Cable Matters Inc., a leading connectivity solutions provider, has announced the launch of its Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station, setting an important benchmark for speed, simplicity, and reliability, and offering unmatched performance for modern professionals, gamers, and content creators.

Utilizing Thunderbolt 5 technology, the docking station offers up to 120 Gbps of bandwidth-three times more than Thunderbolt 4-enabling ultra-fast data transfers and superior display experiences. It features an upstream Thunderbolt 5 port compatible with Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 5, and USB4 based hosts, and three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports for versatile connections to monitors, SSDs, and other devices. The downstream ports support up to three 8K@60 Hz monitors or two 8K@120 Hz displays for enhanced visual clarity, gameplay, and multitasking.

Samsung Electronics today announced that The Premiere 8K, the company's flagship premium projector, has received the industry's first 8K Association (8KA) certification for 8K projectors. This recognition underscores Samsung's leadership in projection technology while setting a new benchmark for the industry.

"The Premiere 8K receiving the industry's first 8KA certification is a major milestone as it officially demonstrates the new potential of projector technology." said Taeyoung Son, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. "We are committed to expanding the 8K ecosystem by continuously and extensively integrating new technologies."

Introducing the CAC-2501 Thunderbolt 5 Certified 8K240Hz Data 80/120 Gbps EPR 240 Watt Cable M/M 1 m / 3.28ft: Unparalleled Speed and Power in One Cable. Revolutionize your tech experience with the groundbreaking Thunderbolt 5 Certified Cable. This 1-meter powerhouse delivers 80 Gbps data transfer speeds, 8K240Hz video support, and up to 240 W of charging—all packed into a sleek, durable design.

Whether you're pushing the boundaries of creativity, gaming at ultra-high resolutions, or demanding robust power for your devices, Thunderbolt 5 is engineered to exceed expectations. With universal compatibility across Thunderbolt 3, 4, and USB-C devices, this cable is your gateway to the next generation of performance. Stay connected, stay ahead. Dive into the features and discover why Thunderbolt 5 is the cable you've been waiting for.

Kensington, a worldwide leader of desktop computing and mobility solutions for IT, business, and home office professionals, today announced the launch of SD5768T Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K Docking Station with Thunderbolt Share, enabling professionals, creators, and gamers to take advantage of the high-speed, low-latency, multi-PC benefits of Thunderbolt Share using their existing Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 Windows laptops and desktops.

The SD5768T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, paired with the Thunderbolt Share software, is a powerful tool for Creators. It boosts efficiency and refines workflows by enabling simultaneous use of two PCs, sharing features like screen, keyboard, mouse, and storage. Additionally, it facilitates quick file transfers between PCs. Gamers will find value in the exceptional performance and the adaptability it offers for setting up multiple PCs with their preferred keyboard, mouse, storage, and monitors. For everyday consumers and business users, the convenience of effortlessly sharing common PC peripherals between PCs for enhanced ergonomics is a significant advantage

Hot on the heels of Gigabyte, ASUS has also put its Thunderbolt 5 card up on its website, although there are some differences between the two. Obviously the physical appearance differs somewhat, but that's largely cosmetic. However, the one key difference is that the ASUS ThunderboltEX 5 only sports a single 6-pin PCIe power connector. ASUS still claims USB PD support of up to 130 W—a feature the company calls Flexible FastCharge—however, a single USB Type-C port is limited to a maximum of 96 W, which means you can charge your MacBook Pro at full tilt, but not some other laptops. Admittedly the 4 W discrepancy compared to the Gigabyte card is fairly minor, but the second port gets left with only 34 W, although that's still enough for charging most phones. Oddly enough, ASUS ThunderboltEX 4 card, allowed for up to 100 W on a single port.

