Hey there
my friend needs to buy a new PC.
So i configured him a AMD Build, which i´m very happy by myself.

But he has the UAD Apollo x8p Thunderbolt 3 Rack.
So we had a talk with the sellers, who said USB4 is practically Thunderbolt (3)
But UAD still writed, no AMD Support (It could work, but no support)

I found this board for AMD with USB4: Together with the Ryzen9 7900X
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/X870E-AORUS-PRO#kf

Wikipedia and the Internet says, USB4 is TB3 compatible.

So does anybody has a AMD AM5 Build with Apollo Hardware via Thunderbolt?

Otherwise we need to go to Intel.
I searched for the Intel Ultra 7 265KF
And this board:
https://www.gigabyte.com/de/Motherboard/Z890-AORUS-ELITE-X-ICE#kf

He works with Ableton and has Orchestral Projects with 40+ tracks and heavy effects. UAD + many software VSTs.

Can Ableton utilize the cores from the new intel Ultra Cpus?
I also think that the Ultra CPUs are better then the latest i9, am i right?
Or do we better go with the i9 14900k?

The base clock is lower on the i9 than on the ultra 7

I hope somebody can help us to go with AMD

Bye bye

 

Last edited: Nov 26, 2024

For the Thunderbolt,
maybe an option could be adding a PCIe card like ASUS Thunderboltex4

If it's compatible, you can get the AMD and that's the best option..

On the Software side..
As a Composer the best DAWs would be Logic or Cubase (they have Expression Maps)
or Reaper (Reaticulate is the alternative)

In terms of Performance: Reaper

Ableton's forte is Live Electronic music I'd say..

 

Thank you very much for your feedback.
Honestly this guy handles Ableton very well :D Even with Orchestral and Pop Music.
I also know ABleton just as a EDM DAW ^^

We´re more feared of incompatibility with Apollo, then using intel.
This Device is really expensive and when you don´t get support, cause youre using AMD, this would be bad.

i really hate this licensing theme. But intel kept some important licenses in Video and Audio industry

 

It seems this Thunderboltex4 is compatible with AMD X670 Chipset,
but not with the x870..

So that would be the limit in terms of CPU/Chipset compat,
All the X670 mobos seem to be AM5, which should get you to Ryzen 7000 tho..

Then there's the Thunderboltex5,
but only compatible with Intel chipsets..

 

Last edited: Nov 26, 2024

I read now many sites and i think he can forget AMD
Sure, Thunderbolt can be "upgraded" somehow on some AMD systems. But the code and software for UAD seems to be written somehow for intel.

Now we´re comparing the Ultra 7 265KF with the i9 14900k
The Ultra7 has no Hyperthreading, but the i9 has just a base clock of 3,2 ghz.
That´s really really poor.
And it´s so sad to talk about the newest CPUs on the market, which are really slow compared to AMD ^^

 

Well the problem with Intel is not lack of power,
12th and 13th gen are great CPUs too, maybe 11th too..

I'm not super into intel details but, those CPU's are Monsters too,
and they don't Burn themselves (if properly untied and temp limited) like newer models.

Of course the envelope is always pushed further, but boy,
I'd say for Orchestral Composition with any top tier i7 or i9 you're rolling..

If you go the Intel route you could make yourself a Hackintosh too, and that's interesting

 

I would either sell that UAD X8P or buy a Mac, there are no other good options I'm afraid

 

Sadly this is already the winner post :D
I told him also, if you´re serious with music jump on the Apple Train.
But he also wants to play Windows games ^^

 

Hi. Here an user of AMD 7950x, asus x670e hero. Working just fine apollo twin x quad with my system using the USB4. The only problem i had was with a UAD 2-PCIe duo card, which clearly UAD state they are not compatible, but asus solved it with a custom bios, and
now working fine aswell, i dont get what you are talking about.

 

And id like to add that AM5 socket is also compatible with 9950 cpu

 

Yeah USB4 should cover the majority of user's needs when it comes to Thunderbolt, it doesn't always work but it very often does.

 

Interesting.
I read some things about the JHL8540 chip which is on the Asus x670e hero.
Under the hood it seems to be a Thunderbolt chip.

 

Apple isn't really better for serious music work, it's just that Windows landscape is too wide and Universal Audio doesn't give a fuck about various Thunderbolt implementations on Windows systems
PS: I lost my respect towards UA once I found out X8P for its price doesn't even include Thunderbolt cable in the box, frankly for lower price I went for RME UFX III and never looked back.

now we're talking, if he wants gaming PC, then sell X8P and buy better PC for the money

 

Yep, and dont take my word, google it. The only difference is that AMD didnt pay the license to stamp the thunderbolt logo

 

I have to agree with @zzsmk. Thunderbolt has always been hit or miss with UAD Thunderbolt interfaces. This has led most people switching to macOS and/or buying a interface from RME (best driver support & most stable).

There are BIOS settings that must be configured for thunderbolt to work properly on both Intel & AMD motherboards (mid to high end boards). Look for Thunderbolt & Thunderbolt Tunneling/USB Tunneling. Then there is the cable discussion. If you want solid USB 3/4 & Thunderbolt 3/4 connectivity & transmission, quality USB4/Thunderbolt 4 Cables are the way to. Especially the active ones (macOS or Windows). Expensive yes. Virtually worry free use experience.

 

Last edited: Nov 26, 2024

I have an old ASRock Taichi board (AMD) and they added a specific UAD Apollo update to the ROM to make it work. No idea if they did it with future boards. I think its around 2.80 or 3.00. You can see the specific update. It was just for that, nothing else.

 

I completly agree with this, but its not the same that saying that AMD cant be used with thunderbolt UAD interfaces, because they are. Mind you, it could be problematic at first. For me, mac are not worth the money for what they are, i rather buy a windows pc and configure it to make it work

 

That's a blessing. Their piece of shit cables don't work when they do provide them. I spent ages trying my USB3 before ordering a new one during Covid. They didn't replace it, just expected me to foot the cost. I think they suggested finding a friend to test one. Like who has spare USB3 cables to test? I've never seen one before opening that box.

 

Around 3 years ago I worked for a certain Pro Computer company,
we made Hackintoshes too..

I recall one situation, where a client with a Hackintosh I sold/built had an UAD interface,
the Boss assured him it will be compatible so he bought the machine.. but in the end it wasn't lol

I don't recall the details exactly, but it was Thunderbolt/USB versions and MacOS related.. a little clusterfuck;
and the solution was kinda Daisy-chaining the new UAD interface to an older one he had, (luckily we had both in the workshop to test)
and then MacOS detected the newer interface; I guess then they installed the drivers..

This was ofc with an Intel platform/chipset, ASUS mobo..

 

Last edited: Nov 26, 2024

I´m sorry the article is german ^^ :
https://iponshop.de/zeitschrift/art...ung-fur-asmedias-asm4242-usb4-controller-chip

It´s said the the new ASM4242 Chip is officially TB4 certified.
So i think that UAD needs to provide support for this, when the Mainboard has a USB4 port with this chipset, right?
For example also a X870E AM5 Board