<< Solved >> Does my motherboard support Thunderbolt 3?

[GiHomer]

Hi,
I've built my Hackintosh using the GA Z170N Wifi and am currently trying to set it up to be used with a Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface. The integrated USB C Port doesn't work, and I read that you need to get a PCIe Card (GC Alpine Ridge). I also read though, that not all motherboards support this card and I'm not sure whether mine will, before I go ahead and buy it.
If it doesn't work, are there any other Mini-ITX Motherboards, which will support such a card or even have native Thunderbolt?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Jamesbond007]

Hi,
I've built my Hackintosh using the GA Z170N Wifi and am currently trying to set it up to be used with a Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface. The integrated USB C Port doesn't work, and I read that you need to get a PCIe Card (GC Alpine Ridge). I also read though, that not all motherboards support this card and I'm not sure whether mine will, before I go ahead and buy it.

If it doesn't work, are there any other Mini-ITX Motherboards, which will support such a card or even have native Thunderbolt? Thanks in advance!

No, your motherboard does not support Thunderbolt 3 as it does not have the Thunderbolt hardware onboard. Having a USB-C port does NOT mean having Thunderbolt support.

Your motherboard also does not have a Thunderbolt add-in card connector, which means no support for Thunderbolt 3 cards like the GC Alpine Ridge you mentioned.

As far as I know, for current ITX motherboards only the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac has Thunderbolt 3 support :

ASRock > Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac

Supports 9th and 8th Gen Intel Core™ processors (Socket 1151); Supports DDR4 4500MHz+ (OC); 1 PCIe 3.0 x16; Graphics Output Options: HDMI, DisplayPort; 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec), Supports Creative Sound Blaster™ Cinema 5; 1 Intel Thunderbolt™ 3 Type-C; 4 SATA3, 2 Ultra M.2...

www.asrock.com

The older ASRock Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac also has Thunderbolt 3 support :

ASRock > Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac

Supports 8th Generation Intel Core™ Processors (Socket 1151); Supports DDR4 4333+(OC); 1 PCIe 3.0 x16; Graphics Output Options: HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt™ 3 Type-C; 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec), Supports Creative Sound Blaster™ Cinema 3; 6 SATA3, 1 Ultra M.2 (PCIe Gen3 x4 &...

www.asrock.com

You will also need a new 8th generation or 9th generation i3/i5/i7/i9 CPU to go with either of the above motherboards.

The even older ASRock Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming-ITX/ac also has Thunderbolt 3 support and works with your CPU :

ASRock > Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming-ITX/ac

Mini-ITX; ASRock Super Alloy; Supports 7th and 6th Generation Intel Core™ i7 / i5 / i3 / Pentium / Celeron Processors (Socket 1151)<div class=Remark><span style=color:red;>*</span>8th Gen Intel Core™ desktop processors are supported with Intel 300 Series chipset motherboards only; Supports DDR4...

www.asrock.com

But it has been phased out and is no longer available new.

And by the way, if you are running Mojave the GTX 960 is not supported due to lack of Nvidia drivers.

 

[GiHomer]

No, your motherboard does not support Thunderbolt 3 as it does not have the Thunderbolt hardware onboard. Having a USB-C port does NOT mean having Thunderbolt support.

Your motherboard also does not have a Thunderbolt add-in card connector, which means no support for Thunderbolt 3 cards like the GC Alpine Ridge you mentioned.

As far as I know, for current ITX motherboards only the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac has Thunderbolt 3 support :

ASRock > Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac

Supports 9th and 8th Gen Intel Core™ processors (Socket 1151); Supports DDR4 4500MHz+ (OC); 1 PCIe 3.0 x16; Graphics Output Options: HDMI, DisplayPort; 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec), Supports Creative Sound Blaster™ Cinema 5; 1 Intel Thunderbolt™ 3 Type-C; 4 SATA3, 2 Ultra M.2...

www.asrock.com

The older ASRock Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac also has Thunderbolt 3 support :

ASRock > Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac

Supports 8th Generation Intel Core™ Processors (Socket 1151); Supports DDR4 4333+(OC); 1 PCIe 3.0 x16; Graphics Output Options: HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt™ 3 Type-C; 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec), Supports Creative Sound Blaster™ Cinema 3; 6 SATA3, 1 Ultra M.2 (PCIe Gen3 x4 &...

www.asrock.com

You will also need a new 8th generation or 9th generation i3/i5/i7/i9 CPU to go with either of the above motherboards.

The even older ASRock Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming-ITX/ac also has Thunderbolt 3 support and works with your CPU :

ASRock > Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming-ITX/ac

Mini-ITX; ASRock Super Alloy; Supports 7th and 6th Generation Intel Core™ i7 / i5 / i3 / Pentium / Celeron Processors (Socket 1151)<div class=Remark><span style=color:red;>*</span>8th Gen Intel Core™ desktop processors are supported with Intel 300 Series chipset motherboards only; Supports DDR4...

www.asrock.com

But it has been phased out and is no longer available new.

And by the way, if you are running Mojave the GTX 960 is not supported due to lack of Nvidia drivers.

Thank you for the detailed answer!