Thunderbolt currently supports the PCI Express and DisplayPort protocols, and could reduce the number of connectors needed to attach peripherals such as monitors and storage devices to computers. Thunderbolt could ultimately replace protocols such as USB 3.0, but Intel insists that the technologies are complementary.

Intel originally talked about Thunderbolt in 2009, when it said the technology would be delivered with optical cabling. However, initial builds of Thunderbolt are being delivered using copper wires, with optical cabling coming later this year, Intel has said. Optical technology could help provide faster data transfers over longer distances than electrical technology.