Thunderbolt 4 vs. Thunderbolt 5

Thunderbolt 4

• Speed: Maintains 40 Gbps bi-directional bandwidth.

• Display Support:

  • Dual 4K displays (60 Hz) or one 8K display.

• PCIe Bandwidth: Minimum requirement of 32 Gbps (up from 16 Gbps in Thunderbolt 3), enhancing storage and external GPU performance.

• Power Delivery: Up to 100W via USB Power Delivery (USB PD).

• Compatibility: Fully compliant with USB4 specifications, ensuring broad device support.

• Features:

  • Mandatory support for wake-from-sleep and charging on all ports.

  • Enhanced security with DMA protection.

  • Daisy-chaining up to six devices.

Thunderbolt 5

• Speed:

  • Base 80 Gbps bi-directional bandwidth.

  • "Bandwidth Boost" mode offers up to 120 Gbps for asymmetric needs (e.g., high-resolution displays).

• Display Support:

  • Dual 8K displays (60 Hz) or triple 4K displays (144 Hz).

  • Supports 540 Hz refresh rates for gaming monitors.

• PCIe Bandwidth: Doubles to 64 Gbps, enabling faster data transfers for high-performance storage and GPUs.

• Power Delivery: Up to 140W (or higher, aligning with USB PD 3.1).

• Compatibility: Backward compatible with Thunderbolt 4/USB4, but requires new cables for full 80/120 Gbps speeds.

• Features:

  • Dynamic bandwidth allocation for optimized performance.

  • Improved signal integrity for longer passive cables (details pending).

  • Enhanced support for AI/ML applications and advanced peripherals.

Key Differences

1. Speed: Thunderbolt 5 quadruples bandwidth in Boost mode (120 Gbps vs. 40 Gbps).

2. Display Capabilities: Thunderbolt 5 supports higher resolutions (dual 8K) and refresh rates.

3. Power Delivery: TB5 delivers more power (140W+), suitable for high-end laptops and devices.

4. PCIe Throughput: TB5’s 64 Gbps doubles TB4’s 32 Gbps, benefiting NVMe storage and eGPUs.

5. Innovations: TB5 introduces dynamic bandwidth management, catering to mixed workloads (e.g., video + data).

Conclusion
Thunderbolt 5 is a significant leap forward, targeting professionals and gamers needing extreme bandwidth for 8K workflows, high-speed storage, and advanced peripherals. Thunderbolt 4 remains robust for mainstream users, offering reliable 40 Gbps speeds and broad compatibility. Both retain USB-C connectors but differ in performance ceilings and feature sets.