The Thunderbolt 4 port isn't functioning properly...
The Thunderbolt 4 port isn't functioning properly...
Hello, I bought a Lenovo Yoga 7i (16-inch) laptop yesterday and tried using an eGPU. It seems the EGPU doesn't connect to one of the Thunderbolt 4 ports, but works with another. Device specs: Lenovo 7i yoga 16-inch – 16GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, Core i7 processor. I linked it to my PC via a Razer Core X GTX 1050ti GPU (4GB). When I plug the Thunderbolt cable into the problematic port, my laptop powers up but doesn’t show any GPU availability or popup. Let me know if you need further help.
Thunderbolt4 and USB4 differ significantly. Thunderbolt4 builds on Thunderbolt3 with stricter demands, whereas USB4 is a lighter version of the same standard with fewer requirements that might not support certain features. Intel has withdrawn from the USB Consortium due to USB4’s complications. USB4 can closely resemble Thunderbolt4 but isn’t guaranteed to match it exactly—sometimes it’s only marginally better than USB 3.0. At its least capable version, it’s almost equivalent to USB 3.0. USB4 introduced many optional features while still letting manufacturers label it as USB4, even though different ports can offer vastly different performance. One notable feature is the option for an eGPU, which could work fine if implemented properly. It’s possible that USB4 is simply a rebranding of USB 3.0 in some cases. The situation feels like industry marketing masking actual technical differences—similar to how heat sinks conceal chip details. It’s a bit confusing, and I’m assuming USB4 often stands for USB 3.0 unless the specifics are clear. Updated February 18, 2023 by Bombastinator
Currently, the other Thunderbolt 4 port is working fine, but the highlighted one isn’t. The laptop starts charging and the GPU fan kicks up when I plug in the cable, yet there’s no screen visible.
Thinking about the Thunderbolt4 daisychains, could be a bent pin affecting the port or do they use separate controllers?
The labels beside the dock appear distinct in the image you mentioned.
This close-up view shows the port with both charging and Thunderbolt indicators visible.
I don't believe there is a bent pin because normal data transfer and charging both operate (I used a flash drive usb connected via a usb type c hub and it functioned fine, displaying all the file content).
Only one device has the charging indicator for placing your charger. Which one handles the EGPU function? The correct one?