After testing it for almost a year, Intel has finally unveiled the new Thunderbolt 5 connectivity standard which brings a number of new features and improvements over its predecessor. With up to 80Gbps of bi-directional bandwidth, support for up to 3 x 4K monitors with 144Hz refresh rate, and compatible with USB4 V2, Thunderbolt 5 promises to make our laptops, PCs, and other devices.
Thunderbolt 5 builds upon Thunderbolt 4 in several ways, including:
- Two times the total bi-directional bandwidth; Bandwidth Boost provides up to three times the throughput for video-intensive usage, up to 120 Gbps.
- Double the PCI Express data throughput for faster storage and external graphics.
- Built on industry standards including USB4 V2, DisplayPort 2.1 and PCI Express Gen 4; fully compatible with previous versions.
- Double the bandwidth of Thunderbolt Networking for high-speed PC-to-PC connections.
- Utilizes a new signaling technology, PAM-3, to deliver these significant increases in performance with today’s printed circuit boards, connectors and passive cables up to 1 meter.
Intel says that the first Thunderbolt 5 devices are expected to launch during 2024, so if you are looking at upgrading your laptop or PC in the near future it might be worth your while waiting for a while to see what’s on offer.