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ASUS ThunderboltEX II PCIe Expansion Card - Testing Thread

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BoomR said:
Hey friend
Click to expand...

hey there, BoomR

i got myself a dual port card
the general info from the TBEX thread doesn't make it clear the way the controller functions on a hack

it'd be nice to make it clear that:
any driver version prior to v3 on windows configures the device in a way that will make OSX see the device upon RESTARTING from windows and will keep it configured between RESTARTS

shutdown makes it necessary to boot into windows again

but that's not the reason I'm writing

my tech-guru friend with a reputation in all parts of the world is currently hardware modding my dual port controller to make it work natively in macos, he has done so with a single port controller of his while modding it to work WITHOUT the header for people with a mac pro and such

but it suddenly occurred to me, that i haven't tried the simple path of forcing the TB kext to load via

<key>ForceKextsToLoad</key>
<array>
<string>\System\Library\Extensions\AppleThunderboltNHI.kext</string>
</array>

since i don't have the controller as it is being surged - can you please try that config.plist string and see if it is recognized as a native controller and if the firmware modding is an overkill on my part since my mobo has the GPIO header?

my interest is not the cosmetic nativeness, but dropping the windows requirement and enabling hot-plug

thank you

offtopic P.S.
i've also seen your last post in another thread that you are servicing your X99 system. could you please tell me why? for i suspect the hack is unstable under heavy GPU+CPU load in these systems, I'm doing my last test before sending my cpu for warranty (everything else has been swapped)
 
thenightflyer said:
If your TB drive is formatted for Mac and it's a Raid you will never see and use it in Windows even if you have Paragon HFS software...
What HD model do you have?
Click to expand...

You have to use MACDRIVE for HFS RAID Support. Mine works 100% with this software. I use Paragon NTFS on the Mac side for proper NTFS Support although it does cause issues from time to time.
 
jimfoon said:
You have to use MACDRIVE for HFS RAID Support. Mine works 100% with this software. I use Paragon NTFS on the Mac side for proper NTFS Support although it does cause issues from time to time.
Click to expand...
I used MacDrive and i had my OS drive ****ed....same was for my raid. I was able to recover them and data so i don't want to hear anymore of MacDrive software :D
 
Is it possible to attach an apple display to a Thunderbold adapter but use the GPU of a Graphics Card ? :)
 
Yea just plug the display port out of your discreet graphics card into the TB card Port corresponding with your Monitor. This it's the only way to get video to pass through the TB ports (in some cases I suppose you could patch the motherboards discreet graphics through the card but I feel like that's less common than dedicated graphics for these builds)
 
thenightflyer said:
I used MacDrive and i had my OS drive ****ed....same was for my raid. I was able to recover them and data so i don't want to hear anymore of MacDrive software :D
Click to expand...

That's unfortunate. I'm assuming it was a while ago. I have been using since version 6 and admittedly it was clunky. But since 8 it has been very stable and they have added RAID support which I use constantly. I never have any issues anymore. I did at one time have a drive format blank but recovered as well but that was 5 years ago under Windows 7 (now using 10). Also Paragon NTFS causes some drives not to mount properly in OSX from time to time and I end up disabling the driver. Can't speak for the HFS version for Windows.
 
Anyone noticed that there is a firmwareupdate for this card available on ASUS Website?
Look here: http://www.asus.com/Motherboard-Accessories/ThunderboltEX_IIDUAL/HelpDesk_Download/

It took my Card from NVM Version 22 to NVM Version 28:

thunderbolt_firmwareupdate.PNG


Update and new drivers availlable since May, 12th 2016 on the ASUS website.

On my ASRock Extreme7+ Z170 Skylake machine i updated the card under Windows, restart the machin under El Capitan, and... NOTHING!?!

Restartet, deactivated Thunderbolt in BIOS (v3.00) and rebooted into El Capitan, and... BINGO, all connected Thunderbolt devices are availlable under El Capitan! Don't ask me why - but its the truth.



After shutdown and restart (with disabled Thunderbolt in BIOS): no Thunderbolt devices under WINDOWS or El Capitan. Have to restart with enabled Thunderbolt, boot into El Capitan, restart with disabled Thunderbolt in BIOS, boot into El Capitan - et voila... all thunderbolt devices avail. Don't understand why.... but who cares if it is working (this way).



Thats the way i configured my CLOVER config.plist:

