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.

Dell laptops are widely considered to be among the best, and the company shows no signs of getting complacent. According to a fresh new leak, Dell is gearing up to announce new 16- and 18-inch workstation laptops, dubbed the Dell Pro Max 16 Plus and the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus. Of course, the naming scheme likely couldn't get any worse, but the leaked specifications certainly do seem enticing.

First and foremost, the laptops will be powered by Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake-HX CPUs, paired with up to an impressive 256 GB of CAMM2 memory. The graphics will be handled by NVIDIA RTX 5000-class GPUs, and the entire system will boast a 170 W and 200 W TDP for the 16- and 18-inch variants respectively. The 18-inch Dell Pro Max will be able to accommodate up to a whopping 16 TB of SSD storage, whereas the 16-inch Dell Pro Max will boast up to 12 TB of SSD storage.

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.

Other World Computing (OWC), a trusted leader in delivering high-performance, secure, and sustainable technology solutions that enhance and extend the life of Macs and PCs, today announced the general availability launch of the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub - opening a new world of workflow possibilities and performance. By turning a single cable connection into three Thunderbolt 5 ports and one USB-A port, the new OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub breaks the connectivity handcuffs of host machines not offering enough Thunderbolt 5 ports. With up to 80 Gb/s of bidirectional data speed - up to 2x faster than Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 - and up to 120 Gb/s for higher display bandwidth needs, the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub redefines productivity. Connect portable SSDs exceeding 6000 MB/s, up to three 8K displays @60 Hz with DSC, today's USB-C connector compatible devices, and yesterday's USB-A desktop accessories - all while keeping modern notebooks and tablets powered and charged up for mobile use with 140 watts.

"The bidirectional bandwidth design of the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub enables users to send and receive data simultaneously - making it ideal for connecting high-res displays, SSDs, and more without compromising speed," said Larry O'Connor, Founder and CEO, Other World Computing (OWC). "With three additional Thunderbolt 5 ports, users gain the flexibility to power multiple displays or create complex daisy chains with ease. The hub's 140 W power delivery guarantees notebooks and tablets remain charged, no matter how demanding the workload."

Other World Computing (OWC), a trusted leader in delivering high-performance, secure, and sustainable technology solutions that enhance and extend the life of Macs and PCs, today announced the full compatibility of its OWC Thunderbolt 5 innovations—including its OWC Envoy Ultra SSD and OWC Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) Cables—with the latest Mac mini powered by the new M4 Pro chip and MacBook Pro powered by the M4 Pro and M4 Max family of chips. With these cutting-edge OWC solutions, Apple users are empowered to unlock the full potential of Thunderbolt 5, and enjoy a new era of speed, reliability, and connectivity.

"Thunderbolt 5 unlocks a new world of possibilities for users, and OWC is proud to be at the forefront of this exciting evolution," said Larry O'Connor, CEO and Founder, Other World Computing (OWC). "With the Envoy Ultra SSD and our Thunderbolt 5 cables, we're giving Mac Mini and MacBook Pro users the speed, reliability, and power they need to push their workflows further than ever before - whether they're editing 8K video, managing massive data sets, or just staying connected on the go." He continued, "And, don't blink - because OWC is set to roll out even more Thunderbolt 5 innovations, including the powerful OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub, set for release in November."

Apple's much awaited M4-based Mac Mini is finally here. As previously indicated by analysts, the Mac mini has received a massive redesign - its first in over a decade. With an amazingly compact chassis that is significantly smaller than before, the Mac mini boasts impressive computing horsepower thanks to the M4 and M4 Pro chipsets, now starting with 16 GB of unified memory.

We are already quite familiar with the M4, which made its debut in the OLED iPad Pro last May. However, the M4 Pro is all-new, boasting up to a 14-core CPU with 10 P-cores and 4 E-cores along with up to a 20-core GPU. The standard M4 packs only 4 P-cores by comparison, and manages to quash Intel's Core Ultra 9 288V in synthetic benchmarks by as much as 60% while trading blows with AMD's Strix Point APUs. The M4 Pro features more than twice the number of P-cores, making it a suitable competitor for Intel's upcoming Arrow Lake-H lineup as well as AMD's Strix Halo.

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.

