This question is related to How to connect a USB-C-based MacBook to a Thunderbolt display? and Connect a Thunderbolt Display to windows 8 desktop but not quite the same.
I have a Thunderbolt monitor and have been using it with using a newer Macbook Pro using a USB C to Thunderbolt adapter. This setup works fine.
I am going to be getting a Windows machine using an NVidia RTX 2080 graphics card, which has a USB C port. Will I be able to connect this machine through the Apple USB C -> Thunderbolt adapter to a Apple Thunderbolt monitor? If so, should I expect any performance degradation?
Best Answer
No.
TL;DR: Thunderbolt 3 uses the USB-C connector and includes USB 3.2 signaling (including a DisplayPort signal), but a USB-C connector does not necessarily include support for Thunderbolt 3.
Few things to understand here.
Whew. Got all that? Let's run through some scenarios.
N.b.: Different USB-C ports, as well as cables and devices, can support different parts or levels of the USB specification. Make sure everything in the chain is up to spec!
Still confused? Understandable. Thunderbolt 3, as frankly a godlike specification as it is, is massively confusing. The split between various individual companies, consortiums, regulatory/specification bodies, implementors, vendors, and most of all, the confusing marketing and specification of USB-C makes this an absolute mess to understand. I don't blame you for thinking this would work, but sadly, it won't.
So, my advice? You could go ahead and throw a Thunderbolt card in your motherboard, assuming you have one that supports it (or are willing to switch to one that does.) However, the easier solution is probably just to get a different display.