Intel’s next-gen Thunderbolt doubles in speed, supports 4K

By Gloria Sin April 9, 2013

Intel next-generation Thunderbolt_NAB2013 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to Intel, the next-generation Thunderbolt will be a multi-tasker that’s twice as fast. Although Thunderbolt ports have become standard on Macs since 2011, the high-speed ports are going to be incorporated into more PCs and motherboards this year as the technology matures and offers a significant advantage over existing standards like USB 3.0 and HDMI. Intel said it already has over 200 licensees that use its standard, including storage manufacturers like G-Tech.

While current-gen Thunderbolt is capable of moving data at 10Gbps, the upcoming Thunderbolt ports can do 20Gbps. That’s four times as fast as USB 3.0’s transfer rate of 5Gbps. In addition, the new Thunderbolt technology, codenamed “Redwood Ridge” (Intel DSL4510/4410), supports DisplayPort 1.2, so you can string multiple monitors together as long as one is plugged into your computer’s Thunderbolt port. In GameFront‘s opinion, this will really help gamers and power users simplify the wiring of multiple displays, which the HDMI port isn’t really designed to handle. Intel also promises that Redwood Ridge will be more energy efficient, cheaper for manufacturers to make, and will be a part of systems that use the fourth-gen Intel “Haswell” processors.

That’s not all. Intel also took the wraps off its upcoming generation of Thunderbolt technology, codenamed “Falcon Ridge.” Not only can it move a 4K video at 20Gbps, it can also simultaneously hook up to a 4K display, so you will be able to watch a 4K movie stored on your computer on your 4K television using Thunderbolt. “Falcon Ridge” will be backwards compatible with your current Thunderbolt cables and devices, so your current set of Thunderbolt peripherals won’t be obsolete by 2014, which is when this generation will be expected to be available to consumers. As you can see from Engadget’s video of the Intel demo, the next-gen Thunderbolt runs at 1,200 MBps – faster than anything on the market today.

[Image via Intel’s presentation at NAB 2013.]

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Gloria’s tech journey really began when she was studying user centered design in university, and developed a love for…

Computing

Best deal ever? Get 80% off PureVPN and an Uber Eats voucher

A close-up of a computer monitor displaying a generic VPN.

Everyone should sign up to a virtual private network, so if you're looking for VPN deals, here's one that you wouldn't want to miss -- two years plus three extra months of PureVPN's Max Plan at 80% off for just $4 per month, for a total of $108 for 27 months. That's $16 in savings per month for dependable online protection, and to top it off, you'll be getting an Uber Eats voucher worth up to $30. We're not sure how much time is remaining on this offer though, so if you're interested, you're going to have to sign up for the subscription immediately.

Why you should sign up for PureVPN Max Plan
A VPN is a necessity in this digital age because it will protect your data from being accessed by cybercriminals. It will also help you get around any geoblocking restrictions as you can have your device appear as if it's located in another part of the world. PureVPN is one of the best VPNs for these purposes, as it uses a global network of more than 6,500 servers that are located across dozens of countries.

Computing

Razer’s most boring product is also one of its best

The Razer Iskur V2 gaming chair in an office.

Razer isn't exactly known for subtlety. This is the company that released a Bane-like RGB face mask, a headset with haptic feedback, and most recently, a mouse pad that has RGB lighting from corner to corner. The Iskur V2 chair is an exercise in subtlety, however, and a change of pace that pays off for Razer in a big way.

There's nothing special about the Iskur V2 at first glance. It's a gaming chair fit with the usual racer-style back and some green trim to let you know it's a Razer product. But there are no motors promising immersive haptic feedback, and no RGB leaving you tethered to a wall outlet (yes, Razer has done both in a chair before). The Iskur V2 is just a well-designed, comfortable chair, and that's exactly why it's so impressive.
Out of the box

Computing

Best OLED monitor deals: Get an OLED screen from just $450

Marvel's Spider-Man running on the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8.

Up to a couple of years ago, OLED technology only really existed in OLED TVs and very-high-end monitors that cost thousands and thousands of dollars. Luckily, the prices have come down quite substantially, even on the best OLED monitors, especially as the market gets more saturated with options. That means that if you tend to use a monitor for the majority of your content consumption, such as gaming, then you can grab an OLED monitor for a great price and experience amazing visual fidelity and reproduction.

To that end, we've gone out and scoured all the major retailers and brands to find our favorite OLED monitor deals out there and compiled them below. That said, if you haven't quite found what you're looking for, or feel you aren't ready for an OLED monitor, be sure to check out some of these other great monitor deals.
LG UltraGear 27-inch gaming monitor -- $660, was $1,000