Computex: Powercolor Shows External Thunderbolt 3 GPU Gaming Box
Okay, so like if you have a flashback to last year, possible. It is a new model though. PowerColor will display a new external graphics card solution on Computex. The new Devil Box based on AMD XConnect Technology will be named, Gaming Box.
The Gaming Box is just that, a box that'll hold a graphics card (external solution), not just a Radeon graphis card, but it actually shoud/would be able to house a GeForce graphics card as it simple functions as extended PCI-Express x16 port. PowerColor obviously will brand the product with their own Red Devil or Red Dragon RX 570/580 series video cards. The units connects towards Thunderbolt 3, likely over USB Type-C. Thunderbolt 3 is capable of 40Gbps, but does require the same connector on your PC / laptop. The Gaming Box will have its own power supply though, we expect a 450~500 Watt unit.
It is not yet known what the Gaming Box will cost. The 2015 model Devil Box did costs around the €419,- marker.
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Member
Posts: 67
Joined: 2015-11-19
If they added USB 3.1 gen 2, it would be popular product.
Correct me if wrong but i believe that Thunderbolt 3 includes USB 3.1 gen 2 as part of its super set?
Senior Member
Posts: 11380
Joined: 2012-07-20
Thunderbolt 3 is Thunderbolt, not USB, not PCIe, not DisplayPort.
Thunderbolt 3 is capable to deliver 20Gbps on passive cable, and 40Gbps on active cable.
If Thunderbolt device on other side of cable supports given feature (usually docking stations) then you get to use mentioned DisplayPort, USB.
Regular USB-C port pinout has 2x USB 3.0 channels in reversible order + 2x USB 2.0 in reversible order.
But from Pinout vs Bandwidth... When USB-C connector is used for Thunderbolt 3, there are not pins dedicated to USB communication. USB/PCIe/DP communication eats form those 20/40Gbps interface has. And has to be supported by chip at end of cable.
(Apparently Thunderbolt 3 chips in case of docking station having DP + USB + PCIe. Or dedicated DP or USB interface on regular device.)
And that sadly means This Thunderbolt 3 device will not work with current computer with regular USB 3.1 gen 2 (USB-C) port.
But Thunderbolt 3 equipped PC can use this port to connect mentioned DP/PCIe/USB as signaling/negotiation=>protocol selection works.
In other words Thunderbolt 3 Chip in your PC is supposed to be backward compatible. Thunderbolt 3 Chip in your device is not.
Junior Member
Posts: 19
Joined: 2017-03-02
uhh thunderbolt
the lack of intel gfx laptops makes this product useless.
www ultrabookreview com / 10579-laptops-thunderbolt-3
with usb 3 (10gbps) could it use a pci 3.0 x8... would be perfect.
Member
Posts: 67
Joined: 2015-11-19
Thunderbolt 3 is Thunderbolt, not USB, not PCIe, not DisplayPort.
Thunderbolt 3 is capable to deliver 20Gbps on passive cable, and 40Gbps on active cable.
If Thunderbolt device on other side of cable supports given feature (usually docking stations) then you get to use mentioned DisplayPort, USB.
Regular USB-C port pinout has 2x USB 3.0 channels in reversible order + 2x USB 2.0 in reversible order.
But from Pinout vs Bandwidth... When USB-C connector is used for Thunderbolt 3, there are not pins dedicated to USB communication. USB/PCIe/DP communication eats form those 20/40Gbps interface has. And has to be supported by chip at end of cable.
(Apparently Thunderbolt 3 chips in case of docking station having DP + USB + PCIe. Or dedicated DP or USB interface on regular device.)
And that sadly means This Thunderbolt 3 device will not work with current computer with regular USB 3.1 gen 2 (USB-C) port.
But Thunderbolt 3 equipped PC can use this port to connect mentioned DP/PCIe/USB as signaling/negotiation=>protocol selection works.
In other words Thunderbolt 3 Chip in your PC is supposed to be backward compatible. Thunderbolt 3 Chip in your device is not.
I see, thanks for the clarification. Still trying to get my head around all the specifications regarding Thunderbolt vs USB
Senior Member
Posts: 11380
Joined: 2012-07-20
If they added USB 3.1 gen 2, it would be popular product.
Yes, bandwidth of Thunderbolt is now 4 times higher. But it would still be great upgrade for many.
(And people are using external GPU boxes through PCIe 2.0 x1 interface in their notebooks which has half the bandwidth of USB 3.1 gen 2.)