Daniel Eran Dilger
A report by Anandtech outlines that larger form factor Macs, including the early 2011 MacBook Pros, iMac, and latest mid-2011 Mac mini use a full sized Thunderbolt controller named Light Ridge, which features four bidirectional 10 Gbps channels and support for up to two external DisplayPort screens.
The new Thunderbolt MacBook Air uses a scaled down version of the chip named Eagle Ridge, supplying two Thunderbolt channels and support for a single external DisplayPort screen.
The report notes that the smaller, cheaper chip will likely be the choice of generic PC makers who wish to implement the new interface, which essentially exposes PCIe on an external cable, allowing for very fast data transfers and support for other interfaces such as USB, Firewire and Gigabit Ethernet.
Apple's newly announced (and as yet unavailable) Thunderbolt Display enables computers with a Thunderbolt port to interface with its 27" screen; FaceTime HD camera, mic and speakers; USB, Firewire and Gigabit Ethernet ports; and daisy-chain additional Thunderbolt devices via its integrated port.
Thunderbolt Macs outside of the MacBook Air will be able to connect dual external displays to their Thunderbolt port, while the Air's limited architecture will only support one external display.
Charles Martin
Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
Sponsored Content
39 Comments
But who expected to use a Macbook Air to do tasks that would be fitting for a larger, more powerful computer?
I thought this was clear from Apple's own page for the new display.
It even shows the air with one display and the pro with two.
I am curious about the fact that Apple clearly states "Expand your 15" and 17" MBP" with two displays, with no mention of the 13" MBP. DOes that mean the 13 inches has/will have the same chip as the Air?
But who expected to use a Macbook Air to do tasks that would be fitting for a larger, more powerful computer?
too true! I have a MBA and the old 24" display. I am pretty sure my MBA would beat the crap out of me if I tried to run a program that needed another display...or if I even introduced another display into the mix, let alone two thunderbolt displays loaded to the gills with peripherals
I am curious about the fact that Apple clearly states "Expand your 15" and 17" MBP" with two displays, with no mention of the 13" MBP. DOes that mean the 13 inches has/will have the same chip as the Air?
No, it means the graphics in the 13" MacBook Pro suck and can't drive two external displays. It doesn't have anything to do with the Thunderbolt chip being smaller.
Well, this is an interesting article to read, because earlier this year when my company bought several Thunderbolt MacBook Pros, I researched the question of external displays quite a bit. All sources said the Thunderbolt chip can drive two displays, and the internal counted as one, so the MBP can only drive one external display. Here is one such reference: http://tidbits.com/article/12000
Now I find out it can drive two externals? Hmmmm.....