With the widespread adoption of Thunderbolt 3 and 4, Thunderbolt docking stations have gained popularity for their robust port expansion capabilities. By linking to a Thunderbolt dock, users can extendedly connect to USB flash drives, SD cards, DisplayPort, and HDMI monitors, embodying the concept of a Thunderbolt all-in-one. Nevertheless, Thunderbolt is synonymous with high speed, and any latency experienced during actual usage may lead to dissatisfaction and potentially influence consumer purchasing decisions.
Market Application Scenarios, Risks, and Solutions for Thunderbolt
The DisplayPort specifications have continuously evolved, progressing from DP1.2 to the recent UHBR10. With each generation of DisplayPort upgrades, the screen resolution and refresh rates have seen a steady rise, necessitating increased hardware requirements for systems. In addition to providing extensive standard certification testing, Allion assists numerous clients in analyzing and proposing solutions for real-world issues.
In a recent case, a user connected a Thunderbolt laptop to a Thunderbolt docking station and subsequently linked a newly purchased UHBR10-supported monitor to the Thunderbolt docking station. When attempting to play videos on that new monitor, a significant and troublesome delay was observed, causing frustration for the user who was unable to resolve the issue. The manufacturer, upon receiving the complaint, was also unable to find a solution, leading them to seek expert assistance from Allion Labs.
Through a meticulous inspection and verification conducted by our experienced consultancy team, we identified that the screen delay issue on the UHBR10 monitor was caused by the laptop being in a DC-powered state, indicating it was not connected to the AC adapter. Consequently, the Thunderbolt docking station detected the absence of an external power source and initiated charging for the laptop. Since connecting to the UHBR10 monitor requires the laptop’s GPU to operate under the highest power consumption conditions for a smooth visual experience, the power supplied solely through the Thunderbolt docking station was insufficient to meet the GPU’s power demands. This led to a decrease in performance and screen delay. Following the analysis by Allion consultancy team, two solutions were proposed.
- When the laptop connects to a high-performance monitor, such as a UHBR10 monitor, it must be powered by its own AC adapter.
- Update the PD/EC firmware of the laptop, to adjust GPU wattage again.
The first method could only inform consumers without truly eliminating the risk. Ultimately, the client opted for the second method to thoroughly address the problem. In this case, Allion’s in-depth knowledge of Thunderbolt specifications and standards, coupled with over a decade of experience in compatibility testing, allowed our professional and experienced team to promptly and precisely identify the issue. This efficiency enabled us to provide the customer with the best solution.
Faster, Easier, Better: The Most Trusted System Testing Consulting Service
Allion has decades of experience with computer system certification and compatibility testing. Our team of professional engineers can quickly identify issues and provide solutions for our clients.
Faster：
Allion can provide clients with fast and accurate evaluations that effectively shorten schedules for certifications. Allion is an official Thunderbolt certification laboratory. We also have a complete range of Thunderbolt testing equipment that can ensure compatibility amongst different kinds of HDMI products, helping you with your quality control along the way.
- Quickly provide product development certification strategies with rich testing experience and collection of testing equipment
- Quickly obtain logo certification
Easier：
Allion has a complete range of Thunderbolt hardware certification testing equipment and testing environments. With our testing solutions, we can ensure each client’s certification process is qualitative, quantitative, and reproducible. We can assist our clients in obtaining accurate test results easily, ensuring the quality and performance of their products.
- Provides more accurate results
- Provides professional issue isolation and debugging support for our clients to make product development more convenient
Better：
Not only does Allion have professional teams with decades of experience, but we also know how to design quantitative tests and user scenario simulations, allowing our clients to comply with requirements and user expectations. Allion’s professional teams can also provide suggestions for product modifications, assist with supplier management, and help with specifications requirements from international associations during product development. This further enhances the quality of our client’s products, ensuring high standards that comply with international specification requirements.
- Provides a better and more complete experience for brands to establish ODM ecosystem plans
- Provides more complete user scenario testing solutions
If you have any requirements, please contact with us.