Thunderbolt · 2023
Thunderbolt 5
80 Gbps both ways, 120 Gbps towards displays. Intel's certified USB4 Version 2.0.
- data: 80 Gbps (120 boost)
- video: multiple 4K 144 Hz / 8K
- power: up to 240 W
Spec card
- Link rate
- 80 Gbit/s symmetric
- Bandwidth Boost
- 120 Gbit/s one way, 40 back (for displays)
- PCIe tunnel
- 64 Gbit/s (PCIe 4.0 ×4 class)
- Video
- DisplayPort 2.1 tunnelling
- Charging
- up to 240 W (USB PD EPR)
- Cables
- 1 m passive at 80 Gbps
- Compatibility
- Thunderbolt 4/3, USB4 and USB-C devices
Also sold as TB5
The cable you need
A Thunderbolt 5 cable. An existing Thunderbolt 4 passive cable should also run at 80 Gbps; long active ones stay at 40.
Thunderbolt 5 is built on USB4 Version 2.0. It doubles the link to 80 Gbps each way, and for display-heavy setups it can switch to Bandwidth Boost: 120 Gbps towards the screens and 40 Gbps back. PCIe tunnelling doubles too, to 64 Gbps, which lets external NVMe SSDs pass 6 GB/s.
For most people the visible changes are faster external SSDs and docks that can drive several high-refresh monitors. For one 4K 60 Hz screen and some USB ports, Thunderbolt 4 is already more than enough.