Thunderbolt 5 cables are part of the latest connection standard released by Intel. Compared with previous generation products, it has achieved significant improvements in many aspects. The following is a detailed introduction to Thunderbolt 5 cables:
l. Main features
1. Ultra-high bandwidth:
Thunderbolt 5 cables support up to 120Gbps of one-way bandwidth (in certain modes) through so-called "Bandwidth Boost" technology, which is only enabled when a high-bandwidth monitor is connected. In standard mode, Thunderbolt 5 operates at 80Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth, or 40Gbps in each direction.
Compared with Thunderbolt 4, the mini-mum bandwidth of Thunderbolt 5 is doubled to 80Gbps, providing faster data transmission speed.
2. Dynamic bandwidth allocation:
Thunderbolt 5 supports dynamic bandwidth technology, which can dynamically adjust bandwidth allocation according to usage scenarios. For example, when connecting to a high-resolution or high-refresh-rate monitor, more bandwidth is automatically allocated to ensure a good display.
3. PAM-3 signal technology:
Thunderbolt 5 uses PAM-3 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation 3) signaling technology. Compared with PAM-2, PAM-3 can transmit more information per clock cycle, thus improving bandwidth and performance. At the same time, PAM-3 technology is more compatible and helps reduce replacement costs for consumers.
4. High power charging:
The Thunderbolt 5 interface supports the PD3.1 protocol and can provide up to 240W of charging power, which is significantly higher than the 100W of Thunderbolt 4. This makes Thunderbolt 5 cables not only suitable for data transmission, but also as charging cables for high-performance devices (such as game laptops and workstations).
5. Multi-screen expansion support:
Thunderbolt 5 supports the simultaneous connection of multiple high-resolution displays, including multiple 8K displays or three 4K 144Hz displays, meeting the multi-screen expansion needs of professional users.
II. Market Current Situation
1. Product launch:
So far, some well-known data cable manufacturers (such as Cable Matters) have launched data cable products certified by the Thunderbolt 5 standard. These cables are sold on e-commerce platforms such as Meiya, with lengths ranging from 0.3 meters to 1 meter.
2. Equipment compatibility:
There are currently relatively few devices on the market that support Thunderbolt 5 interfaces. The only known laptop to feature a Thunderbolt 5 port is a specific version of the Razer Blade 18. In addition, some docking stations and other accessories support Thunderbolt 5 interfaces.
3. Future development:
Intel expects Thunderbolt 5-equipped PCs and accessories to begin shipping in 2024, and plans to release Thunderbolt 5 technical information and development resources to developers in the fourth quarter of this year. As technology continues to mature and equipment becomes more popular, Thunderbolt 5 cables have broad market prospects.
III. Application scenarios
With its ultra-high bandwidth, dynamic bandwidth allocation, high-power charging and multi-screen expansion support, Thunderbolt 5 cables have demonstrated strong advantages in multiple application scenarios:
1. Professional creation: For content creators, Thunderbolt 5 cables can support high-resolution, high-refresh-rate displays as well as high-speed data transmission and backup needs.
2. Gaming entertainment: Gamers can connect high-performance external graphics cards (eGPU) and monitors through the Thunderbolt 5 interface to enhance their gaming experience.
3. Workstations and servers: In workstation and server scenarios that need to process large amounts of data and video signals, Thunderbolt 5 cables can provide stable and reliable high-speed connections.
To sum up, Thunderbolt 5 cable, as Intel's latest generation connection standard product, has achieved significant improvements in bandwidth, dynamic bandwidth allocation, signal technology, charging power and multi-screen expansion support. As technology continues to mature and devices become more popular, Thunderbolt 5 cables will play an important role in multiple application scenarios.
