Intel not only has the new fourth-gen Core processors and Bay Trail system-on-a-chip (SoC) to show off at the ongoing Computex 2013 at Taipei. The industry giants has also announced the next-gen Thunderbolt interface, called Thunderbolt 2.
Featuring a new "Falcon Ridge" controller, the new Thunderbolt 2 technology now doubles the bandwidth of the original Thunderbolt from 10Gbps to 20Gbps. With the added bandwidth, Thunderbolt 2 can easily enable 4K video transfer and display simultaneously. Intel achieves this astonishing bandwidth by "combining the two previously independent 10Gbs channels into one 20Gbs bi-directional channel that supports data and/or display", which current Thunderbolt versions are not able to achieve.
Also, Thunderbolt 2 now also features support for DisplayPort 1.2, and full backwards compatibility with current-gen Thunderbolt cables and connectors enables 4K video streaming to a single 4K monitor (like the recently-announced ASUS 4K 31.5-inch monitor) or two QHD monitors.
Intel has slated for the next-gen Thunderbolt 2 to begin production before the end of this year, and ramp it up going into 2014. Several industry partners, such as LaCie and Blackmagic Design have already pledged support.