ASUS today unveiled a lineup of Z890 motherboards from the ROG Maximus, ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, Prime and ProArt families, supporting Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2). ASUS is marking the occasion with all-new motherboard features that accelerate performance and streamline the build process. ASUS AI Advisor is a new natural-language build assistant powered by AI. AEMP III, NitroPath DRAM Technology and DIMM Fit unleash DDR5 memory kits. NPU Boost provides overclocking of the integrated NPU in an Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) CPU for accelerated AI performancei. ROG M.2 PowerBoost provides more M.2 slots on a motherboard than ever before. On top of all that, there is Thunderbolt 5, WiFi 7 and new PC DIY features to discuss.

Primed to perform with Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2) in a new socket
Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2) use the new LGA 1851 socket. Users of these processors will need an Intel 800 series motherboard to use one, and a Z890 motherboard specifically to take advantage of CPU overclocking. These options feature up to 24 cores in a new disaggregated architecture. Performance-cores, aka P-cores, take center stage with their high clock rates, while a cluster of Efficient-cores, aka E-cores, provide high-end multithreaded performance.

MSI proudly introduces the next generation of motherboards, designed to pair seamlessly with Intel brand-new Core Ultra Processors. The Z890 MEG Series, MPG Series, MAG Series, and PRO Series motherboards are designed to harness the power of Intel's latest technology, delivering enhanced AI computing efficiency compared to previous generations. These boards provide exceptional performance with advanced features, MSI innovations, premium components, and improved connectivity. But what truly sets them apart is their user-friendly DIY solutions, empowering you to take control of your computing experience. Built with gamers, creators, and all users in mind, MSI's Z890 motherboards offer the very best in computing power. On launch, there will be 5 models available, which are the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K / 265KF, and Intel Core Ultra 5 245K / 245KF processors.

With the introduction of MSI's Z890 motherboards, designed to push performance boundaries and with a completely redesigned, more intuitive BIOS, users can now maximize motherboard performance with ease. Powered by MSI's Ultra Engine, memory design optimization enables overclocking up to 9200+ MT/s across the entire Z890 motherboard lineup. And with the returning of the MEG Z890 UNIFY-X, built with overclocking in mind, takes memory frequencies even higher, reaching up to 9600 MT/s. The Z890 motherboards incorporate a number of powerful features like AI Boost with the ability to overclock the NPU further for AI enhancement capabilities, Game Boost, Performance Preset, enhanced XMP Memory Profiles, and Memory Try It!, allowing users to elevate their system's performance to new heights.

GIGABYTE Technology, one of the top global manufacturers of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, today announced the launch of its revolutionary Z890 motherboards. These next-generation motherboards are set to redefine the standards in performance, AI integration, and user experience for enthusiasts and professionals alike. Powered by state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, these motherboards push the boundaries of what's possible in computing.⁠

Infinite Memory Performance
GIGABYTE Z890 lineup equips the D5 Bionic Corsa technology to create phenomenal new peaks in memory performance to DDR5 XMP 9500 and above. A true marvel of AI-enhanced overclocking technology for DDR5 memory, D5 Bionic Corsa boasts four key technologies from software, hardware to firmware side. The AORUS AI SNATCH and AI SNATCH Engine present AI-overclocking for ultimate performance, while AI-Driven PCB Design and HyperTune BIOS deliver AI-design for signal enhancement on motherboards. The AORUS AI SNATCH is an auto-overclocking software by AI model, and enables users to unleash utmost performance with one-click activation. The AI SNATCH Engine is the AI model served as the core of AORUS AI SNATCH software, trained by AI TOP on diverse overclocking datasets to improve precision and optimize performance with stability. The AI-Driven PCB Technology employs AI algorithms to optimize vias, routing and stackups, while the Hypertune BIOS uses AI to optimize MRC and adapt to signals for peak efficiency, significant memory clock boost, and enhanced overall performance.

Other World Computing (OWC), a trusted leader in delivering high-performance, secure, and sustainable technology solutions that enhance and extend the life of Macs and PCs, today announced the launch of the Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD - ready for pre-order today (shipping in October). Designed to maximize the performance of Mac and PC devices with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4 Thunderbolt 3, and USB4, this groundbreaking SSD sets a new benchmark with revolutionary speeds exceeding 6000 MB/s—making it up to twice as fast as Thunderbolt 4 and USB4.

