Are any new Windows laptops compatible with Thunderbolt 2 devices?

[JustinR]

So Intel retroactively changed the Thunderbolt 4 spec to eliminate Thunderbolt 2 compatibility. Supposedly his was for security reasons. The functionality does work in terms of hardware. Intel Thunderbolt 4 controller chips with firmware up to version 31 work just fine. The problem is that Thunderbolt firmware upgrades are rolled into BIOS updates. Asus released a downgrader for some of their motherboards and TB expansion cards, but no other manufacturers have done anything to help, and I can't seem to find any info about laptops that might work. Supposedly non-HX model Intel CPUs since 10th Gen have the Thunderbolt controller built in and may not work with TB2 at all.

 

So, is there any new Windows laptop out there that can actually use TB2 devices? This situation is so messed up it makes the USB naming conventions seem sensible.

[jaslion]

As long as you have tb3 its fine as well as some usb4 devices seem to work on security level 0 (aka tb2) devices.

 

As for any new laptops ive only seen some reddit posts say their usb4 amd laptop works with a tb2 dock but thats about it. Its a very unpopular thing.

 

There is always that alpine ridge card workaround that lets tb4 work on any tb spec. But it needs a pcie thunderbolt dock.

 

Else well you are entirely sol for actual tb4 stuff and the only option is replacing the tb2 things.

[JustinR]

Unfortunately my TB2 stuff is unique video hardware that has functionality that the modern replacements don't have. Ive heard that maybe Asmedia USB4 controllers will work, and the Intels will still work with the older firmware. It's just really hard to figure out which laptops that would be.