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Technology Brief
Interconnect Technology
Thunderbolt
™
Technology
The Fastest Connection to your PC
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Thunderbolt™ technology is a transformational high-speed, dual
protocol I/O that provides unmatched performance over current
I/O technologies with 10Gbps bi-directional transfer speeds. It
provides exibility and simplicity by supporting both data (PCIe)
and video (DisplayPort) on a single cable connection that can
daisy-chain up to six devices. Thunderbolt technology enables
exible and innovative system designs and is ideal for thin
prole systems and devices such as Ultrabooks™.
Key Thunderbolt Technology Benets
Thunderbolt technology dramatically increases the data
transfer rate enabling faster backup, editing and le sharing,
signicantly reducing the time to complete key tasks.
Thunderbolt technology was specically designed with
inherently low latency and highly accurate time synchronization
capabilities. These features enable extremely accurate audio
and video creation, playback and editing that no other standard
interconnect technology can match.
Rethinking I/O
As every generation of information technology progresses, I/O
technologies evolve to provide higher bandwidth for getting
data into and out of computers. At its simplest, two discrete
types of I/O have resulted – display (with formatted video and
audio components), and data. Traditional approaches to this
evolution have been to make an existing technology faster.
Thunderbolt technology combines the next step in higher
performance with the innovation of mapping two of the most
fundamental I/O protocols at the heart of computing (PCI
Express and DisplayPort), onto a single highly efcient meta-
protocol, transmitting them over a single cable, and managing
the trafc routing (supporting daisy chaining and hot-plugging
devices) with intelligent hardware controllers. The choice of PCI
Express was clear, providing for off-the-shelf controller use to
attach to nearly any technology imaginable, and the choice of
DisplayPort was equally clear for meeting the needs of the PC
industry with capabilities like support for multiple HD displays,
and support for up to 8 channels of high-denition audio.
Some users need workstation performance but demand an
Ultrabook form factor. With Thunderbolt technology it is now
possible to enable the thinnest and lightest laptops connected
over a single cable to high performance storage, external media
drives, multiple HD displays, HD media and editing systems as
well as legacy I/O hubs and devices. Giving users the ability
to have thin and light ultrabook systems but also the power,
capability and expandability of a traditional workstation.
• 10Gbps bi-directional, dual channel data transfer
• Data & Video on single cable with Dual-protocol
(PCI Express and DisplayPort)
• Daisy chain up to six devices
• Compatible with existing DisplayPort devices
• Low latency with highly accurate time synchronization
• Uses native PCIe and DisplayPort protocol
software drivers
• Power over cable for bus-powered devices
(electrical cables only)
Key Features
Figure 1. Thunderbolt™ cables expand a thin and light laptop to a high-
resolution display and high-performance storage in a simple daisy chain.
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