ASUS has also implemented a single Thunderbolt 5 pin-header for the GPIO, SPI I2C and UART interfaces, plus a standard USB 2.0 header, for adding USB 2.0 support to the Thunderbolt 5 ports. Just as with the Gigabyte card, we find Intel's JHL9580 Thunderbolt 5 controller at the heart of the card and once again it uses a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface and supports up to three DP 2.1 8K displays at 60 Hz, although ASUS mentions that this requires DSC. The card features three mini DP inputs and comes with three DP to mini DP adapters, as well as the two aforementioned USB Type-C ports. Note that if you use tree displays, you can only use two Thunderbolt devices with the card. ASUS only mentions Windows 11 64-bit support, so it looks like Windows 10 won't be getting a driver and so far it would seem neither is Linux.

Gigabyte has quietly added the first Thunderbolt 5 add-in card to its website under the rather unimaginative name of Thunderbolts 5. The card itself is nothing remarkable when compared to Thunderbolt 4 add-in cards, although it sports a third mini DisplayPort input for unclear reasons, as well as two USB Type-C outputs. This time around Gigabyte has added support for more power though, as the card features a pair of what appears to be 6-pin PCIe power connectors and the card supports up to 100 W USB PD charging. Courtesy of the new JHL9580, or Barlow Ridge controller, the card offers support for DP 2.1 with resolutions of up to 8K at 60 Hz, as well as data speeds of up to 80 Gbps, or 120/40 Gbps in asymmetric mode.

Intel's JHL9580 controller has a PCIe 4.0 x4 host interface, the same as ASMedia's ASM4242 USB4 host controller and it's a big step up from Intel's previous Thunderbolt 4 controllers that were stuck with PCIe 3.0. Note that the JHL9580 is also offered in a Thunderbolt 4 version known as the JHL9540 which also uses a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface and offers DP 2.1 support, but slower speeds. Both of the new Barlow Ridge controllers also support USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps), something previous Thunderbolt controllers didn't. Intel has a list price for the JHL9580 of US$19, which is just over US$8 more than the JHL8540 Maple Ridge controller which launched in 2020, as such, expect Thunderbolt 5 add-in cards to come at an even higher price point than previous Thunderbolt 4 add-in cards. Gigabyte might be first out of the gate, but we expect most motherboard makers to follow suit with products of their own before the end of the year.

Over the last four years since the launch of PS5, we've worked hard to continuously evolve the console experience and deliver the great games our players expect from us. Today, I'm incredibly proud to announce the next step in that evolution and welcome PlayStation 5 Pro to the PlayStation family - our most advanced and innovative console hardware to date.

We developed PS5 Pro with deeply engaged players and game creators in mind - as many have asked for a console that runs even higher fidelity graphics with smoother frame rates at 60 FPS. We achieved this on PS5 Pro with several key performance features.

• Upgraded GPU: With PS5 Pro, we are upgrading to a GPU that has 67% more Compute Units than the current PS5 console and 28% faster memory. Overall, this enables up to 45% faster rendering for gameplay, making the experience much smoother.
• Advanced Ray Tracing: We've added even more powerful ray tracing that provides more dynamic reflection and refraction of light. This allows the rays to be cast at double, and at times triple, the speeds of the current PS5 console.
• AI-Driven Upscaling: We're also introducing PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-driven upscaling that uses a machine learning-based technology to provide super sharp image clarity by adding an extraordinary amount of detail.

Silkland, a tech brand specializing in cables and accessories, has released the first-ever 16K VESA-certified USB C to DisplayPort 2.1 cable to support the future of visual display technology, now available on Amazon. With support for 16K resolution, users can expect an unparalleled level of detail and realism, making the cable ideal for high-end computing, gaming, and professional applications. It is also backward compatible with 8K and 4K resolutions, ensuring a versatile and future-proof solution for all display needs.

One of the standout features of this cable is its bi-directional support, allowing it to connect USB C devices like laptops, phones, and tablets to DisplayPort monitors or connect DisplayPort devices like PC to USB C monitors. This flexibility makes it a versatile tool for a wide range of applications. Additionally, it is compatible with Thunderbolt 5/4/3, offering a plug-and-play experience with no drivers needed.

Cable Matters, a leader in developing cutting-edge connectivity solutions, introduces a USB4 20 Gbps Switch, meeting the diverse needs of today's dynamic remote workforce. This versatile, powerful device seamlessly blends performance, adaptability, and cost efficiency, offering users an unparalleled connectivity solution.

