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Tung Lam
Tung Lam
Interesting, I got the Camera Connection Kit for my iPad 2 and when attaching ...
Update: Light Peak systems hit in 2011
Rick Merritt
9/16/2010 2:06 AM EDT
SAN FRANCISCO--Intel Corp. said all the components needed for Light Peak will be available before the end of the year, enabling systems to ship using the 10 Gbit/second optical interconnect in 2011. That's as much as a year before Intel is expected to support USB 3.0 in its processor chip sets, enabling a mainstream market for that interconnect.
An earlier report incorrectly said the components would not come until 2011 and systems would follow in 2012.
The quick time to market is breathtaking given Intel first announced Light Peak at its Intel Developer Forum a year ago. At that time, senior executives said it could take years for the technology to be ready for mainstream uses.
What a difference a year makes. At IDF this week, Intel showed a Compal notebook linked to an Avid audio processor and Western Digital storage system using Light Peak to handle professional media editing (see video here). An Intel spokesman said the systems all used an Intel controller.
"We are going after consumer and mobile platforms so we don't expect to have a large bump in power consumption or cost" over traditional copper interfaces, said Robert Siegel, who manages Intel's Light Peak ecosystem efforts.
Siegel would not give power consumption or cost figures for the Light Peak parts. He also declined to name the third parties who will supply the optical modules, connectors and cables needed for Light Peak.
It's ironic Intel is providing Light Peak controllers on such an accelerated schedule. Many chip and systems companies have complained that Intel postponed until 2012 plans to include in its processor chip sets support for the USB 3.0 specification.
The Intel spokesman said Light Peak and USB 3.0 could both be used on future systems and serve complimentary roles. USB 3.0 supports rates up to 5 GigaTransfers/second and data transfers of at least 300 Mbytes/second.
Nearly 120 products have been certified complaint with the USB 3.0 spec to date, coming from companies such as Asustek, Buffalo, D-Link, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, PLX, Texas Instruments, Samsung and Western Digital. Separately, only PLX Technology showed a demo at IDF of Light Peak, using the optical link to carry PCI Express 3.0 traffic between systems.
A representative from Texas Instruments estimated as many as 40 million notebooks could ship with USB 3.0 next year. The company will sample before the end of the year a four-port USB 3.0 controller that requires no external flash and will sell for about four dollars in 100,000 unit quantities.
An earlier report incorrectly said the components would not come until 2011 and systems would follow in 2012.
The quick time to market is breathtaking given Intel first announced Light Peak at its Intel Developer Forum a year ago. At that time, senior executives said it could take years for the technology to be ready for mainstream uses.
What a difference a year makes. At IDF this week, Intel showed a Compal notebook linked to an Avid audio processor and Western Digital storage system using Light Peak to handle professional media editing (see video here). An Intel spokesman said the systems all used an Intel controller.
"We are going after consumer and mobile platforms so we don't expect to have a large bump in power consumption or cost" over traditional copper interfaces, said Robert Siegel, who manages Intel's Light Peak ecosystem efforts.
Siegel would not give power consumption or cost figures for the Light Peak parts. He also declined to name the third parties who will supply the optical modules, connectors and cables needed for Light Peak.
It's ironic Intel is providing Light Peak controllers on such an accelerated schedule. Many chip and systems companies have complained that Intel postponed until 2012 plans to include in its processor chip sets support for the USB 3.0 specification.
The Intel spokesman said Light Peak and USB 3.0 could both be used on future systems and serve complimentary roles. USB 3.0 supports rates up to 5 GigaTransfers/second and data transfers of at least 300 Mbytes/second.
Nearly 120 products have been certified complaint with the USB 3.0 spec to date, coming from companies such as Asustek, Buffalo, D-Link, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, PLX, Texas Instruments, Samsung and Western Digital. Separately, only PLX Technology showed a demo at IDF of Light Peak, using the optical link to carry PCI Express 3.0 traffic between systems.
A representative from Texas Instruments estimated as many as 40 million notebooks could ship with USB 3.0 next year. The company will sample before the end of the year a four-port USB 3.0 controller that requires no external flash and will sell for about four dollars in 100,000 unit quantities.
