nwipfli
Level 1
(0 points)
Q: Apple display and Thunderbolt compatibility
Hi,
Looking at the Intel spec for the Thunderbolt technology (http://www.intel.com/technology/io/thunderbolt/index.htm), it is my understanding that they use a chip as controller to merge the internal PCIe and DisplayPort signals to two bi-directional 10GB/s channels to the target device which can be a display or drive or both. Therefore, if the target device is a drive, it needs to be Thunderbolt compatible, which means that it needs to include this same Intel controller. Now, if the target device is an Apple display, do they already have this controller ?
Based on what I understand from the Intel spec, the display has to be Thunderbolt compatible:
---start---
And Thunderbolt enabled products are compatible with existing DisplayPort devices so you don’t have to go buy a new display to take advantage of a Thunderbolt technology enabled computer
---end---
So, are the existing Apple displays already Thunderbold compatible or do we have to wait or buy an adapter ?
I do not understand how Apple displays already sold x months back can work while connected to this Thunderbolt port on the laptop, if this port uses this special controller which also needs to be on the target device.
I have not found any information for Thunderbold on the Apple spec page for their display and I have not found any Thunderbolt adapter for native Apple displays.
Any idea ?
Thanks
Looking at the Intel spec for the Thunderbolt technology (http://www.intel.com/technology/io/thunderbolt/index.htm), it is my understanding that they use a chip as controller to merge the internal PCIe and DisplayPort signals to two bi-directional 10GB/s channels to the target device which can be a display or drive or both. Therefore, if the target device is a drive, it needs to be Thunderbolt compatible, which means that it needs to include this same Intel controller. Now, if the target device is an Apple display, do they already have this controller ?
Based on what I understand from the Intel spec, the display has to be Thunderbolt compatible:
---start---
And Thunderbolt enabled products are compatible with existing DisplayPort devices so you don’t have to go buy a new display to take advantage of a Thunderbolt technology enabled computer
---end---
So, are the existing Apple displays already Thunderbold compatible or do we have to wait or buy an adapter ?
I do not understand how Apple displays already sold x months back can work while connected to this Thunderbolt port on the laptop, if this port uses this special controller which also needs to be on the target device.
I have not found any information for Thunderbold on the Apple spec page for their display and I have not found any Thunderbolt adapter for native Apple displays.
Any idea ?
Thanks
iMac 20"
by NullUnit,Solvedanswer
NullUnit
Level 1
(114 points)
Mac OS X
Thunderbolt has a graphics pipe and a data pipe. The graphics pipe is usable for current displays. However, the displays can't be daisy chained because of #1) No ports and #2) there's no data pipe with the current monitors.
In short, half of thunderbolt was made to support the miniDisplay connection. That's why older monitors with MiniDisplay connections already work with Thunderbolt - it was designed that way.
In short, half of thunderbolt was made to support the miniDisplay connection. That's why older monitors with MiniDisplay connections already work with Thunderbolt - it was designed that way.
