Can someone explain the intricacies of Thunderbolt 3 for a thicko like me :-)

Orafus · 22 Nov 2019 at 16:29

Ok...

So I'm eyeing up a Samsung monitor (C34J791/C34F791). Essentially the same beast barring one has Thunderbolt 3 and the other doesn't.
I'm about to buy an AMD build so my mobo will not natively support thunderbolt (it's the Aorus X570 wifi pro just so you know).

So is there any real value in me getting the Thunderbolt model as the other one is being massively discounted (including OC where it's out of stock)?
Given that Thunderbolt is proprietary tech (To Intel - is that right?) is it something I will regret down the line or is it something I could take or leave given both my mobo and monitor will have USB-C anyway?

This may seem like a super-obvious question to those in the know but I'd like to have it clarified if I could.
Also feel free to correct any misunderstandings I've stated as part of this post (I wont be offended).

thanks in advance

Chris.

Vince · 22 Nov 2019 at 16:34

Orafus said:
Ok...

So I'm eyeing up a Samsung monitor (C34J791/C34F791). Essentially the same beast barring one has Thunderbolt 3 and the other doesn't.
I'm about to buy an AMD build so my mobo will not natively support thunderbolt (it's the Aorus X570 wifi pro just so you know).

So is there any real value in me getting the Thunderbolt model as the other one is being massively discounted (including OC where it's out of stock)?
Given that Thunderbolt is proprietary tech (To Intel - is that right?) is it something I will regret down the line or is it something I could take or leave given both my mobo and monitor will have USB-C anyway?

This may seem like a super-obvious question to those in the know but I'd like to have it clarified if I could.
Also feel free to correct any misunderstandings I've stated as part of this post (I wont be offended).

thanks in advance

Chris.

All asRock x570 boards have thunderbolt (I think, the Taichi and ITX do for sure) so even thought it is essentially Intel tech you can still find it on AMD boards. As for the monitor I literally have no clue

From the Taichi Spec sheet:

Orafus · 22 Nov 2019 at 16:42

Interesting.
That then also begs the question - is it worth swapping out my mobo choice in order to have access to Thunderbolt (not that I'm going to - the question is currently hypothetical!

). How important a technology is it (or likely to become in the future?).

Phemo · 22 Nov 2019 at 17:11

That says it’s got a Thunderbolt AIC (add in card) connector so you’d need a separate PCI-E card to get Thunderbolt on that board.

What’s the price differential with these two monitors? It’s probably not worth the hassle anyway but it definitely isn’t if it’s a reasonable amount of money. Thunderbolt is great tech but I personally don’t think it’s quite so big a deal on a desktop PC.

Vince · 22 Nov 2019 at 17:16

Phemo said:
That says it’s got a Thunderbolt AIC (add in card) connector so you’d need a separate PCI-E card to get Thunderbolt on that board.

What’s the price differential with these two monitors? It’s probably not worth the hassle anyway but it definitely isn’t if it’s a reasonable amount of money. Thunderbolt is great tech but I personally don’t think it’s quite so big a deal on a desktop PC.

I did note that but am 99% that some of the asrock boards have it onboard also.

Found it x570 phantom gaming has thunderbolt onboard according to asrock spec.

Quartz · 22 Nov 2019 at 17:30

Orafus said:
So is there any real value in me getting the Thunderbolt model

Do you have an Apple?

Bluecube · 22 Nov 2019 at 17:31

What’s your reason for wanting Thunderbolt?

Orafus · 22 Nov 2019 at 19:05

Hi all
Thanks for the input so far

Not really wanting it or not - I'm just ascertaining whether the price differential will be worthwhile in the long run. OCUK are currently running the CF34 at £494 (which is probably why it is out of stock

).
I'd be willing to pay the premium 'if' the tech is important and integral enough in the future that not having it would seem like a false economy down the line.
That's pretty-much why I posted this in the first place

.
The monitor itself is pretty-much identical in its Thunderbolt/Non-thunderbolt iteration so its inclusion would be the only factor in deciding which one to get.

Bluecube · 22 Nov 2019 at 21:03

As Quartz said, unless you have a Mac, there’s little need for a Thunderbolt compatible monitor. No mainstream graphics card supports it as far as I know and, from what’s been said above, only certain motherboards will utilise it via onboard graphics.