"The vision of this product grew from the needs of today's remote workforce," says Jeff Jiang, CEO of Cable Matters. "People are doing more than ever with multiple devices and require connectivity solutions that provide performance and flexibility at an affordable price." Unlike traditional switches, the USB4 20 Gbps Switch is engineered to handle two USB-C, USB4 or Thunderbolt enabled devices concurrently, effortlessly scaling to match the demands of gadget-intensive users. Users can instantly share a USB-C, USB4 or Thunderbolt monitor or docking station between two devices, and easily switch between them using either the unit's button or the included remote control.

Cable Matters, an industry leader in connectivity solutions, is excited to announce the integration of Thunderbolt Share technology from Intel into its existing Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station. This enhancement brings unprecedented Windows PC-to-PC connectivity and collaboration capabilities to the popular 16-in-1 docking solution.

Thunderbolt Share is an innovative software application that enables fast and seamless Windows PC-to-PC connectivity. By leveraging the power of Thunderbolt 4, users can now transfer files, share storage devices, and enjoy smooth screen sharing with minimal latency, enhancing productivity and collaboration.

Get the benefits of cutting-edge Thunderbolt 4 technology in a universal docking station that conveniently mounts to your desk, enhanced with a gas-lift arm for one or two (with SB-DSAM) monitors. The Sabrent Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with Monitor Desk Mount (DS-T4WA) docking station connects through Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) to deliver a TB4 downstream port as well as four USB ports - two 10 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x1) USB-C ports, one 10 Gbps USB-A port, and one 5 Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1x1) USB-A port - to host a wide range of devices. Also built-in is a UHS-II (312MBps) microSD/SD card reader, a 3.5" audio in/out port, and Gigabit Ethernet (1GbE) for fast and reliable wired network connectivity. Dock and expand with ease.

Quickly and conveniently configure your displays to match your work environment. Combine the station with one to three monitors (see note) with output up to 8K@30 Hz (DP/HDMI) or 8K@60 Hz/4K@144 Hz (TB4) singly and 4K@60 Hz (DSC) simultaneously in extended or mirrored display modes. The desired displays may be connected via the HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and TB4 ports. The single arm on this mount, or dual arms with our Upgrade Kit (SB-DSAM), support the standard VESA 75/100 mounting patterns for monitors and displays up to 32" in size and 10 kg/22lbs in weight. The gas-lift controls vertical positioning from 0-650 mm and the arm plate is capable of 360-degree swivel, 90- to -45-degree tilt, and +/- 90-degree rotation for ultimate flexibility.

Tech manufacturer JSAUX announces a new product in its line of handheld accessories. After having released successful new items such as the transparent backplate or the ModCase, the company reveals today a blend of docking station and stand, codenamed HB0609, that is compatible with the future ROG Ally X plus other handheld devices such as the ROG Ally, the Steam Deck or the Legion Go. This two-in-one design helps keep the console in a vertical position while offering a multifunctional six-in-one interface and is available for $45.99.

Unleash the full potential of your handheld device, (Steam Deck, ROG Ally, ROG Ally X or Legion Go) with a multifunctional docking station that also works as a console stand. Display your handheld either at your living or your gaming room while taking advantage of its connectivity. The docking station and stand feature the following ports:

Cable Matters, a leader in providing top-tier connectivity solutions, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking Thunderbolt 5 cable manufactured by Lintes Technology Co., Ltd. The cable is available in 3 different lengths: 1 foot, 1.6 feet and 3.3 feet. This latest innovation delivers unparalleled performance, supporting up to 80 Gbps of bi-directional data transfer and up to 120 Gbps of video bandwidth, a substantial leap from the previous Thunderbolt 4 technology.

