Thunderbolt 3 to USB 3.1 Controller Adapter - 1x USB-C, 3x USB-A

Components

Thunderbolt™ 3 is the latest version of the Thunderbolt standard for connecting computers and electronic devices. It is capable of the following:

• Total bandwidth up to 40Gbps. Data transfer speeds are dependent on the other features that you are using in your setup.
• USB 3.1 Gen 2 support.
• 4K 60Hz video on one or two separate displays.
• 5K 60Hz video on a single display.
• A 10 GbE network connection between two Thunderbolt 3 compatible computers.
• Up to six devices daisy-chained from a single Thunderbolt 3 port.
• Alternate modes, such as DisplayPort Alternate Mode (DP Alt Mode).
• Bi-directional power delivery up to 100W (not all Thunderbolt 3 devices support power delivery).

USB-C and Thunderbolt 3

Thunderbolt 3 uses the USB-C connector, but not all host connections, cables, and devices with a USB-C connector support Thunderbolt 3. This means that a USB-C device is compatible with a Thunderbolt 3 host connection, but a Thunderbolt 3 device is not compatible with a USB-C host connection. Therefore, it is important to know whether you have a USB-C or a Thunderbolt 3 host, cable, or device.

To determine if your component is a Thunderbolt 3 device, look for the Thunderbolt 3 symbol (shown below). USB-C devices do not include this symbol.  For more information about USB-C, see the following FAQ: https://www.startech.com/faq/usb-c-port-capabilites.

Thunderbolt symbol: https://sgcdn.startech.com/005329/media/products/gallery_large/TBLT3MMXM.B.jpg.

Backwards compatibility

If you use an adapter, Thunderbolt 3 host connections are compatible with Thunderbolt 1 and Thunderbolt 2 devices. You can use the StarTech.com TBT3TBTADAP to make a Thunderbolt 3 host connections backwards compatible.

Thunderbolt 3 devices are not backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 1 and Thunderbolt 2 host connections.

Although the Thunderbolt™ 3 standard is capable of data transfer speeds up to 40Gbps, not every cable can support this bandwidth. For example, cables over a certain length or made with certain materials are only capable of data transfer speeds up to 20Gbps. 

To confirm the capability of your Thunderbolt 3 cable, refer to the information provided by the manufacturer. StarTech.com lists the capabilities of the Thunderbolt 3 cables on the individual product pages.

There are two different Thunderbolt 3 cable symbols: the 20Gbps symbol and the 40Gbps symbol. The 20Gbps symbol is composed of the Thunderbolt 3 symbol, and the 40Gbps symbol is composed of the Thunderbolt 3 symbol and the number three. These images are shown below.

• The 20Gbps symbol: https://sgcdn.startech.com/005329/media/products/gallery_large/TBLT3MMXM.B.jpg.
• The 40Gbps symbol: https://sgcdn.startech.com/005329/media/products/gallery_large/TBLT34MMXM.C.jpg.

Thunderbolt 3 uses the USB-C connector, but not all host connections, cables, and devices with a USB-C connector support Thunderbolt 3. This means that a USB-C device is compatible with a Thunderbolt 3 host connection, but a Thunderbolt 3 device is not compatible with a USB-C host connection. Therefore, it is important to know whether you have a USB-C or a Thunderbolt 3 host, cable, or device.

To determine if your component is a Thunderbolt 3 device, look for the Thunderbolt 3 symbol (shown below). USB-C devices do not include this symbol.  For more information about USB-C, see the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/usb-c-port-capabilites.

Thunderbolt symbol: https://sgcdn.startech.com/005329/media/products/gallery_large/TBLT3MMXM.B.jpg.

To check which version of the Thunderbolt™ software, NVM firmware, and drivers you are running, do the following:

1. Click Start.
2. Type Thunderbolt and click on the search result.
3. In the system tray, right-click the Thunderbolt icon.
4. Click Settings > Details.

Review the versions of the software package, NVM firmware, PD firmware, and drivers.  If you are not running the latest versions, navigate to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest versions. 

When you connect a Thunderbolt™ device to any Windows operating system that can support Thunderbolt 3, a pop-up message appears. To use your device, complete the following:

1. In the New Thunderbolt devices have been attached pop-up message, click OK.
2. In the User Account Control pop-up message, click Yes.
3. In the Approve Thunderbolt Devices pop-up message, do one of the following:
   • If you want to authorize your Thunderbolt devices every time that you connect them, select Connect Only Once in the drop-down list.
   • If you want to authorize your Thunderbolt devices only once, select Always Connect in the drop-down list.
4. Click OK.

If you accidentally set your Thunderbolt device to Do Not Connect in step three above, refer to the following FAQ: https://www.startech.com/faq/thunderbolt-3-denied-authentication.

If you accidentally set a Thunderbolt™3 device to not connect to your computer when prompted by the system, you can force the software to prompt you again for authentication. To do so, complete the following:

1. Right-click the Thunderbolt icon.
2. Click Approve Attached Devices.
3. Select the Thunderbolt 3 port that you want to authenticate.

You can use the Thunderbolt™ software to manage your Thunderbolt 3 devices on a computer running a version of Windows. To manage your Thunderbolt 3 devices, complete the following:

1. Click Start.
2. Type Thunderbolt and click on the search result.
3. Right-click the Thunderbolt icon.
4. Click Manage Approved Devices.

If you receive an error message that your Thunderbolt device is not certified for PC use, try the following to resolve the issue:

1. Click Start.
2. Type Thunderbolt and click the search result.
3. In the system tray, right-click the Thunderbolt icon.
4. Click Settings.
5. Clear the Only allow Thunderbolt Devices that have been certified for PC check box.

To use a Thunderbolt 3 adapter to output to a display at 60Hz, your monitor must support the refresh rate and you need to set the monitor to work at 60Hz. By default, most monitors are set to DP1.1, which will not work with this Thunderbolt 3 device when you use a display at 60Hz. In most cases, you need to set your monitor's DisplayPort settings to DP1.2.

To resolve this issue, use the buttons on your monitor to change the DisplayPort settings to DP1.2. For more information about changing your monitor settings, refer to the website of the manufacturer of your monitor.