Intel's Thunderbolt Brings Fastest Data Connection to Apple's Notebooks

Collaborating with Apple, semiconductor giant Intel Corp. has announced the availability of its new high-speed PC connection technology called Thunderbolt, formerly codenamed Light Peak, for Mac users.

Boasting 10 Gbps I/O speed, Thunderbolt brings together high-speed data transfer and high-definition (HD) display on to a single cable. The new interconnect is significantly faster than upcoming USB 3.0, which promises a maximum data transfer rate of 5 Gbps.

According to Intel, Apple (News - Alert) is the first customer to offer Thunderbolt technology on its new line of MacBook Pro laptops.

Combining high-speed data and HD video connections together onto a single cable is instrumental in achieving Intel’s (News - Alert) vision for faster media. Thunderbolt technology delivers this via two communications protocols –  PCI Express for data transfer and DisplayPort for displays.

PCI (News - Alert) Express has the flexibility to connect to almost any type of device, and DisplayPort can drive greater than 1080p resolution displays and up to eight channels of audio simultaneously.

Thunderbolt technology is compatible with existing DisplayPort displays and adapters. All Thunderbolt technology devices share a common connector, and let individuals simply daisy-chain their devices one after another, connected by electrical or optical cables.

Designed to meet the demands of serious HD media creators, videographers can now unleash their creativity using high-bandwidth audio and video capture/mixing devices, and get both low latency and highly accurate time synchronization for real-time processing, said Intel.

At 10Gbps, larger media files are transferred faster so there is less time spent waiting to watch and edit videos, added Intel.

Likewise, data can be backed up and restored quicker, so there’s less waiting for archived content. For mobile PC users, it means having a single connector on their ultra-thin laptop that extends their high-speed media and HD display capabilities at home or in the office. Thunderbolt technology is complementary to other I/O technologies that Intel continues to support, said the supplier.

“Working with HD media is one of the most demanding things people do with their PCs,” said Mooly Eden, general manager, PC Client Group, Intel, in a statement. “With Thunderbolt technology, Intel has delivered innovative technology to help professionals and consumers work faster and more easily with their growing collection of media content, from music to HD movies. We’ve taken the vision of simple, fast transfer of content between PCs and devices, and made it a reality,” added Eden.

Similarly, commented Bob Mansfield, Apple's senior vice president of Mac Hardware Engineering, “With ultra-fast transfer speeds, support for high-resolution displays and compatibility with existing I/O technologies, Thunderbolt is a breakthrough for the entire industry and we think developers are going to have a blast with it.”

According to Intel, several other companies have announced Thunderbolt technology-based products, or currently plan to support Thunderbolt technology in upcoming products, including Aja, Apogee, Avid, Blackmagic, LaCie (News - Alert), Promise, and Western Digital.

Additionally, the manufacturer is working with the industry on a range of Thunderbolt technology-enabled products including computers, displays, storage devices, audio/video devices, cameras, docking stations and more.