Thunderbolt 3 cable with USB-C connectors supporting up to 40Gbps data (at 0.5m passive length), DisplayPort 1.2 Alt Mode for video, and PCIe tunneling. Passive cables longer than 0.5m operate at 20Gbps. Pre-USB4 era but still widely used with MacBooks, Dell XPS, and Thunderbolt docks. Active optical versions (e.g., Corning) extend to 100m.

Connection Endpoints

End A	Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) (male)
End B	Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) (male)

Specifications

Protocol	Thunderbolt 3
Video Transport	DP Alt Mode (via USB-C)
Max Bandwidth	40 Gbps
Max Resolution	5K@60Hz
Max Refresh at 4K	60 Hz
USB Data Speed	40 Gbps
Power Delivery	100W
Consumer Tier	Thunderbolt 3

Certifications

Intel Thunderbolt Certified

Length & Physical

Max Passive Length	2m
Max Active Length	100m

Compatibility Requirements

Requires Thunderbolt host Requires E-Marker chip

Backwards Compatibility

usb3-gen2 usb3-gen1 usb2 dp-alt dp-1.2 pd-3

Passive cables over 0.5m drop to 20Gbps. Only 0.5m passive cables maintain full 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 speed.

Notes & Compatibility

Pay attention to cable length: 0.5m passive = 40Gbps, 1-2m passive = 20Gbps. Active copper cables maintain 40Gbps at longer lengths but cost more. Active optical cables (e.g., Corning) reach up to 100m — note that AOC connector heads can overheat in confined spaces. Not all TB3 cables support 100W PD — check specifications.