Razer has just announced the launch of its latest gaming laptop, the 2024 Razer Blade 18, and it introduces a groundbreaking feature that sets it apart from other laptops on the market. The new Blade 18 is the first notebook to come equipped with Thunderbolt 5, offering three times the bandwidth of its predecessor Thunderbolt 4, from 40Gbps to 120Gbps.
This substantial increase in bandwidth will result in smoother performance when working with multiple high-resolution displays and opens up possibilities for connecting desktop-class GPUs through external docks. Intel is banking on this new technology to revive the popularity of external GPUs, and has hinted at the potential for “external AI accelerators” in the future.
In addition to the Thunderbolt 5 feature, the Razer Blade 18 boasts impressive specs across the board. It is powered by an Intel HX-series CPU, the Core i9-14900HX, making it the thinnest laptop in its size category. The laptop also offers two premium display options, including a 4K display with a 200Hz refresh rate and a QHD+ 300Hz mini-LED option with 1000-nits peak brightness.
The graphics are powered by the latest Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series GPUs, with a new cooling system that aims to prevent battery swelling issues. Other features include a 5-megapixel webcam with Windows Hello support, THX spatial audio, Wi-Fi 7, and a 330W GaN charger.
The Razer Blade 18 is available for purchase on the company’s online store, with prices starting at $4,800 for the highest configuration. While the Blade 18 is one of the first laptops to feature Thunderbolt 5, it is expected that more laptops will adopt this new standard in the future, potentially leading to a resurgence in the use of external GPUs.
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