"Intel's innovative Thunderbolt 5 technology sets a new standard for performance and simple connectivity, and OWC's Envoy Ultra SSD is a perfect example of how this technology can be harnessed to meet the needs of today's most demanding users," said Larry O'Connor, Founder and CEO, Other World Computing (OWC). "OWC continues to push the boundaries of what's possible, delivering a solution that not only leverages the full potential of Thunderbolt 5 but also opens up new possibilities for professionals and creatives alike."

The Revodok series is a collection of superior models from Ugreen hubs and docking stations. With the name Revodok, we hope to bring higher productivity and the better experience to users.

Revodok Thunderbolt 5 docking station is the latest product of Revodok series that will be shown at the IFA exhibition. Thunderbolt 5 docking station could deliver 80 of bi-directional bandwidth, and with Bandwidth Boost it will provide up to 120 Gbps for the best display experience, offering higher data transfer rates and more powerful video output capabilities compared to Thunderbolt 4 docks.

SCHENKER is updating the KEY series with three new models for 2024. As the most powerful laptop in the portfolio, the 17.3-inch KEY 17 Pro desktop replacement workstation receives a significant upgrade to its comprehensive features: two Thunderbolt 5 ports allow for maximum flexibility. With the fastest laptop processor, the Intel Core i9-14900HX, and graphics cards up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, the Varjo-Ready-certified KEY 17 Pro excels as a powerful, professional VR and content creation workstation. New additions to the product range include the 14-inch SCHENKER KEY 14 with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and the 16-inch KEY 16 Pro with an Intel Core i9-14900HX. Both models feature graphics cards up to the GeForce RTX 4070 and are NVIDIA GeForce RTX Studio certified.

SCHENKER KEY 17 Pro: Desktop Replacement Workstation with Two Thunderbolt 5 Ports, PCIe 5.0 SSD, Optional UHD Display, and Varjo-Ready Certification
The SCHENKER KEY 17 Pro (M24) succeeds its predecessor with a crucial upgrade: two Thunderbolt 4 ports have been replaced by two Thunderbolt 5 ports with a total bandwidth of 80 Gbps (shared by both ports, depending on the bandwidth requirement per connection) for the best display experience. This laptop provides maximum performance with the next generation of Thunderbolt 5 peripherals, such as multifunctional docking stations and high-performance external storage solutions or the newest DP2.1 based displays. One of these multi-purpose ports can also support charging the workstation with up to 100 watts. The significantly increased bandwidth compared to the previous generation allows for the operation of up to three external 4K monitors at 144 Hz or dual 6K displays. Thunderbolt 5 technology offers maximum flexibility, being backwards compatible with existing Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3 and USB peripherals. Additionally, Thunderbolt Share enables direct data exchange and ultra-low-latency screen sharing between two computers.

Sabrent teased its upcoming Rocket XTRM5 portable SSD. The company's flagship portable storage product, the drive implements Thunderbolt 5 (works on Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3 at reduced speeds). It is able to take advantage of Thunderbolt 5 with 80 Gbps per-direction bandwidth, although we haven't seen anything in the product's teaser to suggest that it implements the Intel Bandwidth Boost technology, which would have given it 120 Gbps on one of the directions (either reading or writing), while the other direction is reduced to 40 Gbps.

The Rocket XTRM5, like most portable SSDs these days, is an enclosure with an M.2-2280 slot inside. This one encloses an M.2 Gen 5 NVMe SSD, and while Sabrent hasn't put out any performance numbers, we expect them to be above 64 Gbps (Gen 4 x4 maximum theoretical bandwidth per direction), to take advantage of the 80 Gbps per direction Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth. It is slated to come in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB capacity variants. Its enclosure is well-ventilated, and is made of aluminium all around. The company didn't put out a release date.

MAINGEAR, the leader in premium-quality, high-performance gaming PCs, today unveiled its all-new 17-inch ML-17 gaming laptop developed in collaboration with CLEVO. Engineered for gamers who want a larger screen without compromising on power or portability, the ML-17 brings it all with the 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900HX mobile processor, Thunderbolt 5 technology, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 mobile GPU, and Wi-Fi 7.

