Intel lets PCs connect directly and share peripherals via Thunderbolt Share

Intel will make it possible to connect two PCs directly with each other via a Thunderbolt cable. Thunderbolt Share can be used for sharing files, but also for connecting monitors and other peripherals.

The new feature of Intel's fast cable standard gives four options after connecting the two PCs. It is possible to take control of the other computer, synchronize folders, transfer files via a kind of dual Explorer interface and transfer data from an old to a new PC.

When taken over from the PC, the image is transmitted in the original resolution, without compression being applied. At 1080p resolution this is guaranteed at 60Hz; at higher resolutions the refresh rate depends on the capabilities of both PCs. The connection can be via a direct point-to-point connection between the two PCs, but also via a docking station or monitor with Thunderbolt support. Each device must offer Thunderbolt 4 or 5.

Like Thunderbolt itself, the Share option uses Intel VT-d to secure the transfer. In addition, a password may be required and sensitive operations can only be performed locally. System administrators can disable or limit the function as desired via a group policy. For now, Thunderbolt Share only works on Windows and not on macOS or Linux.

Thunderbolt Share is in fact a software product that Intel licenses to manufacturers of PCs and other Thunderbolt accessories. You can't purchase it yourself for now, but you can install it on two PCs once you buy a device certified for Thunderbolt Share, whether that's one of those PCs or an accessory like a dock. MSI, Lenovo, Acer, Kensington, Belkin and Razer, among others, are said to be working on PCs and accessories with a Share license. Intel does not want to say what such a license costs a manufacturer in response to questions from Tweakers. The first devices will be on the market this year.