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rick.merritt
9/16/2010 2:36 AM EDT
How will the potential for overlap between Light Peak and USB 3.0 play out?
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Tung Lam
5/25/2011 5:57 PM EDT
Light Peak has potential data speeds capacities, however higher cost of parts for optical connections will keep it back. USB offers powering of devices as well as connection, I don't see anything on this matter concerning Light Peak. I reckon USB still be around another good 10 years or at least till light speed come into mainstream (due to reduced pricing/increase popularity) maybe 2016, long time. Or lack of adaptation could see it never really taking off.
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resistion
9/16/2010 5:36 AM EDT
The light sources for Light Peak will have an impact on battery life.
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Enlightenment
11/10/2010 12:47 AM EST
Actually VESCEL device has good conversion rate (electical to optical). Plus having some devices like southbridge removed, it will sustain battery life longer.
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Sanjib.Acharya
9/16/2010 6:15 AM EDT
Thanks for the update! I think USB 3.0 will certainly have an edge considering the immense popularity of USB. Though Light Peak definitely has its advantage in terms of proposed trasfer speed and future potentials, but initially it might take some time before it could overshadow USB 3.0.
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elctrnx_lyf
9/16/2010 7:04 AM EDT
Completely agree with Sanjib. With the wide popularity of USB than any other external I/O interface on PC, the technology is going to stay here for long time. Unless if there is a necessity of huge data transfer speed not all the OEM's will bring this light peak technology into the products. Thinking from the cost point of view usage of optical cables will also increase the price of the products. which is a disadvantage ...
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rick.merritt
9/16/2010 10:51 AM EDT
Anyone know the realtive cost and power consumption differences of Light Peak and USB 3.0? I'd love to hear some numbers.
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Sanjib.Acharya
9/19/2010 11:34 AM EDT
I have heard that the devices with USB 3.0 are going to draw almost double the power on the USB port compared to the devices with USB 2.0? Are you aware about the power specs for USB 3.0?
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Enlightenment
11/10/2010 12:56 AM EST
Optical output @10.5dBm. Expecting dirty fiber still has good transmittion.
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LarryM99
9/16/2010 12:13 PM EDT
I see this as a crossover point between these two technologies. USB 3.0 is pushing the limits of electronic signaling, while Light Peak is on the early end (relatively speaking) of photonic signaling. This generation of each will be competitive, but the latter should have a lot more headroom to grow.
This assumes, of course, that later USB stacks are still based on electrical signaling. There is probably no good reason to make that assumption. In fact, what might make the most sense technically is to build future USB versions on top of a Light Peak physical layer. Unfortunately, business concerns would make that difficult.
Larry M.
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farhanhubble
9/16/2010 4:41 PM EDT
Agree with Larry. But will those business concerns be?
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LarryM99
9/16/2010 4:48 PM EDT
The primary one will be licensing revenue. If Light Peak is strictly Intel, then all (or at least most) of the licensing revenue goes to them. If it is a portion of the USB stack then Intel would just be one of the licensing pool members.
Larry M.
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Tung Lam
5/25/2011 6:11 PM EDT
Yeah
intel has been known to introduce some exclusive thing to help dominate the market. Like when AMD and INTEL partnership for MMX.
MMX was a nice marketing plow to help put those two CPU manufactures ahead of everyone else. In reality there was only a dozen software titles actually used that MMX extensions, it was short lived for like 6 months or something but it was a awesome strategy. Who cares about the mmx extensions now? LOL!
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Rchandta1
9/16/2010 6:11 PM EDT
Will the Light Peak compete with the upcoming 60 GHz UWB for the short range connectivity?
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Frank Eory
9/16/2010 6:17 PM EDT
Over 2 billion USB devices are sold every year, and USB 3.0 will be compatible with all of those legacy devices. So it's "only" 5G/sec instead of 10G/sec -- the speed deficit is not nearly as significant as the entrenched base of compatible devices.
Yes, Light Peak and USB 3.0 can coexist in the same system, but why would they?
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T in Az
9/16/2010 7:34 PM EDT
Let’s see, I see a possible Intel MOBO with a Optical link to my Sandy Bridge, HD, HDTV, and a link to any peripheral at up to 100G/s vs. USB 3.0 so I can use my old mem stick, don’t rush me I’m thinking.
