On September 12, 2023, Intel released the Thunderbolt 5 specification, bringing new changes to PC connection technology. Its maximum transmission speed can reach 120Gbps, and its bidirectional bandwidth is as high as 80Gbps, which is a significant improvement over the previous generation Thunderbolt 4. The birth of Thunderbolt 5 is designed to meet the high bandwidth requirements of professional creators, gamers, and workstation users for high-speed data transmission and ultra-high-definition screen multi-screen expansion.

　　Thunderbolt 5 is built on industry standards such as USB4 V2, DisplayPort 2.1, and PCI Express Gen 4. It not only provides powerful performance, but also has excellent compatibility. It can support USB4 v2, Thunderbolt 4, and Thunderbolt 3 devices, and is backward compatible with USB3 and DP2.1, greatly reducing the cost of upgrading users' devices. In terms of power supply, it supports up to 240W of power delivery, which means that future gaming laptops are expected to be reverse powered by compatible monitors, greatly simplifying desktop connection requirements.

　　Intel has equipped Thunderbolt 5 with an independent control chip, code-named Barlow Ridge, officially known as JHL9480. This chip is scheduled to be released in the third quarter of 2024 and is designed for high-performance peripherals to achieve high-speed data transmission and multi-function connections. JHL9480 supports 4 PCI Express (PCIe) channels, configured as x4 Gen 4, with functions such as ACS, FBP, PTM, P2P, and supports 128/256B loads. In terms of display port, it provides 2 DP Sinks and 3 DP Sources, supports DP 2.1 tunnel and retiming functions, supports x1/x2/x4 modes, and the rate range is from 1.62Gbps to 20Gbps. It also has SST, MST, DSC 1.2, FEC, LTTPR, Panel Replay and other features. It adopts FC-CSP packaging and provides Tray and T&R packaging.

　　With the release of Thunderbolt 5 technology, related accessory products have also been launched one after another. In 2024, Purplelec launched the first Thunderbolt 5 SSD external box TX001, which is now officially on the market. The external box uses Intel JHL9480 main control chip, perfectly supports Thunderbolt 5 protocol, and is backward compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 standards, with a theoretical bandwidth of up to 120Gbps.

　　In terms of storage capacity, TX001 performs well and supports the installation of M.2 2280 NVMe solid-state drives with a maximum capacity of up to 8TB, fully meeting users' needs for large-capacity and high-speed storage. In actual tests, TX001 showed strong performance, with a sequential read speed of about 6200MB/s and a sequential write speed of about 5900MB/s.

　　To ensure stable operation under high load, TX001 has put a lot of effort into heat dissipation design. It adopts active heat dissipation design, built-in turbo fan, equipped with fin-type all-aluminum alloy heat-conducting shell, and grille openings on both sides, which further enhances the heat dissipation capacity. The body is equipped with a Thunderbolt 5 interface and comes with a 0.5-meter C to C Thunderbolt 5 data cable for user connection and use.

　　With its advantages such as high-speed transmission, strong compatibility and high-power power supply, Thunderbolt 5 technology is gradually changing the connection method of high-performance devices. As a member of the Thunderbolt 5 ecosystem, the Purplelec TX001 SSD external box leverages the technical advantages of Thunderbolt 5 to provide users with high-speed, large-capacity storage solutions, showing great potential in the field of data storage and transmission. It also indicates that more innovative products based on Thunderbolt 5 technology will continue to emerge in the future, bringing users a more convenient and efficient user experience.