[GUIDE] Gigabyte X99 GA-X99-Designare EX i7-6950X

[bkzdrpapi]

I also cannot figure out how to get the Thunderbolt 3 port to work on this motherboard in windows or in Sierra 12.2.3. Its driving me crazy.

Hopefully we can get some help here. Continuing to search for solutions both windows/mac. Will update if any info is found.

Thunderbolt 3 confirmed working I have a UAD Apollo Twin MKII working... you need to do the work in windows...

Goto Gigabyte Website.... when you goto the download section...always checks that it says windows 10.... you will find the Thunderbolt Flash program...

Uninstall the driver... flash the thunderbolt chip.... restart computer.... install driver.... restart the computer....
in bios.... legacy mode.... gpu on.... and also i think i had the boot option on alll under the thunderbolt section

It should work... i got mines up and running tonight.

 

[GodHawk]

Ok, so I needed to run that flash program THAT IS CRITICAL.

Also had to change my BIOS settings to legacy mode, enable boot option and enable rom overide

 

[Apples2Oranges]

Hey Apples2Oranges, just wondering if you've had any luck with your startech TB3-TB2 and the X99 designaire?

I followed this guide in an attempt to get TB visible in OSX- basically install windows and update firmware https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/thunderbolt-3-success-ga-z170x-ud5-th-startech-thunderbolt-3-to-thunderbolt-adapter.200902/
The changes to Intel(R)Thunderbolt in BIOS described in the guide results in a boot hang at [PCI Configuration begin] and to get back into Sierra I have to go back to BIOS and hit F7 to load optimised results, then on Chipset screen change Intel Virtualization Technology VT-x to Enabled (from Rocket88's awesome guide which I followed for my build https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/rocket-88-i7-6950x-gigabyte-ga-x99-designare-ex-sierra-10-12-2.210140/).
Once back in OSX my Thunderbolt devices don't seem to be detected, probably because I changed the thunderbolt BIOS settings back to normal- I've tried playing around with those settings but any changes mean I cant boot OSX.

It actually took me 2 weeks of despair to get OS X to boot at all after installing win10 - thanks to RehabMan and GoingBald for helping figure this out

I'm now trying to get my uad apollo To connect to OSX via the startech adaptor again and was curious as to your progress!
Many thanks!

Hi Green,

Sadly, no progress so far... I've tried the exact steps you mentioned (Updating driver and then the Firmware on the PC side and then correcting the BIOS settings) and still no luck. I even tried connecting the included "Displayport In" cable from my GTX 780 to my MB and that didn't change anything.

 

[Apples2Oranges]

Thunderbolt 3 confirmed working I have a UAD Apollo Twin MKII working... you need to do the work in windows...

Goto Gigabyte Website.... when you goto the download section...always checks that it says windows 10.... you will find the Thunderbolt Flash program...

Uninstall the driver... flash the thunderbolt chip.... restart computer.... install driver.... restart the computer....
in bios.... legacy mode.... gpu on.... and also i think i had the boot option on alll under the thunderbolt section

It should work... i got mines up and running tonight.

@bkzdrpapi is the bomb! Thank you! I had to enable TB boot support and gfx support and now it works!

 

[beronium]

Hey X99 Designare EX Users,

I'm up to build a fast video system based on this mobo and I want to check with you about stabilty.
Did you experience any random re-boots or the like?
How did Thunderbolt work out for you? Is it running stable?

Reason for asking is I would need a system with Thunderbolt for transferring lots of video files per day.
And I decided for a GA X99-Designare EX over the ASUS X99-A II (which often is reported as 'running like a charm') because of having more PCIe 3.0 lanes which I will need.

Many thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Apples2Oranges]

Hey X99 Designare EX Users,

I'm up to build a fast video system based on this mobo and I want to check with you about stabilty.
Did you experience any random re-boots or the like?
How did Thunderbolt work out for you? Is it running stable?

Reason for asking is I would need a system with Thunderbolt for transferring lots of video files per day.
And I decided for a GA X99-Designare EX over the ASUS X99-A II (which often is reported as 'running like a charm') because of having more PCIe 3.0 lanes which I will need.

Many thanks for your thoughts!

Hey @beronium, the x99 chipset isn't for the faint of heart. The GA-x99-Designare-EX is particularly tricky imho because of all the extra goodies (TB and extra PCIEx16 lanes). But if you follow this guide: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-gigabyte-x99-ga-x99-designare-ex-i7-6950x.214481/page-2#post-1473406
You'll start in pretty good shape, but you'll have a lot to do afterward.