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fdunn
9/16/2010 7:50 PM EDT
Does anybody have any specs on the required fiber to be used with Intels Light Peak?
I can see that as being an issue with uptake if high coherency fiber is required rather than the less expensive fiber.
I also agree with the licensing. If Intel makes it available as an open license then it may pick up for remote disk arrays.
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Enlightenment
11/10/2010 12:57 AM EST
Corning® ClearCurve®
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double-o-nothing
9/16/2010 8:23 PM EDT
Optics is thermally sensitive as well. You can get wavelength shifts, etc. I believe the large VCSELs used also consume the same order of magnitude power as a low-power Atom.
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rick.merritt
9/16/2010 8:49 PM EDT
I would expect Intel will make Light Peak royalty free if it owns the IP. It just wants to enable people to buy fast and expensive CPUs--but if someone knows the facts, please chime in!
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kinnar
9/16/2010 11:45 PM EDT
I think the comparison here in the article is not done in the proper way as USB 3.0 is looked as high speed solution for desktops and portable devices. Where as LightPeak will move towards network devices finding it application.
This will surely reduce the cost of optical interconnects compared to present scenario.
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BalaLak
9/17/2010 2:27 AM EDT
What does Intel want? Lightpeak is anyday better (more $$ in profits) for them, so why would they push USB 3.0? However, if Intel doesn't support USB 3.0, it will be a golden opportunity for AMD (& others perhaps) to gain market share in desktop & laptop systems. If Intel pushes Lightpeak more, they will have a strategy to make it popular. Perhaps, incubate/support Lightpeak-to-USB converter makers while trying to convince the device makers to shift to Lightpeak sooner.
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mike655mm
9/24/2010 2:05 PM EDT
There's already USB3.0 solutions available so I'm not too concerned about Intel right now. I agree that AMD has an opportunity here if they choose to take it. I, for one, will likely skip USB3.0 and wait for LP -- unless I get a USB3.0 equipped board for other reasons. A great thing about LP is that it can be used to support all protocols including USB3.0 LP is an optical pipeline, not a protocol by itself. It leverages existing PCIe & USB protocols but can collapse all the separate wires for these into a single optical cable.
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pixies
9/17/2010 10:12 AM EDT
I have an Excimer laser in my lab that can be controlled through an optical RS232 interface. It worked majestically and I wonder where has the industry been during the last 20 years.
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goafrit
9/18/2010 7:58 PM EDT
Intel is showing lots of power to continue to dominant. They have been moving strategically and developing products which make sense. It is good to see them drive the market . Light Peak with become a game changer.
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resistion
9/19/2010 1:21 AM EDT
It may all be moot if either USB 3.0 or Light Peak make the processor the bottleneck.
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unknown multiplier
9/20/2010 6:28 AM EDT
It's moot even then since trend-setting iPad doesn't even have USB.
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Tung Lam
5/25/2011 6:07 PM EDT
Interesting, I got the Camera Connection Kit for my iPad 2 and when attaching 2.5 inch external hdd on it, the iPad complains the attached device is requesting more power then it's prepared to give. It occurred to me that port doesn't meet USB 2.0 standards, maybe only meeting USB 1.1. Did refusing to go USB 2.0 help reduced it's battery consumption rate for the iPad?
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mike655mm
9/24/2010 1:54 PM EDT
Trend setting iPad ?! LOL For handhelds maybe. There's a lot more things to do out there than poking at a handheld.
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mike655mm
9/24/2010 1:56 PM EDT
PCs rapidly improve in performance with major advances every 2 years. LP is already useful today and will be more so next year.
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wmwm
9/24/2010 8:52 PM EDT
Has anybody asked what sot of bus is going to feed 100Gb/s, or 1Tb/s (the photonics link). Intel has aimed for the 100Gb/s on system bus years ago, but what new (optical) bus might they have up their sleeves now? All I can tell you is AMD should worried and worried about being trumped. Steve Jobs went to see the cell even though he did not want to, he had already abandoned Power PC, because he had already seen what Intel was promising (not that it all came through as expected). If he seen all this, Terascale and all, no wonder.
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