Thunderbolt arrives on Windows
Thunderbolt is a new technology that is supported yet only a handful of devices, Apple was the first computer maker to integrate it (turbo)-connection in its models. Starting with 2012, Thunderbolt is aviable and on PC's. Large manufacturers such as Asus and Acer, had incorporate technology in ultrabooks.
Intel first introduced the technology in 2009, under the original name of Light Peak. The idea was that it acts as a universal interface, linking computers monitors, peripherals or other devices for entertainment. As its name suggests, it was planned to be based on an optical system for transmitting information, but reasons of expense, it was introduced in early 2011 as the current Thunderbolt, which uses electrical transmission. First-generation Thunderbolt uses copper wires. One of the advantages we have is that the Thunderbolt optic version is removed from the calculations, the contrary is an Intel Expected in specificafiile no explicit protocol for transmission type layer electrically and / or optically. The technology works irrespective of who provides the connection layer. Thus, Intel announced for next year generated a second Thunderbolt, which will have an optical data transmission system (that will use optical cables). All controllers that are integrated into devices that are already on the market should be able to be adapted to the new cable with minimum effort. The advantage of the new generation will be that, instead of cable 3 meter cable can be used 10 meters.
Data flows divided flexibly
Another advantage of Thunderbolt technology, which uses parallel data channels operating in both directions (see chart below). These two duplex channels that are able to provide total by 10 Gb / s for each of the directions of transmission. A single cable can connect up to six devices, but they will have to divide between them all this bandwidth. The first benchmarks indicate that the maximum achieved in practice is not yet reached. For example, a RAID storage device from Promise was able to achieve 825 MB / s At first glance, it seems disappointing, considering that Thunderbolt's limit is 1250 MB / s (= 1.25 GB / s = 10 Gb / s). But here are some other limiting factors such as RAID controller.
Thunderbolt has great potential. In 2015, Intel wants to get with it at 50 Gb / s per channel for 2019 to reach 100 Gb / s.
Glancing Thunderbolt protocol, we see that it serves two existing standards - PCI Express and DisplayPort (instead of the latter may be others, but we DisplayPort implementation used by Apple). Thunderbolt takes these two protocols and encapsulates them in his own Metaprotocol. For peripheral and host computer, they are visible as before, continuing to use them as before. Stack of Thunderbolt takes care of traffic and delivering data to the appropriate destination. Besides the "routing" of traffic, Thunderbolt supports other features such as hot-plugging. Thunderbolt's heart is the transport layer protocol: for example here to ensure synchronization devices. Another element that will benefit Thunderbolt technology is powered directly through the Thunderbolt cable, so peripherals (even the low consumption) need not to have mains power. Intel introduced the Thunderbolt specifications possibility that the cables of this type are suportafi up to 10W.
Conveniently, with new chips
Excellent impression about the Thunderbolt is slightly overshadowed by the connection system. Although in terms of mechanical and electrical connector supports one miniDP the cable ends contains two transceivers that significantly increase production costs. Apple sells a Thunderbolt cable 2 meters with about 50 euros. Also, first-generation Thunderbolt controllers are expensive. But Intel is working on this issue and, in addition to high-end controllers next generation (which is known as Cactus Ridge), the company announced at IDF and low end controllers, cheap, such as L2210. This would introduce computer technology into the space available.
0 comments:
Post a Comment