Code: 
    <key>Arbitrary</key>
     <array>
       <dict>
         <key>Comment</key>
         <string>Radeon R9 280x Graphics Controller</string>
         <key>CustomProperties</key>
         <array>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>@5,name</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <data>QVRZLEp1bnNhaQ==</data>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>@4,name</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <data>QVRZLEp1bnNhaQ==</data>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>@3,name</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <data>QVRZLEp1bnNhaQ==</data>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>@2,name</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <data>QVRZLEp1bnNhaQ==</data>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>@1,name</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <data>QVRZLEp1bnNhaQ==</data>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>@0,name</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <data>QVRZLEp1bnNhaQ==</data>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>hda-gfx</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>onboard-1</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>ATY,DeviceID</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <data>mGc=</data>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>subsystem-vendor-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <data>QxAAAA==</data>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>ATY,EFIVersion</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <data>MDEuMDAuMzE4MA==</data>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>AAPL00,DualLink</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <data>AQAAAA==</data>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>vendor-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <data>AhAAAA==</data>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>device-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <data>mGcAAA==</data>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>model</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>Radeon R9 280x</string>
           </dict>
         </array>
         <key>PciAddr</key>
         <string>02:00.0</string>
       </dict>
       <dict>
         <key>Comment</key>
         <string>DSL5520 Thunderbolt Controller [Falcon Ridge]</string>
         <key>CustomProperties</key>
         <array>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>device-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;6D150000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>vendor-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;86800000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>model</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>ASUS Thunderbolt EX II Dual</string>
           </dict>
         </array>
         <key>PciAddr</key>
         <string>0A:00.00</string>
       </dict>
       <dict>
         <key>Comment</key>
         <string>DSL5520 Thunderbolt Controller [Falcon Ridge]</string>
         <key>CustomProperties</key>
         <array>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>device-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;6D150000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>vendor-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;86800000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>model</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>ASUS Thunderbolt EX II Dual</string>
           </dict>
         </array>
         <key>PciAddr</key>
         <string>0B:00.00</string>
       </dict>
       <dict>
         <key>Comment</key>
         <string>DSL5520 Thunderbolt Controller [Falcon Ridge]</string>
         <key>CustomProperties</key>
         <array>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>device-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;6C150000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>vendor-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;86800000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>model</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>ASUS Thunderbolt EX II Dual</string>
           </dict>
         </array>
         <key>PciAddr</key>
         <string>0C:00.00</string>
       </dict>
       <dict>
         <key>Comment</key>
         <string>DSL5520 Thunderbolt Controller [Falcon Ridge]</string>
         <key>CustomProperties</key>
         <array>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>device-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;6D150000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>vendor-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;86800000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>model</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>ASUS Thunderbolt EX II Dual</string>
           </dict>
         </array>
         <key>PciAddr</key>
         <string>0B:03.00</string>
       </dict>
       <dict>
         <key>Comment</key>
         <string>DSL3510 Thunderbolt Controller [Cactus Ridge]</string>
         <key>CustomProperties</key>
         <array>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>device-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;49150000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>vendor-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;86800000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>model</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>ASUS Thunderbolt EX II Dual</string>
           </dict>
         </array>
         <key>PciAddr</key>
         <string>0D:00.00</string>
       </dict>
       <dict>
         <key>Comment</key>
         <string>DSL3510 Thunderbolt Controller [Cactus Ridge]</string>
         <key>CustomProperties</key>
         <array>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>device-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;49150000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>vendor-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;86800000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>model</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>ASUS Thunderbolt EX II Dual</string>
           </dict>
         </array>
         <key>PciAddr</key>
         <string>0F:00.00</string>
       </dict>
       <dict>
         <key>Comment</key>
         <string>DSL5520 Thunderbolt Controller [Falcon Ridge]</string>
         <key>CustomProperties</key>
         <array>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>device-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;6D150000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>vendor-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;86800000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>model</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>ASUS Thunderbolt EX II Dual</string>
           </dict>
         </array>
         <key>PciAddr</key>
         <string>0B:04.00</string>
       </dict>
       <dict>
         <key>Comment</key>
         <string>DSL5520 Thunderbolt Controller [Falcon Ridge]</string>
         <key>CustomProperties</key>
         <array>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>device-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;6D150000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>vendor-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;86800000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>model</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>ASUS Thunderbolt EX II Dual</string>
           </dict>
         </array>
         <key>PciAddr</key>
         <string>0B:05.00</string>
       </dict>
       <dict>
         <key>Comment</key>
         <string>DSL5520 Thunderbolt Controller [Falcon Ridge]</string>
         <key>CustomProperties</key>
         <array>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>device-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;6D150000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>vendor-id</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>&lt;86800000&gt;</string>
           </dict>
           <dict>
             <key>Key</key>
             <string>model</string>
             <key>Value</key>
             <string>ASUS Thunderbolt EX II Dual</string>
           </dict>
         </array>
         <key>PciAddr</key>
         <string>0B:06.00</string>
       </dict>
     </array>
First entry is for R9 280x GFX card, the rest for the ASUS Thunderbolt EX II DUAL card. DPCIManager lists the following PCIdevices:
pci-devices.png
 
Last edited:
Hi Tony,

I've just got a Asus Thunderbolt ex2 Dual & my rig is :- Asus Z170-deluxe, i7 6700k, 32GB DDR4 Ram, Zotac Gtx970,
when i try to enable my thunderbolt in my bios i cant get El Capitan 10.11.4 to load but cant guide me how to go about....
 
Hi guys, small question: can we wake up the card from a virtual windows installation (VMWare, Parallells, ...)? I don't feel like messing around with my hackintosh install now that it's working. I don't have a dual boot atm.

Thanks!
 
farid007 said:
Hi Tony,

I've just got a Asus Thunderbolt ex2 Dual & my rig is :- Asus Z170-deluxe, i7 6700k, 32GB DDR4 Ram, Zotac Gtx970,
when i try to enable my thunderbolt in my bios i cant get El Capitan 10.11.4 to load but cant guide me how to go about....
Click to expand...

About your motherboard - Asus Z170 DELUXE - i intend to buy that motherboard to work with the thunderboltex II and my apple thunderbolt display. Did you manage to make the thunderboltex II card work with asus Z170 deluxe motherboard? Thanks in advance!
 
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