Thunderbolt 3 header can work with Thunderbolt 4 AIC or not at all.
Thunderbolt 3 header can work with Thunderbolt 4 AIC or not at all.
Are there distinct TB4 motherboard headers or are they similar to TB3 and TB4? Have you spotted a TB4 header either in person or through images? You're searching for an AMD motherboard with Thunderbolt 4, but only the Asus ProArt B550-CREATOR seems to offer it. You're also interested in a 10GbE option; the ASRock X570 Creator is appealing but lacks Thunderbolt 3 and possibly a TBT header. More broadly, can TB4 add-on cards function on a board that only has a TB3 header? Have you heard of TB3 AICs being tricked into working by modifying the TBT header cable? Does this approach apply to all TB3 AICs or just certain models? Any leads on TB4 compatibility with newer TB4 AICs like the ASUS ThunderboltEX 4?
Both ASRock and ASUS TB4 AICs depend on 500 series intel chipsets. That’s pretty restrictive. I wonder how versatile a standard can be if it’s tied so closely to specific manufacturers? I’d like to see more flexibility moving forward. There should definitely be options with PCIex4 slots, TBT headers, and possibly USB ports that work across different systems. It’s frustrating when you need a USB cable just to connect to the motherboard. And don’t forget about the DisplayPort requirement—it’s a real pain. Hopefully, future updates will bring more variety. The idea of having one universal port is ideal, but it still feels limiting right now.
Who is this talking about? It seems like someone is questioning the value of having knowledge. Maybe they'll need to look deeper and search for solutions on their own.
The USB connection exists mainly to keep compatibility with USB standards. It likely avoids adding extra chips to the AIC PCB and removes licensing needs. It might also allow the system to recognize and verify the THB AIC, though this could be handled via PCIE with a minor bandwidth impact. The DP cable is needed because the required frame rates exceed what PCIE 3 supports. This situation mirrors using bridges for shared memory access on high-end GPUs and explains why built-in HDMI, DP, VGA or DVI ports aren't available on the motherboard. Regarding the THB headers, it seems to relate more to power specifications than DRM.
The USB connection exists mainly to keep compatibility with USB standards. It likely avoids adding extra chips to the AIC PCB and removes licensing needs. It might also allow your system to identify and verify the THB AIC, though this could be handled via PCIE with a minor bandwidth impact. The DP cable is needed because the required frame rates exceed what PCIE 3 supports. This situation mirrors the use of bridges for shared memory access on high-end GPUs and explains why built-in HDMI, DP, VGA or DVI ports aren't available on the motherboard. I also want to confirm whether the difference in THB headers relates to power specs or DRM requirements. Ref: PCIE 4 released the same year, initial adoption would be PCIE 3.