bridge is going in the 2011 Refresh
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11 months ago
Any thunderbolt -> USB3 adapters out there? be useful for people who have 2011 macbooks...

( I know there's USB3 -> Thunderbolt connectors.. )
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