There are a lot of possibilities awarded by USB4 technology that manufacturers are only now exploring with new ideas to quickly reconfigure any working or entertainment space. A keyboard, monitor and mouse switch is a useful idea that wasn't available until now. The Cable Matters USB4 20Gbps Switch is connected to a monitor or docking station and the included USB-C/USB4 cables connect to two computers (or computer and tablet) for seamless device sharing. The Switch also supports fast data transfer speeds up to 20Gbps, perfect for large file transfers, high-resolution video streaming, and demanding applications.
This is one of those areas where it makes sense to invest in updated technology and not in some older USB 3.2 docks. As Cable Matters explains in its website, USB4 is the latest specification of USB technology from the USB Implementers Forum, originally presented in 2019 and based on Intel's Thunderbolt 3 protocol. USB4 chipsets are now widely available and that's what factories are now producing, because they are designed to deliver greater data rates with better support for higher wattage USB power delivery, as well as tunneling of DisplayPort (up to the latest version 2.1) and PCI-Express, supporting connecting external displays and graphics cards to a range of devices. Anyone working with graphics, video and audio, wants to use USB4 accessories, while professional applications will continue using Thunderbolt, knowing that everything works together.
And although the maximum data rate for USB4 is technically 40Gbps, as with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4, this is restricted to a number of USB4 devices and isn’t mandated. Instead, the minimum data rate for a USB4 cable or port is 20Gbps. It retains backward compatibility with USB 1, 2, and 3 devices and ports using an adapter in some cases. The big benefit is that USB4 ensures USB Power Delivery as a feature, which was optional with older USB 3 standards. USB4 must, at a minimum, guarantee a 7.5W power delivery per port, but the theoretical limits of USB4 power delivery are extremely high. There are already 240W fast chargers and docks for tablets and laptops available in the market.
"The vision of this product grew from the needs of today's remote workforce," says Jeff Jiang, CEO of Cable Matters. "People are doing more than ever with multiple devices and require connectivity solutions that provide performance and flexibility at an affordable price." Unlike traditional switches, the USB4 20Gbps Switch is engineered to handle two USB-C, USB4 or Thunderbolt enabled devices concurrently, effortlessly scaling to match the demands of gadget-intensive users. Users can instantly share a USB-C, USB4 or Thunderbolt monitor or docking station between two devices, and easily switch between them using either the unit’s button or the included remote control.
The launch of the Cable Matters USB4 20Gbps Switch (USD $59.99) represents a significant shift in the digital connectivity market. Headquartered in Southborough, Massachusetts, Cable Matters offers a complete line of cables, adapters, docking stations and networking products for the home, office, and data center.
www.cablematters.com