"Continuing our partnership with CLEVO and Intel, our new collaboratively-developed 17-inch ML-17 gaming laptop raises the bar on what gaming laptops should be capable of delivering in terms of performance and overall value," said Wallace Santos, CEO at MAINGEAR. "Packed full of the latest, high-performance components, including the most powerful CPUs and GPUs available on the market, as well as premium specs like Thunderbolt 5 and Wi-Fi 7, this laptop delivers a top-tier gaming experience that parallels the kind of high-performance desktop-like gameplay that gamers demand, all in a backpackable form factor."

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.

Today, Intel announced Thunderbolt Share, a new software solution enabling PC-to-PC experiences that fundamentally change the way users interact with two PCs. Thunderbolt Share is offered with select PCs and accessories with Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 ports, enabling responsive screen-sharing and fast PC-to-PC file transfers for more flexible and productive workflows.

"We are excited to continue to lead the industry in connectivity solutions with Thunderbolt technology. Thunderbolt Share delivers on our aspiration to bring innovative solutions to the market and deliver new experiences for users to get the most out of their PCs. Now users can seamlessly access one PC from another at Thunderbolt technology speeds. It truly changes how users can be more productive and efficient," said Jason Ziller, Intel vice president and general manager of the Client Connectivity Division.

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today unveiled the Razer Blade 18 (2024) - the pinnacle of high-performance gaming laptops. Building on the success of the award-winning Blade 16 and Blade 14 unveiled at CES 2024, the Blade 18 sets a new benchmark for gaming and creative work with its unrivaled desktop-grade performance, housed within a sleek anodized aluminium unibody form factor.

"The Blade 18 embodies Razer's relentless drive to push the boundaries of what a gaming laptop can be, with a host of world's first innovations," says Travis Furst, Head of Notebook & Accessories Division at Razer. "We are excited to deliver the Blade 18 as it ushers in a new era of Razer products equipped with Thunderbolt 5, including upcoming cutting-edge Thunderbolt accessories. With these innovations, the Blade 18 blurs the line between desktop performance and mobile convenience, ensuring our users are equipped with nothing but the absolute best to dominate in gaming and creativity."

Serial leaker @yuuki_ans on X/Twitter has released details on Intel's upcoming Barlow Rridge Thunderbolt 5 controller which will be known as the JHL9580 or JHL9540 depending on the SKU. The good news is that Intel has finally moved to PCIe 4.0 for the bus interface, which was expected due to the increased bandwidth on offer by Thunderbolt 5 over Thunderbolt 3 and 4. Barlow Ridge will use a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface to connect to the host and it appears that the earlier leak that suggested native Thunderbolt support in Arrow Lake-S might be incorrect, as there are diagrams showing Barlow Ridge connected to Arrow Lake-S CPUs.

Besides the faster bus, Thunderbolt 5 brings asymmetrical data transmission support which means that for display applications there will be a 120/40 Gbps mode, whereas for data only applications Thunderbolt 5 will deliver a symmetrical 80 Gbps mode. We should point out that this only appears to apply to the JHL9580 SKU, which also supports 40 Gbps USB4 speeds, whereas the JHL9540 for some reason remains a Thunderbolt 4 controller. That said, both of the Barlow Ridge SKUs get support for 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, something that was lacking in previous Thunderbolt implementations. There will also be support for DisplayPort 2.1 via DP Alt Mode with full UHBR20 support when used with a DP80 certified cable. Actual data transfers are limited to the 64 Gbps PCIe 4.0 interface to the host system, just like USB4, but this does at least give Thunderbolt 5 extra head room for display data even in symmetrical mode. The Barlow Ridge controllers appear to be connected directly to the Arrow Lake-S CPUs via the PCIe 4.0 x4 interface, much in the same way USB4 host controllers connect to AMD's Ryzen 7000-series CPUS.

Other World Computing (OWC)—the leading end-to-end ecosystem solution provider of computer hardware, accessories, and software for both consumers and professionals - demonstrated three new cutting-edge Thunderbolt 5 devices at CES and Pepcom - two state-of-the-art multiport docks and a bus-powered portable storage solution - all powered by the latest Thunderbolt technology from Intel. For over a decade, OWC has led the way in creating innovative Thunderbolt solutions and that tradition continues with solutions designed to harness the lightning-fast data transfer rates and high-resolution display support of Thunderbolt 5. The new docking and storage solutions will quickly become the focal point for user's computer setups and workflows.

