How to Get the Best Performance from Thunderbolt

With a new Thunderbolt cable now out the door and several existing Macs already supporting the I/O standard, Apple is outlining the methods through which customers can get the best performance.

First things first, Apple says in a Support document posted online this week.

According to the Cupertino tech giant, “To help you get the best Thunderbolt reliability and performance, make sure to download and install the latest software updates on your Thunderbolt-capable Mac.”

One of those is actually a newly-released Thunderbolt Firmware Update which, according to the release notes, “provides Thunderbolt performance and stability fixes.”

However, since Thunderbolt Firmware Update 1.0 requires OS X 10.6.8, you may be required to download and install more than one software package.

But Apple’s got you covered. Here’s what you need to do, according to the Mac maker:

1. From the Apple () menu, choose Software Update to see a list of any updates for your computer. After installing the updates and restarting your Mac, run Software Update again to see if more updates appear.

2. Use System Profiler to determine which versions of software and firmware your Mac currently has.
· From the Apple () menu, choose About this Mac.
· Click More info.
· To see the Boot ROM version, click Hardware and examine the Boot ROM version field.
· To see the Mac OS version and build information, click Software and examine the System Version field.
· To see Thunderbolt firmware, click Thunderbolt and examine the Firmware version and Port micro fields.

Cupertino asks customers to note that if they re-install their operating system from DVD, they are required to disconnect Thunderbolt before starting the installation.

Only after the installation customers are supposed to “run Software Update and […] apply all available Mac OS X updates before reconnecting any Thunderbolt devices,” according to Apple.

In the same knowledge base article, Apple also lists the current level of software required for best Thunderbolt performance.