Finally Revealing my BIG SECRET - Corning Optical Thunderbolt 3
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Receive a $25 credit for Ting Mobile today when you sign up at linus.ting.com SmartDeploy: Claim your free IT software (worth $882!) at lmg.gg It's time to finally show you the secret sauce that makes my home office possible - Corning's Optical Thunderbolt 3 Cables are ready for the masses after months of fine tuning and certification, and we're gonna put them to the test. Buy Corning Thunderbolt 3 USB-C Optical Cable On Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us Buy AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box On Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us On Newegg (PAID LINK): geni.us Buy Dell XPS 17 Laptop On Amazon (PAID LINK): geni.us On Best Buy (PAID LINK): geni.us On Newegg (PAID LINK): geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com ►GET MERCH: lttstore.com ►SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com ►LTX EXPO: ltxexpo.com AFFILIATES & REFERRALS --------------------------------------------------- ►Affiliates, Sponsors & Referrals: lmg.gg ►Check out our podcast gear: kit.co ►Private Internet Access VPN: lmg.gg ►Our Official Charging Partner Anker: lmg.gg ►MK Keyboards: lmg.gg ►Nerd or Die Stream Overlays: lmg.gg ►Official Game Store: nexus.gg ►Amazon Prime: lmg.gg ►Audible Free Trial: lmg.gg ►Our Gear on Amazon: geni.us FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv FOLLOW OUR OTHER CHANNELS --------------------------------------------------- Mac Address: lmg.gg Techquickie: lmg.gg TechLinked: lmg.gg ShortCircuit: lmg.gg LMG Clips: lmg.gg Channel Super Fun: lmg.gg Carpool Critics: lmg.gg MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 0:30 I turned myself into a pickle 1:08 The dream 2:25 The solution 3:27 Under the hood 4:48 Durability and testing 6:40 F 8:56 Linus goes for a walk 10:05 Fiber speed 11:00 Game test 12:33 Cost
The video kicks off with Linus recalling a past moment when a highly restricted cable reveal was needed for his setup, and how Corning eventually allowed a full public reveal. He frames Corning’s Optical Thunderbolt 3 cable as a significant leap over the previous Thunderbolt 2 fiber option, highlighting the motivations behind the months of firmware work and Intel certification processes. The host then explains the fundamental architecture of the cable, emphasizing that it is a fiber optic link using multiple tiny fibers, integrated at each end with VCSELs and photodiodes to convert electrical signals to optical signals and back. He walks through the physical design, noting the careful strain relief and the importance of precise fiber handling done in clean rooms, which helps justify the premium price. The first portion of the video culminates in a demonstration of why copper Thunderbolt cables run into distance limits and how optical solutions can extend reach while preserving performance, albeit at a cost. Finally, Linus sets up a real-world test using a Thunderbolt 3 dock and an external GPU enclosure to assess bandwidth, signal integrity, and the practicality of long-range optical connectivity in gaming and workstation contexts.
Topics · science and technology · hardware · data communications · fiber optics · gaming · eGPU
Questions answered
- What makes Corning's Optical Thunderbolt 3 cable different from standard copper Thunderbolt cables?
- It uses a fiber optic core with multiple thin fibers and on each connector end a small circuit to convert electrical signals to optical signals and back, allowing longer reaches, reduced EMI, and the ability to carry Thunderbolt signals over longer distances without copper limitations.
- Why does the cable cost so much compared to typical cables?
- Because a large portion of the cost comes from manual fiber preparation, precise cleaving, alignment within tight tolerances, and clean-room labor required to produce reliable optical connections, not just the glass fibers themselves.
- Can this optical Thunderbolt 3 cable carry power or DisplayPort by itself?
- The cable can carry Thunderbolt signals and, via docks, DisplayPort outputs, but it cannot carry power. DisplayPort can be transmitted over Thunderbolt when using compatible docks that split or route the signal appropriately.