Intel Now Shipping 2nd Gen Thunderbolt Controllers Ahead of New Macs

Intel has reportedly begun shipping second generation Thunderbolt controllers, codenamed Cactus Ridge, just ahead of the expected Ivy Bridge update for various Mac models, according to VR-Zone.

We're expecting to see Thunderbolt support on at least the new iMac and possibly the new Mac Pro systems from Apple which might be even closer to launch than a new notebook model.

For Ivy Bridge we know for certain that Intel will be offering two different solutions which we have reported about multiple times in the past, namely the DSL3310 which is a 12x12mm chip which offers two lanes worth of PCI Express bandwidth and draws 2.1W as well as the DSL3510 which offers four PCI Express lanes and draws 2.8W. The DSL3510 can also be used for daisy chainable devices and as such it would be a lower cost, smaller and more power efficient alternative to the original Light Ridge or CV82524 chipset.


The DSL3510 supports multiple internal DisplayPort inputs, so in theory it could interface with both the discrete graphics card and the integrated graphics. It's this chip that VR-Zone expects Apple to use in its desktops; whereas, the DSL3310 is expected to end up in notebook products.

Read More [via MacRumors]