Using a thunderbolt chassis

[jeremyseanbell]

My company is putting together a list of hardware we need to buy for HDX testing. We need to keep the HDX card external because we'll be using it on more than one computer. So we're getting the Sonnet chassis that Avid recommends on site, but we want to make sure that the thunderbolt card that we get for the Windows rig is compatible. I know people say that using thunderbolt on Windows is a headache. Are there any Avid-recommended thunderbolt cards? This is the one we're looking at.

[mesaone]

That thunderbolt card only works with certain motherboards. You would need to ensure that every computer you plan to install the card into is using one of the compatible mobos.

Compatible Model
-MAXIMUS VI EXTREME
-SABERTOOTH Z87
-Z87-PRO
-Z87-PRO(V EDITION)
-Z87-PLUS
-Z87-PLUS(VivoMouse EDITION)
-Z87-A
-Z87-A(NFC EXPRESS EDITION)

[jeremyseanbell]

Our PC uses an Asus motherboard. Any recommendations?

[mesaone]

Originally Posted by jeremyseanbell

Our PC uses an Asus motherboard. Any recommendations?

All the motherboards I listed are made by Asus. Can you determine the exact model(s) you have?

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by jeremyseanbell

Our PC uses an Asus motherboard. Any recommendations?

What exact ASUS Motherboard? Thanks to Apple dicking with/over-complicating Thunderbolt and requiring graphics integration, you cannot just add Thunderbolt to any old PC. It either comes with it built into the motherboard or is a specialist expansion card for specific motherboards.

If you are doing this to support/test something you expect your customers to use you better find out exactly what they will use and buy one (or more) of that setup. And haven't we been here already? Most PC users using HDX are just not going to be running a HDX card in a Thunderbold chassis so kind of all seems like a waste of time here, and not focusing on best testing on and supporting what exactly your customers will use. And it may be problematic will be getting Thunderbolt/HDX to work across all Windows OSes for whatever setup you wangle here vs. that end-users would want to run with HDX PCIe direct. Not to mention I don't think Avid formally supports *any* Thunderbolt on Windows configurations. What does messing around trying to do all this, and ending up with somethign not ideal, if it works at all, actually cost vs. just buying another HDX setup?

[jeremyseanbell]

Okay, here's the model number:
Asus N13219

Thanks!

[mesaone]

Not compatible.

[guitardom]

Originally Posted by jeremyseanbell

Okay, here's the model number:
Asus N13219

Thanks!

I believe that is an older system and no way it will support it. Asus TB compatible boards will have an actual header on the motherboard that a multipin cable has to plug into along with the PCIE card. Most ATX motherboards from Asus that are x87 or newer will have the header on there and it will work.

Also, if you have the model of the motherboard, you can just google the manual for it.

[mesaone]

Originally Posted by guitardom

Also, if you have the model of the motherboard, you can just google the manual for it.

One would think, but it's a ghost! I googled around and couldn't locate a manual for it. Only thing that shows up is a few pictures and some forum posts ca 2010. Even the Asus Support site spits back 0 results. From what I gather it's a mid-tier LGA775 mobo, and any build that uses it isn't likely to be compatible with PT 11-12 in the first place.

[jeremyseanbell]

I think there must be some mistake. We just bought this computer brand new about four months ago. And I can assure you that PT12 most definitely runs on it!