ASUS and Gigabyte recently introduced PCIe 4.0 expansion cards that add Thunderbolt 5 and DisplayPort 2.1 to existing motherboards, enabling higher data transfer speeds, enhanced power delivery, and compatibility with advanced displays. These new cards bring cutting-edge connectivity to current PCIe 4.0 motherboards, allowing users to upgrade without fully committing to the latest generation.
ASUS and Gigabyte are currently the only companies offering these expansion cards in PCIe 4.0 format, which lets users access Thunderbolt 5 features without needing an entirely new setup. One key difference is power configuration: Gigabyte’s Thunderbolt 5 card uses two power connectors, while ASUS’s ThunderboltEX 5 requires just one 6-pin connector, offering a more straightforward setup option.
Gigabyte Thunderbolt 5 Features
Gigabyte’s new Thunderbolt 5 expansion card is built with Intel’s JHL9580 Thunderbolt 5 controller and includes power delivery (PD3.1) support for up to 100W charging, which is ideal for powering peripherals or charging connected devices. While Gigabyte hasn’t announced pricing or availability, it has detailed the card’s key specifications.
Features:
- Intel Thunderbolt 5 Controller: JHL9580 for reliable Thunderbolt performance.
- Thunderbolt Ports: Two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 5 ports.
- High Bandwidth: 80 GB/s bi-directional and up to 120 GB/s uni-directional bandwidth.
- Display Support: DisplayPort 2.1 with resolutions up to 8K at 60Hz.
- Daisy-Chaining: Connect up to 10 devices (5 per port).
- Power Delivery: Supports PD3.1 standard, offering up to 100W.
Ports and Connectors:
- Mini-DisplayPort In (DP in 1, 2, and 3): Three input connections for video pass-through.
- USB Type-C Ports: Two for Thunderbolt 5 connections.
- Power Connectors: Requires two PCIe power connectors.
- USB Connector: Allows additional connection to compatible devices.
- Thunderbolt Connectors: Includes both 5-pin and 3-pin Thunderbolt connectors.
- Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 for efficient data transfer.
This card provides existing PCIe 4.0 motherboard users access to cutting-edge features, including high-speed Thunderbolt connectivity and 8K display support, and robust power options for advanced device setups.
ASUS will bring Thunderbolt 5 with up to 130W
ASUS has introduced its new ThunderboltEX 5 expansion card, designed to enhance connectivity options for motherboards with PCIe 4.0 support. While specific details about the controller used in the hardware are still under wraps, ASUS has highlighted several impressive features:
Features:
- Intel Certified Thunderbolt 5 Expansion Card: Ensures compatibility and performance with Thunderbolt devices.
- Power Delivery: Utilizes Flexible FastCharge technology to deliver up to 130W of power, with support for up to 96W for individual devices.
- Device Connectivity: Connect up to five Thunderbolt devices sequentially for expanded functionality.
- High-Speed Data Transfer: Achieves a bi-directional bandwidth of 120 Gbps, enabling rapid data transfers and video output.
- Display Support: Supports DisplayPort 2.1, allowing for up to three simultaneous DSC displays at 8K resolution and 60Hz.
Ports and Connectors:
- Mini-DisplayPort IN Ports: Three mini-DisplayPort input connections for flexible video options.
- USB Type-C Ports: Two USB Type-C ports for Thunderbolt connections.
- PCIe Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 interface for optimal data transfer speeds.
- Thunderbolt Connector: This is for additional Thunderbolt device connectivity.
- USB 2.0 Connector: This is for connecting standard USB peripherals.
- 6-Pin Connector: Required for the Flexible FastCharge function.
As with Gigabyte, ASUS has yet to announce the release date or pricing for the ThunderboltEX 5. However, it promises to deliver high-performance connectivity for users leveraging the latest Thunderbolt technologies.