As for a Thunderbolt system, I would say it's okay, but it only has 1 TB3 port. When you use a TB3 to TB2 adapter, it WILL NOT LET YOU DAISYCHAIN TB2 DEVICES. I learned this one the hard way. So if you need to transfer between two TB2 Drives, it isn't going to happen on this board as far as I know. Also, the TB3-TB2 adapters seem to limit the compatibility. For example, I have trouble sometimes with the new G-Tech Pro enclosures and my Areca TB2 Raid.

One note, If all you plan to do is transfer files, you don't need a powerhouse system. However, if you're like me and need to copy massive amounts of video content and then transcode that content on set, then you might need the power that x99 gives you.

 

[beronium]

Hey @beronium, the x99 chipset isn't for the faint of heart. The GA-x99-Designare-EX is particularly tricky imho because of all the extra goodies (TB and extra PCIEx16 lanes). But if you follow this guide: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-gigabyte-x99-ga-x99-designare-ex-i7-6950x.214481/page-2#post-1473406
You'll start in pretty good shape, but you'll have a lot to do afterward.

As for a Thunderbolt system, I would say it's okay, but it only has 1 TB3 port. When you use a TB3 to TB2 adapter, it WILL NOT LET YOU DAISYCHAIN TB2 DEVICES. I learned this one the hard way. So if you need to transfer between two TB2 Drives, it isn't going to happen on this board as far as I know. Also, the TB3-TB2 adapters seem to limit the compatibility. For example, I have trouble sometimes with the new G-Tech Pro enclosures and my Areca TB2 Raid.

One note, If all you plan to do is transfer files, you don't need a powerhouse system. However, if you're like me and need to copy massive amounts of video content and then transcode that content on set, then you might need the power that x99 gives you.

Hey Apples2Oranges,

many thanks for your detailed reply! It seems I would use the system pretty much the same way you do - transferring lots of video data, appling a primary grade to it and transcode the files to various formats. So the TB compatibility is of high interest for me as I thought you could daisy-chain TB2 devices. Now I have to quickly re-think my RAID options (which I hoped could be an external TB2). That info in particular is very valuable!
I'm following up a lot of threads here at Tony's - also the one you posted - that's why originally I thought to go with the ASUS X99-A II, till I figured I would need 4 PCIe 3 lanes (2x GFX, 1 Video IO, 1 SAS controller)

 

[Apples2Oranges]

Hey Apples2Oranges,

many thanks for your detailed reply! It seems I would use the system pretty much the same way you do - transferring lots of video data, appling a primary grade to it and transcode the files to various formats. So the TB compatibility is of high interest for me as I thought you could daisy-chain TB2 devices. Now I have to quickly re-think my RAID options (which I hoped could be an external TB2). That info in particular is very valuable!
I'm following up a lot of threads here at Tony's - also the one you posted - that's why originally I thought to go with the ASUS X99-A II, till I figured I would need 4 PCIe 3 lanes (2x GFX, 1 Video IO, 1 SAS controller)

Another option is USB 3.1... I have that enabled on my system but haven't been able to test it yet as there really aren't any deices for it yet. It supposedly works through the TB3 connector as well as a dedicated USB type A connector. But if Areca, Promise and others like them start making USB 3.1 devices, that would suite us for quite a while.

 

[flmmkr]

As for a Thunderbolt system, I would say it's okay, but it only has 1 TB3 port. When you use a TB3 to TB2 adapter, it WILL NOT LET YOU DAISYCHAIN TB2 DEVICES. I learned this one the hard way. So if you need to transfer between two TB2 Drives, it isn't going to happen on this board as far as I know. Also, the TB3-TB2 adapters seem to limit the compatibility. For example, I have trouble sometimes with the new G-Tech Pro enclosures and my Areca TB2 Raid.

This particular board also has a Thunderbolt header. What about adding the Gigabyte (or even the Asus) Thunderbolt 3 card to have 2 separate Thunderbolt ports/controllers? Would that work? I'm interested in building a new Hackintosh system and it's between the Gigabyte X99 Designare EX (being discussed here) and the Asus X99 Deluxe II (basically same install as the X99-A II) which have seen much more success than the Designare. If the Designare can have 2 fully functional Thunderbolt 3 ports that would push me to that board, otherwise I'd go with the higher success rate of the X99 Deluxe II.

 

[michaiel]

Anybody been able to update their OS to 10.12.5? I am still running 10.12.3 and have not been able to figure out the order to install the OS update and the NVIDIA driver