Thunderbolt Technology is a connectivity standard developed by Intel that delivers power, data and video signals through a single connection point. Thunderbolt Technology Certification establishes mandatory mini-mum requirements for cables, computers and accessories, ensuring greater reliability and interoperability across different devices and vendors. For end users, products based on Thunderbolt technology provide a superior experience when connecting accessories.
Compared with USB-C, Thunderbolt Technology 4 has significant advantages and provides a more flexible and scalable series of functions. Productivity, content creation, and gaming applications can all benefit from the benefits of Thunderbolt Technology 4, including a cleaner workspace and bandwidth to support more accessories.
Integrate power supply, data transmission and video display into one
Thunderbolt Technology 4 ports and cables support charging, two-way data transfer, and video display in one interface. For example, using a Thunderbolt laptop, monitor, and cables, the laptop can transmit a video signal to the monitor, which can also charge the laptop. Thunderbolt Technology 4 provides:
High bandwidth: 40 Gbps of dynamically allocated bandwidth for data and video transfers, ideal for heavy workloads or fast file transfers.
Fast charging: Power supplies up to 100W can be used to charge laptops, and power supplies up to 15W can be used to power computer accessories.
Rich display options: A single connection supports up to two 4K 60 Hz displays or one 8K 60 Hz display1.
Faster data transfer speed
The Thunderbolt Technology 4 standard requires a total bandwidth of 40 Gbps, which will be dynamically allocated to all devices for data and video in a single connection. Compared to the variable speeds of USB4, this requirement ensures that the connection is always capable of delivering peak file transfer speeds to support productivity, gaming, and content creation.
Daisy chains, hubs and docking stations
Use a daisy chain to connect multiple Thunderbolt technology devices. Data, power and video signals can flow from the computer to five additional accessories in the link. You can also connect multiple devices to a Thunderbolt hub or dock, plugging into a Thunderbolt-equipped computer to bring all your accessories into the same connection.
External graphics, storage and PCIe cases
The high bandwidth of Thunderbolt Technology 4 allows end users to connect their computers to external GPUs, storage drives and PCIe enclosures. PCIe doesn't support USB 3 connectivity, USB 4 is optional, and Thunderbolt 4 offers the most flexible options for connectable devices.
With an external graphics card, gamers can play games at recommended visual settings and higher frame rates, even on thin and light laptops. Creators can dramatically reduce rendering and export times, improving their productivity and output.
External storage allows gamers to read large game files directly from the external hard drive, saving valuable storage space on the computer. Creators can quickly back up large video and photo files, making their creations more secure.
The ability to connect external PCIe chassis helps to realize more possibilities, such as video capture cards and more.
Thundertech 4 Cable
Thunderbolt Technology 4 cables up to two meters long can be used to connect to USB and DisplayPort accessories, giving users more flexibility in configuring workstations and gaming hubs.
Computer to computer network connection
Users can connect multiple Thunderbolt technology-enabled computers to create secure connections between devices at speeds higher than 10 Gb Ethernet connections. This connection enables fast and easy file sharing, especially large files.
