No Thunderbolt controller available for ASUS ProArt B550 MB Build
No Thunderbolt controller available for ASUS ProArt B550 MB Build
I have Thunderbolt Software and Thunderbolt Control Center set up, yet the controller isn’t showing up in System Devices. It doesn’t install, even though the installation process completes without errors. My system specs include: UAD Apollo Twin X DUO (device I need), Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, ASUS Pro Art B550 BIOS 2407, AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, 2x16GB GSkill Trident Z Neo RAM (DDR4), MSI Gaming x Trio RX 6800 XT, Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe M.2 1TB, Seagate Barracuda 3.5" SSD 2TB, and EVGA 850 GA Supernova. I’ve tried updating BIOS, flashback, and reinstalling Windows twice using the Media Creation Tool while removing AMD chipset drivers. Each time I create a fresh admin account, install from that account, and plug in the Thunderbolt port, it works. I’m seeking guidance on how to resolve this issue.
The board does indeed have a genuine Thunderbolt port, which is quite rare. Thunderbolt connects directly to the CPU, making it essential for X570 boards to be designed with this in mind. Compatibility is usually limited to one specific Thunderbolt card for each board model. If you encounter issues with Thunderbolt functionality, it’s best to contact the manufacturer. Attempting to use it for hacking is unlikely to succeed.
yeah, i have two built in TB4 ports but they have never worked. I built my PC about a month ago and this was my first attempt, so it could easily be some operator error somewhere. I tried using a usb-c Logitech Stream cam and it didn't work, but I just assumed usb-c and TB were incompatible. However, my TB device got here yesterday and that doesn't work either. All of my USB slots work, and as far as I can tell, all my display ports work as well. When I go into BIOS, I can enable and disable the TB ports, so it knows they exist, I just can't get the controller driver to install. Still waiting for ASUS to reply, but the PC works beautifully other than the TB ports.
My perception is USB-C works well with Thunderbolt but not vice versa, meaning you can connect a USB-C device to a Thunderbolt port, but not the reverse without issues. A Thunderbolt connection might function but at a lower performance level. USB-C offers significantly more data transfer speed, and using that extra capacity requires a different approach. Many discussions online suggest people are trying to connect their graphics cards to USB-C instead of Thunderbolt, which often doesn’t work properly. It seems I might be confusing USB4 with USB-C/Thunderbolt—Intel’s decision to separate them might have led to Thunderbolt 4, which combines features of both while simplifying mechanical design. This aspect makes me wonder if USB-C could fit into Thunderbolt ports as well. Also, some Mac models have Thunderbolt ports but lack USB-C connectors.
It seems your actual ports might not be functioning properly. That could explain why your Apollo Twin isn't connecting and why drivers aren't downloading automatically. You're wondering if there should be a controller driver listed in the Device Manager, which makes sense. I'll try uninstalling and reinstalling the TB software again to check, but it feels like this might be more about an MB issue now.
I’m unsure about this. Most boards with b550 ports aren’t inexpensive, but they’re often advertised as having Thunderbolt. The real challenge is whether the board actually supports it—Thunderbolt requires more than just a controller; it’s an integrated feature. If a board claims Thunderbolt but it doesn’t work, that raises concerns for the manufacturer. Updated August 4, 2021 by Bombastinator
Yes, it includes built-in TB4 and offers drivers for installing TB software alongside the MB. I was wondering if a different cable might be necessary. After reviewing the MB manual, it mentions that PCI slot 3 and TB share bandwidth, so I removed my Elgato capture card from that slot, rebooted the system, and checked Device Manager—now the TB controller is detected. I plan to install my Apollo Twin X and will keep the thread updated in case this resolves the issue.
I need to figure out how to fit it into my second PCI port, but that’s currently restricted because my powerful GPU is connected to PCI 1. Fortunately, I rarely use the Elgato, so it’s not too critical. The real issue was when I plugged an expansion card into the third slot. Once I removed it: the computer recognized Apollo Twin X, installed the required UAD software, and rebooted Thunderbolt Control Center. It went through BIO settings and now has a fresh Thunderbolt BIOS with all standard options. After logging in and turning on Apollo, everything works smoothly. It seems the expansion card was the main problem. Interestingly, the drivers provided by ASUS didn’t install properly—both from the disk and their website. I removed all related software before reinstalling Thunderbolt Software, but now when I try to install the ASUS drivers, I get a “fatal error.” The Thunderbolt Control Center reinstalled it automatically, and my device is now detected correctly. Since this model is quite new, I expect some compatibility issues. My Logitech Streamcam USB-C works fully in the other TB slot, so using anything in the third PCI port seems to disable those ports entirely. Thanks for your help—I hope this helps others too!
EDIT: The only thing I’ve noticed is that Apollo Twin must be turned on before booting. Windows doesn’t recognize it as an audio interface if it’s off during startup, even though Thunderbolt Control Center shows it connected. Also, the Thunderbolt Software seems to fail because of a MSI error when trying to install the ASUS drivers. The installation keeps failing despite the software being present.
The MB is a newer release, so I understand it might have some quirks. UAD Audio Interfaces are generally better suited for Mac users than Windows, which adds another layer. If you own an ASUS Pro-Art B550 Creator MB and need further help, feel free to reach out—I’m here to assist!
Hey there, I'm having issues with my Apollo Solo Thunderbolt Heritage edition. It runs perfectly on the console after installing the UAD software, but when I try to use it with apps like Ableton, YouTube, or other Windows programs, it crashes immediately. It starts lagging, then freezes, cracks, and eventually stops working. Any advice or help would be super welcome.