A Single Port. A Universe of Possibilities.

Simplicity, Reliability, and Performance Distinguish Thunderbolt™ as the Best USB-C

As part of Thunderbolt™ certification, mandatory testing ensures broad compatibility across Mac*, Windows*, or Chrome* OS, and interoperability of computers, cables, and accessories from different brands, so you can be confident that your devices work well together regardless of the OS or hardware manufacturer.​

A single Thunderbolt™ port enables high-speed data transfer, video output, and power delivery to compatible devices over one cable, including charging a laptop3.

Unlike other USB Type-C ports, where the bandwidth may be limited, Thunderbolt™ ports always guarantee 40 Gbps total bandwidth dynamically allocated for video and data. Thunderbolt™ is so fast you can transfer a 5 GB file in about a second over the cable.​

Enjoy low-latency gaming, immersive creation, and simplified productivity with Thunderbolt™ technology that supports multiple premium monitors of any type4, such as two FHD 240Hz or 4K color-accurate monitors.

Thunderbolt™ 4 certification requires at least one Thunderbolt port on the computer to support laptop charging3, unlike laptops featuring other USB-C ports that don’t guarantee system charging. Additionally, all Thunderbolt™ 3 and 4 ports provide 15W power to Thunderbolt accessories or to charge companion devices like cell phones.

Work and Learn

Work and Learn

Effortlessly upgrade your workspace experience to boost productivity and ergonomic comfort by adding a Thunderbolt™ dock that connects large 4K monitors and other accessories to your laptop. Whether at home or at office, Thunderbolt™ technology works anywhere for a universal connection you can rely on regardless of manufacturer brand.

Create

Create

Get immersed in your creations with a Thunderbolt™ dock to connect all your content creation gadgets including multiple 4K color-accurate monitors. Access your content library on-the-go with an external Thunderbolt™ SSD that runs your media files as fast as an internal drive.

Game

Game

Thunderbolt™ docks transform your laptop into a full-fledged, immersive gaming station supporting FHD 240Hz gaming monitors. Connect directly to an external Thunderbolt™ SSD that loads your games as fast as an internal NVM Express* drive.

FAQs

Check out which type of ports your system has by:

  • Looking for the Thunderbolt™ icon on devices (next to the USB-C port).
  • Checking the product’s I/O specification online to see if it lists Thunderbolt™ ports.
  • Downloading Intel® Driver & Support Assistant (Intel® DSA) to detect what ports you have on your PC.

Thunderbolt™ technology delivers the best-in-class capabilities to drive high-bandwidth data, power, and video transfers for up to five devices on one connection. Gamers, creators, and workers can enjoy a clean desktop space with multiple displays and accessories on a powerful connectivity standard. Learn how Thunderbolt™ technology delivers the best experiences with simple, powerful, and flexible connectivity.

Checking the product’s I/O specification online to see if it lists Thunderbolt™ ports. Downloading Intel® Driver & Support Assistant (Intel® DSA) to detect what ports you have on your PC.

No. You don’t need to install any software or drivers to make things work. Connect your computer with any Thunderbolt™ accessory, and they simply work together.

Thunderbolt™ 4 technology became integrated in the CPU starting with 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors. Today, approximately 90% of 11th gen Intel Core processor-based laptops have Thunderbolt™ ports.

At least one Thunderbolt™ 4 port is required on all Intel® Evo™ and Intel® Core™ vPro® processor family-based laptops.

Look for the Thunderbolt™ icon on your PC (next to the USB-C port) or check the product I/O specification for Thunderbolt technology.

Thunderbolt™ 4 technology is the next generation of the Thunderbolt™ protocol, following Thunderbolt™ 3 technology. Both generations use the same USB-C connector type, but Thunderbolt™ 4 technology introduces higher minimum requirements and new capabilities for a best-in-class user experience.

Learn more about the difference through this article

Información sobre productos y desempeño

1

Los CES Innovation Awards se basan en materiales descriptivos que se envían al jurado. CTA no verificó la precisión de ninguna de las presentaciones o las afirmaciones realizadas y no probó el artículo al cual se le otorgó el premio.

2Fastest Connection: As compared to other PC I/O connection technologies including eSATA, USB, and IEEE 1394 Firewire*. Performance will vary depending on the specific hardware and software used. Must use a Thunderbolt-enabled device. Learn more at https://www.intel.com/PerformanceIndex.
3Laptop Charging: For thin and light notebooks that require less than 100W to charge.
4Any Display: Thunderbolt™ 3 and Thunderbolt™ 4 provides DisplayPort, which can natively connect to all displays with DisplayPort and mini-DisplayPort, and via adapters can connect to all other modern display interfaces, including HDMI, DVI, and VGA.
5Performance based on minimum specification requirements.