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AMD/VESA's New DockPort Standard Now Transfers USB3, Power

Posted on February 12, 2014

Although it doesn't compete directly with Thunderbolt's ability to push PCI-e signals, AMD's new DockPort standard (renamed from code name "Lightning Bolt") has promising features and pricing expectations.

We recently discussed that DisplayPort's primary adoption advantage over HDMI is its lack of a licensing fee (HDMI costs $10,000 per year for adopters to utilize). DockPort continues the free legacy of DisplayPort and other AMD technologies, making itself available for integration without licensing from manufacturers. AMD released a new video showcasing the tech's use case scenarios.

 Thunderbolt also has licensing concerns, as we learned when speaking with SilverStone at CES this year.

The DockPort display's primary specification changes over DisplayPort are that it supports USB3.0 data and power connections and has compatibility with mini-DisplayPort. Beyond that, it is an expansion upon DisplayPort.

AMD VP of Strategic Alliances Steve Belt stated:

"With just one inexpensive connector, users can now access power, a mouse, keyboard, external optical and hard disk drives, printers, gaming controller, and up to four external monitors. That’s a lot of capability from a single, standardized connector."

We are yet unsure if DockPort will utilize the USB3.1 update.

The DockPort expansion should see finalization in 2H14.

- Steve "Lelldorianx" Burke.