For external storage, Thunderbolt 4 supports 32Gbps of data transfer-this really only matters for video, external GPU connections, or possibly games. Thunderbolt 4 doesn’t allow for any leeway-you’re getting a full-fledged 40Gbps connection (32Gbps PCIe + USB 3.2), no questions asked. Thunderbolt 3 is also the only specification (not Thunderbolt 4) that we’ve seen connecting to external GPUs, in case you’d like to try that approach. Thunderbolt 3 also supports a slower (16Gbps) PCIe connection for connecting to external storage. Most manufacturers go beyond this, however, and our recommended docks support the full specification (and two 4K displays) unless noted. “Up to” is the key phrase: Thunderbolt 3 is only required to support a 10Gbps connection, allowing for a single external 4K display (a 16Gbps PCIe connection, paired with USB 3.2). Think of Thunderbolt 4 as the more restrictive version of Thunderbolt 3, with little room for any gotchas.Įssentially, Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 allow up to 40Gbps maximum bandwidth, enough for two 4K/60 displays.

The longer answer, which we’ll describe below, is that there are differences, and parsing the nuances can be confusing. If the monitor has integral DisplayPort cable or you want to more easily swap a DisplayPort cable among devices, you can opt instead forĪ Benfei adapter ($9.59), which plugs into a Mini DisplayPort jack and offers a female DisplayPort connection.The short answer: Not that much, and we consider Thunderbolt 3 docks and Thunderbolt 4 docks to be functionally equivalent for most users. You can purchase something like theĪmazonBasics cable ($10.99 for the six-foot version) to plug into a monitor jack.

Mini DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort adapter and cables remain readily available. However, if you plug a cable directly into an Apple Thunderbolt 2 port, it can be used to drive Mini DisplayPort-equipped monitors, asĪpple notes on its lengthy ports page, a useful read for anyone trying to figure out compatibility across generations of Macs. (A rectangle with a vertical bar on each side indicates Mini DisplayPort, while a Lightning bolt signifies Thunderbolt 2.) That’s a problem when you try to connect a Thunderbolt 2 hard drive to an older Mac that only has a Mini DisplayPort connection. Mini DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 2 have the same connector type, but are different standards. (Find the specs for your Mac on the video dimensions it can output, however, to avoid the disappointment of spending the money on a monitor that you have to run at lower resolution than its maximum.) Because these standards incorporate backwards compatibility, you just need to find a way to connect a Mac with Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt 2 to a DisplayPort or HDMI connection.

Hdmi to thunderbolt 2