PCI Express Thunderbolt 4 Card: Asus ThunderboltEX 4 Review

If you are looking for a way to upgrade your PC with the latest Thunderbolt 4 technology, you might want to check out the PCI Express Thunderbolt 4 Card. This card is designed to provide you with blazing-fast data transfer speeds, versatile connectivity options, and high-quality video output. In this article, we will review the features, specifications, and performance of the Asus ThunderboltEX 4 card and see how it compares to other Thunderbolt 4 cards on the market.

What is Thunderbolt 4?

Thunderbolt 4 is the newest generation of Thunderbolt technology, which is a standard for connecting devices and peripherals to a computer. Thunderbolt 4 offers several advantages over previous versions, such as:

• 40 Gbps bi-directional bandwidth, which is twice as fast as Thunderbolt 3 and eight times faster than USB 3.2 Gen 2.
• USB4 compatibility, which means that Thunderbolt 4 devices can work with USB4 devices and vice versa.
• DisplayPort 1.4 support, which enables 8K Ultra HD video output and HDR10 content.
• Daisy-chaining up to five Thunderbolt devices per port, which allows you to connect multiple devices with a single cable.
• Up to 100-watt USB-C power delivery, which can charge laptops and other devices quickly and safely.

What is Asus ThunderboltEX 4?

Asus ThunderboltEX 4 is an expansion card that adds two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports to your PC. It is an Intel-certified Thunderbolt 4 add-on card that requires a PCIe 3.0 x4 slot and a Thunderbolt header on your motherboard. The card comes with two mini DisplayPort cables, a USB 2.0 cable, a 14-1 pin Thunderbolt header cable, a user manual, and a support DVD with Thunderbolt driver.

The card has two USB Type-C ports that support Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 protocols. The first port (Type-C_1) can deliver up to 20V/5A, 100W of power to charge your laptop or other devices. The second port (Type-C_2) can deliver up to 9V/3A, 27W of power. Both ports can transfer data at up to 40Gbps for Thunderbolt devices and up to 20Gbps for USB4 devices.

The card also has two mini DisplayPort inputs that allow you to connect up to two Thunderbolt monitors or one 8K monitor to your PC. You can also use an adapter to connect other types of displays, such as HDMI or VGA. The card supports DisplayPort 1.4, which enables 8K Ultra HD resolution at 60Hz, 5K resolution at 120Hz, or 4K resolution at 240Hz. It also supports HDR10 content and multi-stream transport (MST).

The card has an internal 6-pin PCIe power connector that is required for the quick charge function of the Type-C_1 port. It also has a USB 2.0 header and a Thunderbolt header that connect to your motherboard. The card measures 11.77 x 18.05 cm and weighs 0.5500 kg. It has a 1-year warranty and a full box quantity of 20.

How does Asus ThunderboltEX 4 perform?

Asus ThunderboltEX 4 is one of the first Thunderbolt 4 cards available on the market. It offers impressive performance and compatibility for users who want to enjoy the benefits of Thunderbolt 4 technology. The card can handle multiple devices and peripherals with ease, such as external hard drives, SSDs, docks, hubs, eGPUs, audio interfaces, and more. It can also deliver stunning video quality and smooth gameplay with high-resolution monitors and VR headsets.

The card is easy to install and use, as long as your motherboard supports Thunderbolt 4 and has a Thunderbolt header. You will need to download and install the latest Thunderbolt driver from the Asus website or the support DVD. You will also need to enable Thunderbolt support in your BIOS settings and connect the cables properly. The card has a blue LED indicator that shows the status of the Thunderbolt connection.

The card is compatible with Windows 10 and Linux operating systems. It also works with Mac computers that have Thunderbolt 3 ports, such as MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Pro. However, you will need to use an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter to connect the card to your Mac.

How does PCI Express Thunderbolt 4 Card compare to other Thunderbolt 4 cards?

Asus ThunderboltEX 4 is not the only Thunderbolt 4 card on the market. There are other options from different brands, such as Gigabyte GC-Titan Ridge 2.0, MSI Thunderbolt M3, and ASRock Thunderbolt 4 AIC. Here are some of the main differences and similarities between these cards:

• Gigabyte GC-Titan Ridge 2.0: This card has the same features and specifications as the Asus ThunderboltEX 4, except that it has a 9-pin USB 3.1 Gen 2 header instead of a USB 2.0 header. It also has a different design and color scheme.
• MSI Thunderbolt M3: This card has only one Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) port and one mini DisplayPort input. It also has a 9-pin USB 3.1 Gen 2 header and a 5-pin TB header. It has a smaller size and a lower power consumption than the Asus ThunderboltEX 4.
• ASRock Thunderbolt 4 AIC: This card has two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports and two mini DisplayPort inputs, like the Asus ThunderboltEX 4. However, it does not have any internal power connectors, headers, or LEDs. It also has a different design and color scheme.

Do you want to make your PC faster and better? You should try the PCI Express Thunderbolt 4 Card. This is a device that you can attach to your PC. It can help you with:

– Data transfer. It can move data very fast, up to 512 Gbps. This is much faster than other devices.
– Connectivity. It can connect to many different types of devices, such as monitors, keyboards, and hard drives. You can connect up to five devices per port.
– Video output. It can show high-quality video on your screen. You can enjoy clear and sharp images.

This device works well with Windows, Linux, and Mac systems. You just need to make sure your PC has Thunderbolt 4 and a special slot for the card. It is easy to install and use. It is one of the first and best cards that use Thunderbolt 4.