Hello Guys, here's the problem i encounter :

I've just build a pc with a motherboard that doesn't have any thunderbolt port and would like to connect my UAD Apollo twin (thunderbolt to it), but when i try to do so, unsign a thundebrolt 3 to Usb - C adapter, the uad software doesn't see it, while my pc recognize that a thunderbolt devie is connected.

Does anyone knos how to manage this ?

Thank's already,

Ps : I'm a totalnewbie on pc

 

If your motherboard doesn't have TB support, you won't be able to connect anything that uses TB. Sorry!

If you have a motherboard that has support for TB but no actual ports, you most likely need to buy a add-on card that has the TB ports. Some ASUS and Gigabyte motherboards has the option to add one of these, but they can be quite expensive and hard to get a hold of! At least where I am, for some reason

Btw, what motherboard and CPU are you running atm?

 

Last edited: Aug 16, 2021

Depending on your version of Apollo Twin, it might be Thunderbolt 2, not 3, and many TB2 devices don't work with TB3. I specifically read on UAD website that their TB2 Apollo won't work with TB3. Shame because these adapters are not exactly cheap because they have to have this damn Intel TB chip in it. Do you have some TB3 device to try it with? Like a hard disk?

My client has an Apollo Twin TB2 version and it works with Asus Z170 motherboard with TB2 card.

I've heard a rumour that TB4 will be more backwards compatible, but you never know with Intel...

 

Last edited: Aug 16, 2021

Thank's for the quick replies guys that's nice !

The motherboard : Asus Rog Strix x570 E gaming
The CPU : AMD Ryzen 9 3950x

It's the Twin mk2 which is indeed Thunderbolt 2, and no i don't have a TB3 device around !

 

I'm searching right now if this motherboard could work with an add-on card maybe

 

It doesn't :/ For AMD processors you would need a board from the B550 series. https://www.asus.com/Motherboards-Components/Motherboards/All-series/filter?Category=AMD&Spec=607,609

Most of them only have onboard headers (needs add-on card), so I think your best bet would be to buy the ProArt B550-CREATOR that has built-in TB to make it easy for you.

If you bought the MB recently, you might be able to send it back and replace it with the ProArt. It's also cheaper, so you would get like €100 back.

 

Last edited: Aug 16, 2021

Asus Rog Strix x570 E gaming does not support thunderbolt. You best choice is to sell your old motherboard and buy:
Gigabyte B550 VISION D

 

That one would work as well. Might be better since it's tb3 while the ProArt is tb4? Don't know if you would need to use a additional adapter between tb3 and tb4. In that case he would need adapters for tb2>tb3>tb4 to use the ProArt MB.

 

without thunderbolt support on your motherboard, you cannot use thunderbolt audio interface, sorry, that's all

 

it is not better to buy an apollo with usb3

 

I never said that either. I said that he needs to buy a different motherboard. Or what did you men by that?

 

If you short two pins on the cable connector, every mainboard is apparently compatible with Thunderbolt:
https://egpu.io/forums/builds/thund...-fatality-motherboard-help-needed/#post-59565

 

You need an add-on card, like many Asus and Gigabyte motherboards offer, or your motherboard has to have that Intel TB chip onboard, but these come with TB connectors.

 

Last edited: Aug 16, 2021

You still need to have TB support (on-board TB header) on the MB to be able to use the add-on cards If it doesn't have that, like OP's current MB, it doesn't matter if you buy a add-on card. Some motherboards nowadays have built-in ports, ready to use straight away though.

The add-on cards is connected through a PCIe x4 slot and then you connect a additional cable to the TB header on the MB. The add-on cards go for around $90 and you would have to sacrifice a PCI slot for the card, so IMO it's better to just buy a MB with built-in TB ports.

 

Thank's a lot for all the propositions, that's so nice thank's !

Since i bought the MB more than a year ago i can't send it back and get refunded, and from what i see people don't usually buy used MB right ?
So if i went to buy a new MB, it would make this operation quite expensive, whereas using a PCIE slot to put an add-on card would be much less apparently !

If i'm right, my MB still have 3 PCIE slots available so it might be a better option there

 

seeing how complicated UAD Thunderbolt Windows support page looks like, I would rather go Mac or RME lmao
https://help.uaudio.com/hc/en-us/ar...o-Twin-Apollo-Twin-MkII-Windows-Compatibility

 

Using an add-on on the old mb is not always a good solution for the audio interface (you need the right slot, processor and chipset support, right UEFI settings) And in the end, you may have audio dropouts and latency. Invest on the newer mb
I bought lenovo p72 f(2x TB3) for my UAD-2 Apollo (it works as expected)

 

Last edited: Aug 16, 2021

ASUS
ThunderboltEX 3
Experience blistering Thunderbolt 3 speeds and any-way-up connectivity
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards-Components/Motherboards/Accessories/ThunderboltEX-3/

ebay - Thunderbolt 3 On Mac Pro and Hackintosh - 119 €
https://www.ebay.de/itm/33390271402...id=5338073679&customid=x3nReHvVm_wQif6TwPLYdA

 

You need more than just pcie slots for the add on card, you also need a TB header on the motherboard. And your mb doesn't have the required header. Thus you need a new MB fullstop.

It can be a hard pill to swallow but trying any other solution on this particular mb is a waste of time.

 

Some reading that should help clarify your issue. From that page:
Can I connect USB devices to a Thunderbolt™ 3 port?
Yes, Thunderbolt 3 ports are fully compatible with USB devices and cables.