Gigabyte Introduces Thunderbolt 5 Add-In Card

Gigabyte has recently unveiled the first Thunderbolt 5 add-in card on its website, simply named Thunderbolts 5. While the card may not seem extraordinary compared to Thunderbolt 4 add-in cards, it does come with a third mini DisplayPort input and two USB Type-C outputs. Notably, Gigabyte has enhanced power support this time around, with the card featuring two 6-pin PCIe power connectors and the ability to support up to 100 W USB PD charging. Thanks to the new JHL9580, or Barlow Ridge controller, the card can handle DP 2.1 with resolutions up to 8K at 60 Hz and data speeds of up to 80 Gbps, or 120/40 Gbps in asymmetric mode.

Intel's JHL9580 controller boasts a PCIe 4.0 x4 host interface, similar to ASMedia's ASM4242 USB4 host controller, marking a significant improvement from Intel's previous Thunderbolt 4 controllers that were limited to PCIe 3.0. The JHL9580 is also available in a Thunderbolt 4 version known as the JHL9540, which also utilizes a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface and offers DP 2.1 support, albeit at slower speeds. Both Barlow Ridge controllers support USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps), a feature absent in previous Thunderbolt controllers.

Intel has set a list price of US$19 for the JHL9580, slightly higher than the JHL8540 Maple Ridge controller released in 2020. Consequently, Thunderbolt 5 add-in cards are expected to be priced even higher than Thunderbolt 4 add-in cards. While Gigabyte is the first to launch such a product, it is anticipated that other motherboard manufacturers will introduce their own versions before the year ends.