Intel Announces Thunderbolt 5 Connectivity Standard

Intel today introduced 'Thunderbolt 5', a new connectivity standard that will provide up to three times more bandwidth than Thunderbolt 4.

Thunderbolt 5 will deliver 80 gigabits per second (Gbps) of bi-directional bandwidth, and with Bandwidth Boost it will provide up to 120 Gbps for the best display experience. These improvements will provide up to three times more bandwidth than the best existing connectivity solution, providing outstanding display and data connections. Thunderbolt 5 will meet the high bandwidth needs of content creators and gamers. Built on industry standards – including USB4 V2 – Thunderbolt 5 will be broadly compatible with previous versions of Thunderbolt and USB.

"Thunderbolt 5 will provide industry-leading performance and capability for connecting computers to monitors, docks, storage and more. Intel is excited to continue our tradition of leadership for wired connectivity solutions," said Jason Ziller, general manager of the Client Connectivity Division at Intel. "Thunderbolt is now the mainstream port for connectivity on mobile PCs, and delivering the next generation of performance with Thunderbolt 5 will provide even more capability for the most demanding users."




Enhancements Over Thunderbolt 4
● 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.

Computers and accessories based on Intel's Thunderbolt 5 controller, code-named Barlow Ridge, are expected to be available starting in 2024.