The jump from 40Gbps to 120Gbps changes everything for external GPUs and SSDs. Here is the definitive breakdown.
By The Hardware Team
EasyDriveCompare.com
For years, creatives and gamers have been stuck at 40Gbps. While fast, Thunderbolt 4 had a secret limit: it capped PCIe bandwidth (data for SSDs and GPUs) at just 32Gbps.
This meant even the fastest external NVMe drive could never run at full speed. Thunderbolt 5 shatters this limit.
| Feature | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Bandwidth | 40 Gbps | 80 Gbps (Bidirectional) |
| Bandwidth Boost | N/A | Up to 120 Gbps |
| PCIe Throughput | 32 Gbps | 64 Gbps |
| Monitor Support | Two 4K @ 60Hz | Three 4K @ 144Hz |
Normally, Thunderbolt sends data in two lanes: one sending, one receiving. But what if you are just sending video to a massive 8K monitor? You don't need to "receive" much data back.
Thunderbolt 5 is smart. It can switch lanes to "transmit only" mode, pushing a massive 120Gbps in one direction. This is huge for high-refresh-rate gaming monitors and professional video walls.
YES. The PCIe bandwidth doubles from 32Gbps to 64Gbps. This removes the "choke point" that made external graphics cards perform poorly in the past.
MAYBE. If you edit off a single SSD, TB4 is fine. But if you use a high-speed RAID array or edit 8K footage, TB5 will let you scrub through timelines with zero lag.
Check out our guide to the fastest NVMe drives available today.
Whether you stick with Thunderbolt 4 or upgrade to 5, you need a drive that can keep up.
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