Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
able Write Caching on the Disk), if available, especially if all volumes on the drive are
formatted using NTFS.
Thunderbolt Technology
At the fall 2009 Intel Developer Forum Intel demonstrated a prototype data connection
technology that was codenamed “Light Peak.” The term came from the fact that the tech-
nology would be available over both optical (light) and electrical (copper) cable connec-
tions. During the demonstration Intel indicated that this technology would transfer data
initially at 10Gbps, with the potential ability to achieve 100Gbps over the next decade.
Finally, in February 2011, Intel officially introduced Light Peak under the name Thunder-
bolt Technology.
Thunderbolt is described by Intel as “the fastest way to get information in and out of your
PC and peripheral devices” and at the initial 10Gbps data rate it can transfer a full-length
HDmovie inlessthan30seconds,orafullyearofMP3playback injustover10minutes.
Thunderbolt is a multi-function interface that combines high-speed data transfer as well
as digital audio/video signals on a single cable.
Thunderbolt is currently implemented via a Thunderbolt controller chip at each end ofthe
connection, one in the PC and one in the attached device. On the PC side, the controller
may also be integrated directly into the motherboard chipset. The Thunderbolt controller
combines PCI Express and DisplayPort audio/video signals at one end, and splits them
back apart at the other (see
Figure 14.21
). This allows fewer connectors to do more work,
which will be especially useful in laptops or smaller systems where connector space is
tight.
Figure 14.21
Thunderbolt Technology connection combining PCIe and DisplayPort on a single cable.
The initial electrical implementation of Thunderbolt uses the Mini DisplayPort connector
that was introduced as part of the DisplayPort 1.2 specification in Dec. 2009. You can
tell a Thunderbolt-enabled Mini DisplayPort connector from a standard Mini DisplayPort
connector by a Thunderbolt logo or icon next to the connector (see
Figure 14.22
).
