Intel demonstrates next-generation Thunderbolt with 8k monitor and external SSD

Intel has released a demonstration of the next-generation Thunderbolt, based on USB4 Version 2.0. It is not yet known whether the new standard will be called Thunderbolt 5, or whether it will receive a different marketing name. Intel will not disclose such details until next year.

Like Thunderbolt 4, the new Thunderbolt standard is not technically different from the USB standard, but many of the optional USB features have been made mandatory with Thunderbolt. For example, the bandwidth of 80Gbit/s in both directions is mandatory for the logo to be displayed, while for a USB4 device anything above 20Gbit/s is optional. The higher bandwidth is achieved by applying pam-3 modulation, which uses three instead of two voltage levels for the transmission of the signal. This allows more bits to be sent without increasing the clock speed.

Intel has not yet released all mandatory specifications, but does mention, for example, that USB4 Version 2.0 and DisplayPort 2.1 must be supported. In addition, for monitors with extremely high resolutions and refresh rates, the standard can be used in an asymmetric mode, with a downstream of 120Gbit/s and an upstream of 40Gbit/s bidirectional instead of 80Gbit/s. In addition, the four PCIe lanes have been upgraded from PCIe 3.0 to PCIe 4.0, while maintaining compatibility with existing passive Thunderbolt cables up to 1 meter in length.

In 2023, Intel will release the full specifications of the next-generation Thunderbolt. Then the first devices that comply with the new standard must also become available.