Hardware information specialist YuuKi-AnS has released detailed slides on the Barlow Bridge controller specifically for the Arrow Lake-S platform, confirming its integration in upcoming motherboards designed for this platform. A key enhancement in Thunderbolt 5 is its support for PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, offering a bandwidth of 64 Gbps. This is a significant advancement, doubling the bandwidth capabilities of Thunderbolt 3/4, and is particularly beneficial for applications involving external GPUs. Prior implementations with PCIe Gen3x4 or Gen4x2 have been inadequate for modern graphics requirements, leading to a rise in alternatives like the OCulink connector, which already supports full PCIe Gen4x4 bandwidth. Thunderbolt 5 is expected to become a more widely adopted solution for future GPU enclosures due to its enhanced bandwidth capabilities.

Thunderbolt 5's notable features and requirements include:

• PCIe Gen4 x4 support offering 64 Gbps full duplex bandwidth.
• DisplayPort 2.1 support with capabilities up to 80 Gbps.
• Asymmetric operation supporting 120 Gbps transmit and 40 Gbps receive, in addition to the standard symmetric 80 Gbps transmit/receive.
• Use of PAM3 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation with three levels) for improved data transfer efficiency.
• Mandatory support for dual 6K monitor setups.
• Required 140W Power Delivery (PD) for charging, with an optional extension to 240W.
• Increased Thunderbolt networking bandwidth, going from 10 Gbps full duplex to 20 Gbps full duplex.
• Compatibility with existing Thunderbolt 3 cables up to 1m for the enhanced speeds.

In line with USB4 Version 2.0, Thunderbolt 5 incorporates asymmetrical connections, allowing for up to 120 Gbps bandwidth in one direction and 80 Gbps in both directions. The standard also includes support for DisplayPort 2.1 and mandates a 140W Power Delivery, with an optional upgrade to 240W.