The new Thunderbolt 5 cable by Cable Matters represents a significant advancement in connectivity technology, offering increased bandwidth and power delivery capabilities. The Bandwidth Boost technology enables the cable to transmit up to 120 Gbps for the best display experience, providing up to 3 times increase over Thunderbolt 4's maximum bandwidth. This enhancement is particularly beneficial for demanding applications such as high-resolution video streaming, extensive data transfer, and high-speed gaming.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of premium gaming hardware, today launched the cutting-edge AMD Radeon PRO W7000 series workstation graphics cards, including the flagship GIGABYTE Radeon PRO W7900 Dual Slot AI TOP 48G as well as the GIGABYTE Radeon PRO W7800 AI TOP 32G. Powered by AMD RDNA 3 architecture, these graphics cards offer a massive 48 GB and 32 GB of GDDR6 memory, respectively, delivering cutting-edge performance and exceptional experiences for workstation professionals, creators and AI developers.⁠⁠

GIGABYTE stands as the AMD professional graphics partner in the market, with a proven ability to design and manufacture the entire Radeon PRO series. Our dedication to quality products, unwavering business commitment, and comprehensive customer service empower us to deliver professional-grade GPU solutions, expanding user's choices in workstation and AI computing.

Radxa is a Chinese manufacturer of various Arm based devices and something of a minor competitor to the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The company has just launched its latest product which is called the ROCK 5 ITX. As the name implies, it's a Mini-ITX form factor motherboard, which in itself is rather unusual for Arm based hardware to start with. However, Radxa has designed the ROCK 5 ITX to be a NAS motherboard and this is the first time we've come across such a product, as most Arm based boards are either intended for hobby projects, software development or routers. This makes the ROCK 5 ITX quite unique, at least based on its form factor, as it'll be compatible with standard Mini-ITX chassis.

The SoC on the board is a Rockchip RK3588 which sports four Cortex-A76 cores at up to 2.4 GHz and four Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz. This is not exactly cutting edge, but should be plenty fast enough for a SATA drive based NAS. The board offers four SATA 6 Gbps connectors via an ASMedia ASM1164 controller, each with an individual power connector next to it. However, Radxa seems to have chosen to use fan-header type power connectors, which means it'll be hard to get replacement power cables. The board also has a PCIe 3.0 x2 M.2 slot for an NVMe drive. The OS boots from eMMC and Radxa supports its own Roobi OS which is Debian Linux based.

Targus, the number one third-party docking station and laptop bag brand in the US1 and a leader in laptop cases and mobile computing accessories, today announced the availability of its new USB4 Triple Video Docking Station with 100 W Power (DOCK460). With full USB4 (and Thunderbolt) speeds in a triple video enterprise-grade dock, this Alternate Mode dock packs all of the ports and power necessary to support and power a wide variety of laptop brands and various platforms.

"Our new DOCK460 is an outstanding docking solution for enterprise users who want more power, speed, and performance than previously available, while offering ultra-compatibility with a wide variety of laptop brands and platforms," explains David Dorantes, Director, Product Marketing, Targus. "With this powerful dock, users can enjoy a native triple-video workstation that stays charged and ready with 100 W power delivery, plus the addition of a USB4 connection and 2.5G Ethernet."

Intel's next-generation Xe2 "Battlemage" graphics architecture is expected to introduce a significant update to the display engine over the current Xe "Alchemist." The display engine handles the various display I/O of the GPU. For most users with a single display that's running at or under 4K @ 60 Hz, this is irrelevant, however, as your resolution, refresh-rates, color bit-depth, and dynamic-range go up, some of the newer display connector formats become relevant. Intel beat both NVIDIA and AMD to be the first GPU maker to implement DisplayPort 2.1 albeit with a UHBR10 link layer (which is needed for DP 2.1). The DP 2.1 spec prescribes certain optional higher link layer bit-rates, such as UHBR13.5 and UHBR20. AMD was the first to implement UHBR13.5 and UHBR20 with the Radiance display engine in its RDNA 3 GPUs, and we're learning that Intel wants to catch up.

Driver patch notes unearthed by Phoronix find references to Arc "Battlemage" GPUs supporting UHBR13.5. These drivers are believed to have previously supported UHBR20, but support for the higher bit-rate was removed from the current version of drivers. It indicates that Intel is still evaluating the higher bit-rates on its unreleased GPUs, and production-ready versions could implement at least UHBR13.5. DisplayPort 2.1 with UHBR13.5 (13.5 Gbps per lane), over a DP80-ready DisplayPort cable yields a maximum resolution of uncompressed 8K @ 60 Hz with HDR, or 4K @ 240 Hz with HDR. Intel is expected to debut "Battlemage" with its Core Ultra 200-series "Lunar Lake" mobile processors, later this year.

