Thunderbolt™ Technology

Universal Cable Connectivity for Everyone

Thunderbolt™ 4 builds on the innovation of Thunderbolt™ 3 for a truly universal cable connectivity experience. Thunderbolt 4 always delivers 40 Gbps speeds and data, video and power over a single connection. It is the most comprehensive Thunderbolt specification yet with compliance across the broadest set of industry-standard specifications – including USB4, DisplayPort and PCI Express (PCIe) – and is fully compatible with prior generations of Thunderbolt and USB products.

Full 4K Video Experience

Connect displays with astonishing resolution, contrast, and color depth to see your photos, videos, applications, and text with amazing detail.

Best Single-Cable Docking

Now, one compact port provides Thunderbolt data transfer, support for two 4K 60 Hz displays, and quick notebook charging with a single cable. It's the most advanced and versatile USB-C docking solution available.

External Graphics

Gamers can now connect plug 'n' play external graphics to a notebook to enjoy the latest games at recommended or higher settings.

Thunderbolt™ Networking

Provides a peer-to-peer connection at 10GbE speeds to quickly transfer files between computers, perform PC migrations, or set up small workgroups with shared storage.

Intel® Thunderbolt™ 3 Controller Briefs

Thunderbolt™ 3 at Events

Technology

Thunderbolt Technology at a Glance

  • Simultaneous bi-directional, 10 Gbps transfers over a single cable
  • Dual-protocol support (PCI Express* and DisplayPort*)
  • Compatible with existing DisplayPort* devices
  • Daisy-chaining devices
  • Choice of electrical or optical cables
  • Low latency with highly accurate time synchronization for professional audio and video applications
  • Uses native protocol software drivers
  • Power-over-cable for bus-powered devices