TB5/USB4 Devices - Plug directly?

[blufrog]

Hi,

This is going to seem a really dumb question, but can you just plug a USB C device straight into a TB5 port and it works? No adapter is required to convert TB5 to USB first???

 

[Bigwaff]

No adapter is required to convert TB5 to USB first???

Correct. Keep in mind USB-C is a physical connection type. TB5/4/3, USB4, USB 3.2 Gen variants are data protocols. You need to pick the type of USB-C cable approp for ext device. Not all USB-C cables support all data protocols.

 

[blufrog]

Correct. Keep in mind USB-C is a physical connection type. TB5/4/3, USB4, USB 3.2 Gen variants are data protocols. You need to pick the type of USB-C cable approp for ext device. Not all USB-C cables support all data protocols.

Great to know! Thank you!

I did suspect the bus detected the protocol and adapted accordingly, but it wasn't entirely clear if it was "USB over TB5", which is obviously not the same thing.

 

[dwig]

Correct. Keep in mind USB-C is a physical connection type. TB5/4/3, USB4, USB 3.2 Gen variants are data protocols. You need to pick the type of USB-C cable approp for ext device. Not all USB-C cables support all data protocols.

Correct - also, some USB-C cables, in particular the commonly marketed "charging cables", only support USB 2.

 

[Fishrrman]

Waff wrote:
"Keep in mind USB-C is a physical connection type. TB5/4/3, USB4, USB 3.2 Gen variants are data protocols. You need to pick the type of USB-C cable approp for ext device. Not all USB-C cables support all data protocols."

It can be a pain -- looking at a bunch of USBc cables -- trying to figure out "which is which".
What's needed:
A USBc "cable identifier" -- a small box with a couple of ports and a display.
Plug in a USBc cable, and the identifier will tell you WHAT KIND of protocols it supports...

(yes, I'm dreamin' ...)

 

[dwig]

What's needed:
A USBc "cable identifier" -- a small box with a couple of ports and a display.
Plug in a USBc cable, and the identifier will tell you WHAT KIND of protocols it supports...

(yes, I'm dreamin' ...)

yes... a dream...

I do prefer to purchase cables that are marked. When I have a choice, I'll buy the marked cable over a competing unmarked one. I also try to only purchase USB4 cables and not purchase those limited to USB3.x or 2.x, except "adapter" cables that have a USB-A. USB-microB, or etc at one end.