By Michael Irving
October 21, 2022
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Intel has unveiled the next generation of its Thunderbolt
technology Photo credit: Depositphotos
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The new Thunderbolt, which hasn’t yet received an official
name, will deliver 80 gigabits per second (Gbps) of bandwidth in each
direction. This boost will double data transfer rates between devices like
SSDs, compared to Thunderbolt 4, which will be useful to handle the growing
volume of data generated and transmitted.
This bandwidth can be dynamically re-balanced too – when
connected to a display, which is more one-directional, data can be transmitted
at up to 120 Gbps. This speed is three times faster than current tech, and
allows for up to 8K resolution to be smoothly displayed at higher frame rates.
The next-gen Thunderbolt system will be compatible with
previous versions of Thunderbolt, as well as previous versions of USB and
DisplayPort. That includes the USB4
Version 2.0 specification, which was announced back in September and will
begin to appear in devices in the next few years.
Intel also says that this new tech will work with existing
passive cables up to 1 m (3.3 ft) long, thanks to a new signaling technology.
As with previous iterations, Intel will be making this next-gen Thunderbolt
tech device agnostic, and readily available for companies to incorporate into
their products.
The company says that more details on this next-generation
Thunderbolt, including its official name, as well as other features and
capabilities, will be announced in 2023.
Source: Intel