Intel's ‘Thunderbolt 2’ official, coming later this year
Intel's next Thunderbolt technology — hitherto known by the code name Falcon Ridge — now has an official moniker. The tech is slated to be built into future Intel chipsets. — Intel has officially dubbed the next version of its high-speed port “Thunderbolt 2.”
Context & Ripple Effects
Intel had been positioning Thunderbolt as a PC connection standard since its planned arrival on PCs in 2012, while also pursuing a faster version using PCI-Express 3.0. Thunderbolt 2 gives that next step a commercial name and places it on Intel’s future chipset roadmap.
The announcement matters because Intel is making the interface part of its platform cadence rather than treating Falcon Ridge as a standalone codename. Coverage across several technology outlets shows the naming and integration plan drew broad attention among PC-focused publications.
First-order effects
- PC makers adopting future Intel chipsets gain a defined path to offer Thunderbolt 2, replacing Falcon Ridge as the name used in product planning and marketing.
- Intel can attach its next high-speed port upgrade directly to future chipset sales, making chipset selection consequential for manufacturers that want the interface.
Second-order effects
- PC manufacturers that want Thunderbolt 2 must synchronize their port roadmaps with Intel’s chipset availability, concentrating early adoption among Intel-based systems.
- Peripheral makers targeting Thunderbolt-equipped PCs receive a clearer generation target, while the earlier USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt roadmap keeps high-speed I/O choice a platform-level design decision.
Third-order effects
- If Intel continues bundling successive connection technologies into chipsets, control over PC I/O standards shifts toward the processor-platform roadmap rather than individual device makers.
- The move points to competition among PC platforms being shaped not only by compute performance but also by which ports and expansion options are integrated into the chipset.
The trend: Intel is using chipset integration to turn high-speed connectivity into a recurring differentiator of its PC platform generations.