Thunderbolt switch

[qwertywarrior]

i was just thinking the other day

anything 10gb/s ethernet hardware is super expensive

 

there are boards that already come with thunderbolt and not that expensive

gigabyte just released a 20gb/s thunderbolt mobo

 

a thunderbolt switch with like 6 ports sounds amazing for professionals

 

what do you guys think ?

[constanrine5d]

i was just thinking the other day

anything 10gb/s ethernet hardware is super expensive

 

there are boards that already come with thunderbolt and not that expensive

gigabyte just released a 20gb/s thunderbolt mobo

 

a thunderbolt switch with like 6 ports sounds amazing for professionals

 

what do you guys think ?

The new mac pro will have 6 thunderbolt 20gb/s

[Ssoele]

Unlike Ethernet, Thunderboard does not support longer cables and is not suited for networking on a hardware level due to the direct interface with the CPU.

[rufee]

Plus you can daisy chain TB so why would you need a switch.

[Blade of Grass]

But thunderbolt stuff is also very expensive, they don't support that long cables, and the cables are very expensive.

[eshbop]

The TB motherboards aren't that expansive because they really just reroute PCIe to an I/O interface. It's the other TB hardware that is relatively expensive.

 

Assuming TB had equal market share with USB, yeah, it would be more expensive but ATM it's costs more because it's hasn't taken off yet, it's still a pretty niche standard. It'll probably stay that way for a while, at least for data storage, USB is just too ingrained now. Interesting things might happen when there's a need for external PCIe devices or huge transfer speeds which (assuming USB doesn't keep up). USB vs TB isn't a thing, there are some overlapping functions but each is unique enough that one won't replace the other, it's down to whether the need for the capabilities of TB develops or not.

[Blade of Grass]

The TB motherboards aren't that expansive because they really just reroute PCIe to an I/O interface. It's the other TB hardware that is relatively expensive.

 

Assuming TB had equal market share with USB, yeah, it would be more expensive but ATM it's costs more because it's hasn't taken off yet, it's still a pretty niche standard. It'll probably stay that way for a while, at least for data storage, USB is just too ingrained now. Interesting things might happen when there's a need for external PCIe devices or huge transfer speeds which (assuming USB doesn't keep up). USB vs TB isn't a thing, there are some overlapping functions but each is unique enough that one won't replace the other, it's down to whether the need for the capabilities of TB develops or not.

The one thing I hate about TB is that the cables are so expensive. It's like $40 for a 2m cable.

 

That's why it's never going to take off in networking. I can buy 1000ft of Cat6 for the same price as 6m of Thunderbolt cables.

[eshbop]

The one thing I hate about TB is that the cables are so expensive. It's like $40 for a 2m cable.

 

That's why it's never going to take off in networking. I can buy 1000ft of Cat6 for the same price as 6m of Thunderbolt cables.

Supply and demand really. Cat6 is made by the mile, TB cables, not so (though, TB cables would still cost more assuming equal production). Back when FullHD was new the cheapest HDMI cables were about $40, now they're dirt cheap. Plus, company's make a habit of overpricing for new tech (see 4K).

 

I agree though, I don't see it taking over networking and it's not designed to.

[Blade of Grass]

Supply and demand really. Cat6 is made by the mile, TB cables, not so (though, TB cables would still cost more assuming equal production). Back when FullHD was new the cheapest HDMI cables were about $40, now they're dirt cheap. Plus, company's make a habit of overpricing for new tech (see 4K).

 

I agree though, I don't see it taking over networking and it's not designed to.

The OP is saying "Why doesn't TB take over?", my post wasn't fully directed at you, but also to the OP. 

Also, TB cables are expensive because they have processors in them.

[eshbop]

The OP is saying "Why doesn't TB take over?", my post wasn't fully directed at you, but also to the OP. 

Also, TB cables are expensive because they have processors in them.

Yeah true, the circuitry in them ads cost, but being niche doesn't help. Yeah, mine wasn't fully directed at you either.