Sony is preparing to launch its next-generation PlayStation 5 Pro console in the Fall of 2024, right around the holidays. We previously covered a few graphics details about the console. However, today, we get more details about the CPU and the overall system, thanks to the exclusive information from Insider Gaming. Starting off, the sources indicate that PS5 Pro system memory will get a 28% bump in bandwidth, where the standard PS5 console had 448 GB/s, and the upgraded PS5 Pro will get 576 GB/s. Apparently, the memory system is more efficient, likely coming from an upgrade in memory from the GDDR6 SDRAM of the regular PS5. The next upgrade is the CPU, which has special modes for the main processor. The CPU uArch is likely the same, with clocks pushed to 3.85 GHz, resulting in a 10% frequency increase.

However, this is only achieved in the "High CPU Frequency Mode," which steals the SoC's power from the GPU and downclocks it slightly to allocate more power to the CPU in highly CPU-intense settings. The GPU we discussed here is an RDNA 3 IP with up to 45% faster graphics rendering. The ray tracing performance can be up to four times higher than the regular PS5, while the entire GPU delivers 33.5 TeraFLOPS of FP32 single-precision computing. This comes from 30 WGP running BVH8 shaders vs the 18 WGPs running BVH4 shaders on the regular PS5. There are PSSR upscalers present, and the GPU can output 8K resolution, which will come with future software updates. Last but not least, the AI front also has a custom AI accelerator capable of 300 8-bit INT8 TOPS and 67 16-bit FP16 TeraFLOPS. Audio codecs are getting some love, as well, with ACV running up to 35% faster.

Elgato, a brand of CORSAIR, today announced the launch of two new capture cards, 4K X and 4K Pro. Equipped with the latest chipsets and outstanding specifications, these capture cards enable creators to give their audiences the best viewing experiences on all platforms—without compromising their top-tier gaming experience on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, high-end gaming PCs, or handheld consoles like Nintendo Switch. 4K X, a USB card, features up to 4K144 passthrough and capture. 4K Pro, a PCIe card, boasts up to 8K60 HDR10 passthrough and 4K60 HDR10 capture. Setting yet another benchmark in streaming technology, Elgato is again putting gamers at the cutting edge of content creation.

"Over 10 years ago, we revolutionized the process of capturing and sharing high-quality gameplay content for creators worldwide," said Julian Fest, SVP and GM of Elgato. "Today, we're excited to continue removing barriers for creators with the launch of 4K X and 4K Pro. Combining HDMI 2.1 connectivity, vivid HDR10, and flexible VRR passthrough up to 8K60 for the first time in a game capture card, these products will take user-generated content to greater heights."

Chinese consumer electronics giant Hisense showcased its latest audio-visual innovations at the 2024 CES show in Las Vegas this week. The company unveiled massive, ultra-high-end televisions as well as advances in its Laser TV lineup. Headlining Hisense's CES showcase was the 110UX, a 110-inch television with 40,000 backlighting zones and a searing 10,000 nits peak brightness. With unmatched contrast and brightness, Hisense calls it one of the most impressive 100+ inch TVs ever made. Also on display was the 98UX, a 98-inch set capable of 144 Hz refresh rates alongside over 10,000 local dimming zones. Beyond these flagship models, Hisense also introduced its thinnest Mini LED TV to date - the 75UX. At just 14 millimeters thin, Hisense claims it sets a new industry benchmark for slim design without compromising picture quality.

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced that it has published the latest update to DisplayPort, version 2.1a. This update replaces the VESA certified DP40 ultra-high-bit-rate (UHBR) cable specification with a new VESA certified DP54 UHBR cable spec to enable up to four-lane UHBR13.5 link rate support (a maximum throughput of 54 Gbps) over a two-meter passive cable. As a result, the DisplayPort 2.1a update effectively doubles the passive cable length for UHBR13.5 GPU-to-display connections—which previously could only be supported through a DP80 UHBR cable—providing consumers with greater flexibility in their gaming or workstation setup.

