Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Intel is finally leverage itsThunderboltplatform to give you a direct connection between two of your PCs . Thunderbolt Share , a unexampled feature launching today through some Thunderbolt 4 and 5 PCs and add-on , allows you to deal data file , use the same peripherals , and sync your data point across two dissimilar systems — and all with a single cable .
There are a few different way to set this up . Most obviously , you’re able to connect two PCs and a exclusive monitor to a Thunderbolt sour grass , or connect two PCs through a Thunderbolt reminder . The more unique advantage with Thunderbolt Share is a daisy - Sir Ernst Boris Chain setup . you could link up two Thunderbolt PCs directly to each other and pass everything through to your monitor .
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
It ’s not hard to share peripherals and even re-create file between multiple PCs if you already have a Thunderbolt docking facility or admonisher . The fact that you’re able to connect two microcomputer directly is a bit of trick , however .
It does n’t exercise automatically . Thunderbolt Share is an app that will connect the two personal computer together , and Intel is heedful to note that you postulate Thunderbolt support on both end of the cable — even USB - C wo n’t work . However , only one gadget needs Thunderbolt part support . If you have aThunderbolt 5or 4 porthole , it will work as long as at least one equipment in the chain keep going Thunderbolt Share .
From there , you’re able to only select to do one thing at a time . There are four options in the app :
you could do all of this through various unlike methods now , some of which are more convenient — aKVM switchfor your monitor come to mind . Thunderbolt Share stands out by condensing all of this functionality into one spot with a individual cable television service . On top of that , it ’s using a cable , so you do n’t have to occupy about your security system like when transpose files over a meshing , and you ’re getting the full speed and bandwidth of Thunderbolt .
There are some pretty decipherable downsides to Thunderbolt Share , however , at least right now . For starters , it only works on PC . That should n’t come as much of a surprise . The more pressing government issue is blind communion .
When deal computer peripheral , Thunderbolt Share will rain cats and dogs the display of one of your PC to your primary display . This appears in a window , and it ’s limited to 1080p at up to 60 build per second . Even in a work stage setting , that ’s fairly low . forward-looking monitors are pushing to higher resolutions and refresh rate , even if you do n’t use them for gaming .
Even with those issue , it ’s exculpated this is just the first iteration of Thunderbolt Share , and the feature of speech will likely be updated as novel rendering of Thunderbolt are free . In society to unlock the feature , you ’ll need a compatible accoutrement . Intel says party like MSI , Lenovo , Razer , Acer , Belkin , and Kensington will have PCs and accessories available this year .
