Hidden Computer - Thunderbolt 4 PCIe Card?

04-23-2020, 05:40 PM

Hello everyone, I’m working on a major renovation of my second floor and am designing my new office area. My goal is to set up a step-up system inspired by Linus, placing my gaming PC in a closet opposite the wall and connecting it via Thunderbolt 4 to a dock on my desk. The main idea is to enable quick cable swaps for both my gaming PC and laptop, ensuring all peripherals function seamlessly.

My current setup includes a Ryzen 5 3600x with an ASUS PRIME B450M-A RTX 2700 graphics card. Since my machine doesn’t have a Thunderbolt 4 port, I’m considering adding a PCIE card similar to the one from ASUS. Anyone have experience with these Thunderbolt 4 PCIE cards?

Another concern is the distance—Thunderbolt 4 performance typically drops after about 10 feet. I’m worried about maintaining full capabilities over that range. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated!

MinecraftMegan

04-23-2020, 05:40 PM #1

RavenRavine
Member

197

04-24-2020, 01:15 AM

The card requires 32 PCIe lanes.

RavenRavine

04-24-2020, 01:15 AM #2

The card requires 32 PCIe lanes.

Jrodc423
Junior Member

04-24-2020, 04:32 AM

The card functions exclusively with specific motherboards, which aren't compatible with your setup. Your device lacks Thunderbolt support. If it's positioned on the opposite side, standard cables should work fine.

Jrodc423

04-24-2020, 04:32 AM #3

DestroN42
Member

230

04-25-2020, 12:28 AM

That's a very expensive card and cables, isn't it?

DestroN42

04-25-2020, 12:28 AM #4

That's a very expensive card and cables, isn't it?

Galivio
Junior Member

05-01-2020, 05:46 PM

Thunderbolt offers speed and versatility. At 10-15 feet you can easily connect video and USB cables, plus a hub for extra ports. DP and HDMI also function well over that distance, and USB works just as reliably.

Galivio

05-01-2020, 05:46 PM #5

matthewaxe168
Junior Member

05-02-2020, 10:41 PM

The primary goal is to swiftly replace my gaming PC and work laptop using just one cable.

matthewaxe168

05-02-2020, 10:41 PM #6

The primary goal is to swiftly replace my gaming PC and work laptop using just one cable.

TheBambooGamer
Junior Member

05-06-2020, 07:42 PM

KVM?

TheBambooGamer

05-06-2020, 07:42 PM #7

KVM?

C7s
Junior Member

05-07-2020, 12:49 AM

During my apprenticeship, I needed to install an HP Thunderbolt card. Unfortunately, it didn’t work well, forcing us to replace the entire system or motherboard. The drivers were chaotic, and compatibility issues were a major hassle.

C7s

05-07-2020, 12:49 AM #8

Blakem16
Member

154

05-09-2020, 04:06 AM

That sounds intriguing. It seems you're exploring a motherboard replacement to achieve your goals. Great initiative!

Blakem16

05-09-2020, 04:06 AM #9

That sounds intriguing. It seems you're exploring a motherboard replacement to achieve your goals. Great initiative!