VESA also announces it has published a new Automotive Extension Services protocol specification for both DisplayPort 2.1a and the latest version of VESA's Embedded DisplayPort (eDP) specification, version 1.5a. This new protocol extension provides support for automotive display functional safety as well as secure integrity and authentication for up to 16 display regions of interest. With the VESA Automotive Extension Services protocol, VESA has for the first time established a standard for vehicle displays that can enable display safety engineers to achieve ISO 26262 ASIL-D* - the holy grail of electronic safety integrity. Silicon manufacturers are already adopting VESA's Automotive Extension Services protocol today for chipsets that will be integrated in future vehicles.

Kensington, a worldwide leader of desktop computing and mobility solutions for IT, business, and home office professionals, today announced the launch of the SD5800T Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Video Docking Station. The powerful plug-and-play docking station supports up to four 4K monitors, delivers data transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps, provides up to 100 W of power delivery, and features 16 connectivity ports enabling users to release the potential of their premium laptops.

Providing a true plug-and-play experience with no drivers or downloads required, the SD5800T is one of the first Thunderbolt 4 docks capable of supporting Quad 4K displays, and is compatible with Windows and macOS, as well as Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, and USB-C devices. Ideal for graphic designers, video editors, and animators, the 16-in-1 design includes built-in UHS-II SD and Micro SD card readers for the efficient transfer of files at ultra-fast speeds.

Baseus Technology, the leading global consumer electronics brand, has prepared a stack of fast-charging USB-C chargers, the "Let's C" lineup. It includes fast chargers, power banks, charging cables, digital power strips, and car chargers for the iPhone 15.

Fast, Durable, and Sustainable Let's C Cables
Baseus Let's C Flash Series II, the USB-C to C Cable is a full-featured cord that supports up to 240 W fast charging and a data transfer speed of up to 40 Gbps, which is perfect for moving ProRes files shot with the new iPhone 15 Pro lineup. It was tested only to take 5s to transfer 10 GB files according to test results from Baseus, and it also supports a high-resolution output going up to 8K@60 Hz. This level would fascinate even videophiles.

Cable Matters, an industry-leading connectivity solutions supplier, today unveiled a unique USB-C Keyboard, Video, Mouse (KVM) switch dock for two computers. The Cable Matters USB-C KVM Switch Dock lets two devices share a single keyboard and mouse, charger, peripherals, and two ultra high-definition displays over a single USB-C connection. It combines the performance of a USB-C dock, which offers a one-cable connectivity solution, with the flexibility of a USB-C switch, which shares peripherals between multiple devices.

The KVM Switch Dock will revolutionize the work-from-home experience, which is plagued by two common connectivity challenges. Many business-class laptops lack essential display or peripheral ports. Remote workers sharing a workspace with their business and personal devices struggle for space or constantly hot-swap work and personal laptops between shared USB peripherals and monitors.

THX Ltd., a world-class high-fidelity audio and video tuning, certification, and technology company, today announced it is launching THX Interconnect, designed in partnership with Pixelgen. THX Interconnect are a family of Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 cables capable of delivering 100% uncompressed 48 Gbps signaling to optimize the fidelity and reliability of nearly any sized or configured home theater system. THX is also relaunching its popular home theater installer THX Certified Training series. Both will be highlighted in early September in Denver, Colorado at the CEDIA Expo.

"The THX mission is to empower high-fidelity entertainment, regardless of where and how consumers want to enjoy movies, music and games," said Jason Fiber, chief executive officer, THX Ltd. "The THX Interconnect cables ensure all home theater components work in harmony at the highest resolutions, regardless of the length. We are pleased to bring home theater enthusiasts around the globe this cost-effective and incredibly reliable new solution. We also look forward to reintroducing the THX Certified Training program which has been dormant for a few years but is back due to overwhelming demand from the home theater installation industry."