"We've been at the forefront, embracing new Thunderbolt technologies early on, and take pride in providing the most extensive range of Thunderbolt solutions globally," said Larry O'Connor, Founder and CEO of OWC. "Introducing Thunderbolt 5 to our customers is an exciting venture, enabling us to create even more innovative products."

IOGear unveiled a handful products relevant to content creators and creative professionals on the move, at the 2024 International CES. The star attraction here is the Quantum Thunderbolt 5 Dock Pro. It plugs into a Thunderbolt 5 upstream port, putting out three Thunderbolt 5 downstream ports, with display passthrough of dual 8K @ 60 Hz or triple 4K @ 120 Hz. The dock doesn't support the 120 Gbps Bandwidth Boost feature being mooted by Intel, but you'll definitely get 80 Gbps per direction. Also shown was the Quantum Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock, which supports up to one 8K @ 30 Hz display stream or dual 4K @ 60 Hz, within its 40 Gbps switching bandwidth. Both docks are TAA compliant.

Next up, we have the IOGear Upstream Pro 4-port HDMI to UVC mixer, which mixed and captures non-DRM HDMI inputs to PGM UVC video at resolutions of up to 4K @ 30 Hz. The Upstream Pro Seamless 2-port webcam matrix lets you switch between multiple web cameras within a live stream, so you can change the shot while you're live. There are also some handy adapters and cables. IOGear specializes in ports, cables and adapters of all shapes and sizes.

At CES 2024, Razer has updated its Blade laptop family spanning across various sizes, and even got a chance to present a "world's first" feature in a gaming product. The star of the Razer booth is the company's flagship Blade 16 laptop, which now supports 240 Hz refresh rate in its 16-inch OLED display format. Being the first to get there, Razer offers a high refresh rate at 2560 x 1600 QHD+ resolution. In addition to 0.2 ms response time and DCI-P3 100% color gamut, the display had VESA ClearMR 11000 and DisplayHDR True Black 500 certifications. At the center of the laptop is the 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, paired with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU with 175 Watt TGP. Pricing starts at $2999 for lower-end configurations and is available now.

Thunderbolt 5 is almost upon us. The new specification offers 80 Gbps bi-directional transfers, with up to 120 Gbps per-direction through lane asymmetry. The new Thunderbolt 5 + 8K60 Display Docking Station from j5create (model: JTD5172) takes advantage of Thunderbolt 5 to wire out next-gen connectivity. It plugs into one Thunderbolt 5 upstream port, putting out three downstream Thunderbolt 5. Each of the three double up as USB. You also have four type-A USB 3.2 ports, two each of 10 Gbps and 5 Gbps. When connected to a 2-pin power brick, the dock puts out a high-powered USB-PD 3.1 port with 140 W delivery. An SD/microSD 4.0 card reader, stereo audio through 4-pole 3.5 mm jack, and a 2.5 GbE wired networking interface make for the rest of it.

Intel earlier this week updated its desktop processor product stack with the introduction of the 14th Gen Core "Raptor Lake Refresh" processors. During our coverage of the processor, we erroneously mentioned that the processor supports the upcoming Thunderbolt 5 connectivity standard. Intel reached out to us for a correction, which revealed an interesting detail. Apparently, 14th Gen Core desktop processors do not support Thunderbolt 5, even though Intel has their own TB5 controller design codenamed "Barlow Ridge". However, these won't arrive before Q1 2024, the currently shipping "Maple Ridge" controller has only support for Thunderbolt 4. But even once Barlow Ridge is available, they will not be compatible with "Raptor Lake Refresh" socketed desktop processors.

Intel announced the Thunderbolt 5 standard in September, around the same time, it provided a technical reveal of its upcoming Core "Meteor Lake" mobile processors. The new standard provides a generational doubling in bandwidth to 80 Gbps (per direction), but relies on an exotic new feature called Bandwidth Boost. With this feature enabled, users get 120 Gbps of bandwidth in a particular direction, and 40 Gbps on its opposite direction.