{"product_id":"asus-thunderboltex-4-pcie-card-dual-thunderbolt-4-ports","title":"ASUS ThunderboltEX 4 PCIe Card - Dual Thunderbolt 4 Ports","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review the ASUS ThunderboltEX 4 is evaluated as a niche internal I\/O card for desktop builders who need flexible, high-bandwidth connectivity. The card's single biggest selling point is its use of the Intel Thunderbolt 4 JHL 8540 controller and two USB Type-C ports that support up to 40Gb\/s bi-directional bandwidth, which makes it suited to users who want to attach high-speed storage, external GPUs, or 8K-capable monitors. The review focuses on real-world compatibility, installation experience, and whether the card delivers the advertised throughput and charging capability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIntel Thunderbolt 4 controller:\u003c\/strong\u003e The JHL 8540 chip provides the platform-level support required for Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 performance and device compatibility.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo Type-C ports:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dual USB Type-C ports mean a system can host multiple Thunderbolt devices and support daisy-chaining up to five Thunderbolt-enabled devices per port.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e40Gb\/s bandwidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Each port offers up to 40Gb\/s bi-directional bandwidth to accommodate high-speed NVMe enclosures, capture devices, and professional peripherals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDisplayPort 1.4 support:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mini DisplayPort IN ports let the card redirect video and support DisplayPort 1.4 monitors up to very high resolutions, suitable for single 8K displays via compatible hardware.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQuick charge support:\u003c\/strong\u003e The card can provide up to 100W quick charge power delivery to compatible devices, useful for powering laptops and large peripherals from the Type-C port.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eASUS motherboard requirement:\u003c\/strong\u003e The card is designed to work with supported ASUS motherboards to enable the full feature set and firmware-level compatibility.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ThunderboltEX 4 is aimed at creative professionals, power users, and content creators who need high-throughput external connections from a desktop PC, such as external NVMe arrays, Thunderbolt docks, capture cards, or eGPUs. It is also useful for users who want DisplayPort redirection to drive very high resolution monitors from a system without native Type-C display output.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is not the best choice for users with non-ASUS motherboards or those who want a plug-and-play USB expansion without attention to driver and firmware compatibility. Casual users who only need a few USB ports or modest charging will find cheaper alternatives without Thunderbolt 4 features.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh performance with the Intel Thunderbolt 4 JHL 8540 controller delivering consistent 40Gb\/s bandwidth for demanding peripherals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo Type-C ports with USB 4 support and daisy-chain capability give flexible connection options for multiple Thunderbolt devices.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDisplayPort 1.4 support allows redirection to very high resolution monitors when combined with compatible inputs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUp to 100W quick charge provides substantial power delivery for laptops and accessories from the Type-C port.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnly supports ASUS motherboards, which limits compatibility across systems and requires checking motherboard support lists.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSome customers reported mixed installation and driver experiences, so setup may require troubleshooting on certain systems.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eController\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntel Thunderbolt 4 JHL 8540\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePorts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4 \/ USB 4)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBandwidth\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 40Gb\/s bi-directional per port\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDisplay Support\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDisplayPort 1.4 via two mini DisplayPort IN ports\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePower Delivery\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to 100W quick charge support\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCompatibility\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOnly supports compatible ASUS motherboards\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ThunderboltEX 4 is a practical upgrade for ASUS-based desktop systems that need professional-grade external connectivity. For users with supported motherboards who require reliable 40Gb\/s links, multi-device daisy chaining, and high-resolution display redirection, it represents strong value compared with external docks. Those on non-ASUS boards or who want the simplest possible setup should consider other USB expansion options.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill this card work on non-ASUS motherboards?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is designed to work only with supported ASUS motherboards, so compatibility on other brands is not guaranteed and likely limited.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use both Type-C ports simultaneously at full speed?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the card provides Thunderbolt 4 USB 4 support on both Type-C ports with up to 40Gb\/s bi-directional bandwidth per port for high-speed devices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the card provide Power Delivery for laptops?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe card supports up to 100W quick charge power delivery to compatible devices, but actual charging performance may vary in real-world conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ASUS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48177856184539,"sku":"B08ZS3D6JY","price":115.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71P_MmVXLpL._AC_SL1500.jpg?v=1769519605","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/asus-thunderboltex-4-pcie-card-dual-thunderbolt-4-ports","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}