- Joined
- Sep 13, 2013
- Messages
- 12
- Motherboard
- Dell Optiplex 3050 All in One
- CPU
- i5-7500T
- Graphics
- HD 630
- Mac
- Mobile Phone
****Please note that this was tested with a series 100 motherboard. Some users have noted issues on series 200 motherboards. Check posts for details. Feel free to test this and post your findings in this thread in order to help other users.
Unfortunately I do not have the machine anymore. I had to bite the bullet and purchase a MBPr as I needed a portable machine for work commitments.
Unfortunately I can no longer support this thread due to the lack of the hardware!
You may find other members in the thread that can help you*****
The Asus ThunderboltEX 3 uses a 5 pin TB header cable. My Gigabyte board has a 5 pin TB Header. The Gigabyte Thunderbolt 3 card is currently almost impossible to source where I live. The Asus expansion card can be sourced easily in Europe.
I have read a lot of comments from people in the forums speculating that all manufacturers use different pin configurations. I decided to ignore these comments, take the plunge and experiment.
I hope that my findings help others with Gigabyte Micro ATX boards that feature a Thunderbolt Header that are unable to source the Gigabyte Thunderbolt 3...
My main hardware:
Gigabyte GAZ170-MX Gaming 5
Intel 600P 256Gb NVME
EVGA SSC GTX 970
32GB RAM
Native Apple Broadcom Wireless/Bluetooth
Asus ThunderboltEX 3
I have a micro ATX Gigabyte motherboard. I work for a Pro Audio company and for a long time I have really wanted to purchase a UAD Apollo Twin. For the purpose of this test I borrowed a Focusrite Claret 4 Thunderbolt Audio interface from work. This was used with an Apple Thunderbolt cable and an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor.
I installed the Thunderbolt 3 card by Asus. It is very important that you install it in PCIE X4, on this board this is the slot nearest the Thunderbolt header itself. Connect to the thunderbolt header. Boot into Bios, enable Thunderbolt, change to no security/legacy mode etc
I booted into windows, installed the drivers from the Asus ThunderboltEX 3 support page. Then rebooted again in windows. All along I had the Thunderbolt interface connected. I installed the drivers for the Focusrite Clarett. I had to hot plug the device in Windows after installing the drivers to get it recognised. I opened the Focusrite software/virtual mixer view, tested and confirmed that all is working.
I left the device connected and rebooted into MacOS. It is important to do this as MacOS on the Hackintosh does not support Hot Plugging. I downloaded the Drivers from Focusrite for the interface and rebooted back into MacOS for good measure. I selected the Interface in Sound and opened the mixer by Focusrite. I tested for many hours. Flawless system sound and sound in every major DAW.
Update: I am not using OsxAptioFix2Drv-free2000.efi as others have found necessary for Thunderbolt to work. I am also on the latest Bios for this MB which is F20
I can confirm that Thunderbolt is working with the Gigabyte motherboard with the Asus TB3 card.
I have since installed the same card on a friends machine with same MB and they confirm that the UAD audio interfaces are working.
I am due to purchase a Universal Audio Interface and begin extensive testing this week.
I have yet to test the card with throughput from my graphics card, I already own an LG 4K monitor so I'm not ready to invest in the LG/Apple 5K display. I do not see any reason that it should not work. If I can borrow this display or an Apple Thunderbolt display from one of my colleagues then I will test.
UPDATE: See post below. Although the Thunderbolt is working I have some issues with it disappearing every now and then in the BIOS. This is resolved after several reboots...
Unfortunately I do not have the machine anymore. I had to bite the bullet and purchase a MBPr as I needed a portable machine for work commitments.
Unfortunately I can no longer support this thread due to the lack of the hardware!
You may find other members in the thread that can help you*****
The Asus ThunderboltEX 3 uses a 5 pin TB header cable. My Gigabyte board has a 5 pin TB Header. The Gigabyte Thunderbolt 3 card is currently almost impossible to source where I live. The Asus expansion card can be sourced easily in Europe.
I have read a lot of comments from people in the forums speculating that all manufacturers use different pin configurations. I decided to ignore these comments, take the plunge and experiment.
I hope that my findings help others with Gigabyte Micro ATX boards that feature a Thunderbolt Header that are unable to source the Gigabyte Thunderbolt 3...
My main hardware:
Gigabyte GAZ170-MX Gaming 5
Intel 600P 256Gb NVME
EVGA SSC GTX 970
32GB RAM
Native Apple Broadcom Wireless/Bluetooth
Asus ThunderboltEX 3
I have a micro ATX Gigabyte motherboard. I work for a Pro Audio company and for a long time I have really wanted to purchase a UAD Apollo Twin. For the purpose of this test I borrowed a Focusrite Claret 4 Thunderbolt Audio interface from work. This was used with an Apple Thunderbolt cable and an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor.
I installed the Thunderbolt 3 card by Asus. It is very important that you install it in PCIE X4, on this board this is the slot nearest the Thunderbolt header itself. Connect to the thunderbolt header. Boot into Bios, enable Thunderbolt, change to no security/legacy mode etc
I booted into windows, installed the drivers from the Asus ThunderboltEX 3 support page. Then rebooted again in windows. All along I had the Thunderbolt interface connected. I installed the drivers for the Focusrite Clarett. I had to hot plug the device in Windows after installing the drivers to get it recognised. I opened the Focusrite software/virtual mixer view, tested and confirmed that all is working.
I left the device connected and rebooted into MacOS. It is important to do this as MacOS on the Hackintosh does not support Hot Plugging. I downloaded the Drivers from Focusrite for the interface and rebooted back into MacOS for good measure. I selected the Interface in Sound and opened the mixer by Focusrite. I tested for many hours. Flawless system sound and sound in every major DAW.
Update: I am not using OsxAptioFix2Drv-free2000.efi as others have found necessary for Thunderbolt to work. I am also on the latest Bios for this MB which is F20
I can confirm that Thunderbolt is working with the Gigabyte motherboard with the Asus TB3 card.
I have since installed the same card on a friends machine with same MB and they confirm that the UAD audio interfaces are working.
I am due to purchase a Universal Audio Interface and begin extensive testing this week.
I have yet to test the card with throughput from my graphics card, I already own an LG 4K monitor so I'm not ready to invest in the LG/Apple 5K display. I do not see any reason that it should not work. If I can borrow this display or an Apple Thunderbolt display from one of my colleagues then I will test.
UPDATE: See post below. Although the Thunderbolt is working I have some issues with it disappearing every now and then in the BIOS. This is resolved after several reboots...
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