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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Thunderbolt3/USB-C for NX Dock/SCD/Modularity?

This sprung up yesterday while I was replying to a NX add-on threadConnectivity for a hybrid seems like an important deal, specially for a device that is touted to have TV Docks, upgrades via Supplemental Computing Device (SCD) and even feature a modular design.

The previous console only supported USB 2.0, the next iteration would logically go to 3.0 while keeping the standard type-A connector. But if they want to future proof it they should use the type-c connectors, better yet go full out with the Thunderbolt 3.


The wonders of Thunderbolt 3

Not only is this connector ideal for docks making it possible to send video and charge at the same time, this plus having direct access to the PCI-E bus with 40Gbps speeds! The SCD add-on can then be easily implemented possible through this connector as we have already seen with the Razor Blade Stealth.

To give an idea of a dock, although this one isn't Thunderbolt 3.

And what about modularity? That design comes from One Education's Infinity, seen as a continuation of OLPC but taking the modular philosophy of Project Ara. I've found this project to be very interesting, and had clever uses of usb type-c to connect all the modules making easy to be used even by children.
You can read all about the design process here: https://www.behance.net/gallery/38027359/Modular-Laptop-One-Education-Infinity

So what do you think VGC. Thunderbolt yay or nay?



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I wouldn't be surprised if they have some form of this in NX. It will be a great way to future proof the system. They just gotta release a new version to the dock every few years and NX will always be up to date. I'm excited for it.



I am so much of an Apple hater that I would say no.  I don't even care if it would make the system better.  I don't want to see anything Apple related inside a Nintendo machine.



As good of an idea this is - I genuinely don't expect it.

Nintendo very seldom uses cutting edge tech when it is not their own. I mean the WiiU didn't even even USB3.0 for god's sake...



I predict NX launches in 2017 - not 2016

Why is it when console people see a new technology that they instantly attach it to the next best iteration of consoles?



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Thunderbolt 3 requires licensing fees from intel so I doubt it... At best, it will be Nintendos own take on it if its even a hybrid 



                  

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I'd say that Thunderbolt 3 is their best bet to make it work.

What I'm not so sure about, given the theories that circle around this and other forums, is if there would be a Supplemental Computing Device.



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fleischr said:
As good of an idea this is - I genuinely don't expect it.

Nintendo very seldom uses cutting edge tech when it is not their own. I mean the WiiU didn't even even USB3.0 for god's sake...

Nintendo along their normal trajectory wouldnt use a powerful Tegra X1 chip for their handheld. To fulfil their vision of a unified system they need to meet somewhere in the middle. Similarly a slightly costlier than usual USB/Thunderbolt port, may allow them to have the NX fulfil their vision as a proper hybrid system as hinted by their patents and rhetoric.



For connectivity they will not use something like Thunder bolt or USB. They will use a "direct connection" to the bus via either PCI-e or SCSI port. In the past when Nintendo used add ons this is what they did, though the port was probably an ISA slot, which is now a defunct standard. (The NES, SNES, N64 and Gamecube all had a "direct connection" to the bus for expansions. (Famicom Disk, 64DD, Satalliview, modems.)

They probally will not go with Thunderbolt just because it is an apple/Intel priopritary connection, which they would have to liscense to use. And one of the reason why it is still considered a nitche connection is because of Intel's liscensing requirements to use it. Plus if they use a "secrete sauce" with processors in the dock they would want the device to be completly attached to the dock and not via a cable with may be pulled loose during play.



shikamaru317 said:

Yeah, Thunderbolt 3 would definitely be necessary for SCD to work properly. You need a pretty fast connection for the SCD's CPU and GPU data to cross over to the NX, and Thunderbolt 3 offers 40 GB/s, that's more than double PCI Express 3.0 x16, which is the current standard for PC graphics cards, which means there would be ample throughput for both CPU and GPU data.

Thunderbolt 3 is actually 40 Gb/s, so more like 5GB/s. Not quite as fast as PCIE, but according to benchmarks it's fast enough to run high end GPUs at practically full speed. Should be plenty for Nintendo, if that's what they go with.