Intel new Thunderbolt 5 much faster version of Thunderbolt - Full Details
Intel's new Thunderbolt 5 is a much faster version of the existing USB 3.0 port, with speeds up to 120Gbps in high-end use. In normal use, the new version will be limited to 80Gbps in either direction, but it's still a significant increase over Thunderbolt 4 speeds. In addition to that, Thunderbolt 5 will have two lanes to transmit and receive data.
Intel also shared an early prototype of the next generation Thunderbolt, based on USB4 version 2.0. The new version will enable up to 120Gbps of bi-directional bandwidth and be compatible with USB-IF 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 devices. This means that you'll be able to use Thunderbolt to connect your Mac to your gaming console, for example.
The new version of Thunderbolt will use existing Thunderbolt 4 cables and accessories. Those cables can be up to 1 m long, but anything longer will require new cables. Intel will announce the name and a launch timeline for this next-generation Thunderbolt connector soon, so stay tuned!
The new Thunderbolt technology from Intel is expected to double the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4, allowing it to support up to 120Gbps for displays. It will also support USB4 v2 and DisplayPort 2.1, which makes it more versatile.
Next-generation Thunderbolt will be fully backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and previous versions. It will have twice the PCIe data speed of Thunderbolt 4, and will work with existing passive cables up to one meter long. Additionally, this new version will be backward compatible with older Thunderbolt products, so it should not be a significant delay.
Besides the speed, the Thunderbolt standard has additional features including DisplayPort 2.1 and double PCIe throughput. The Thunderbolt specifications are similar to USB4 version 2.0 and USB4 Promoter Group specifications, but it sets the bar even higher. It delivers the complete solution for users.