Z370 Motherboard Compatibility & Coffee Lake
- Thread starter danielbvs
- Start date
These are in short supply right now. Can't get them right now unless you are willing to pay more than they are worth. I'm not willing to pay the jacked up price for one. I'm willing to wait.
Here is the reply from UA when I asked about coffee lake MB being able to work with the 8p.
"Honestly not sure.
The MOBO has to have TB 3 built in and a USB-C port to access it.
if your MOBO has this is should work in theory.
We do not have any further info than what is listed on the existing articles"
It appear that the new gigabyte Z370 motherboard does not have built in thunderbolt 3 like some of the the previous Z170 and Z270 had. Look like you have to add the alpine ridge thunderbolt 3 card to have thunderbolt 3. Only time will tell if we are restricted to the Z170 and Z270 motherboards.
Here is the reply from UA when I asked about coffee lake MB being able to work with the 8p.
"Honestly not sure.
The MOBO has to have TB 3 built in and a USB-C port to access it.
if your MOBO has this is should work in theory.
We do not have any further info than what is listed on the existing articles"
It appear that the new gigabyte Z370 motherboard does not have built in thunderbolt 3 like some of the the previous Z170 and Z270 had. Look like you have to add the alpine ridge thunderbolt 3 card to have thunderbolt 3. Only time will tell if we are restricted to the Z170 and Z270 motherboards.
Hi your right it does appear to have thunderbolt 3 built in.
This motherboard is not in stock that i can find,nor the i8700k chips either (can be preordered)
I would love to build this generation of computer.
Hopefully a person richer and braver than i can build this and see if the system and Apollo plays well together
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I have good news about this Asrock motherboard for coffee lake.
It appears that it has an Alpine Ridge thunderbolt controller.
I contacted Asrock but still have not heard back and may not at all.
However i do not think it matters because all currently available Thunderbolt 3 controllers are called "Alpine Ridge" by Intel website.
https://ark.intel.com/products/series/87742/Thunderbolt-3-Controllers
The main difference between the JHL / DSL Series TB Chips is the newer uses lead free solder (the reason for switch)
DSL6540/6340 Series - "Alpine Ridge"
JHL6540/6340 Series - "Alpine Ridge"
JHL6240 Series - "Alpine Ridge LP"
The Asrock ad in card officially uses the JHL6540 Alpine Ridge Thunderbolt 3 Controller
ASRock > Thunderbolt 3 AIC
So its a safe bet this motherboard has built in Alpine Ridge Controller without an add in card, which so far is the only Coffee Lake board with the built in controller (without add in card)
It appears that it has an Alpine Ridge thunderbolt controller.
I contacted Asrock but still have not heard back and may not at all.
However i do not think it matters because all currently available Thunderbolt 3 controllers are called "Alpine Ridge" by Intel website.
https://ark.intel.com/products/series/87742/Thunderbolt-3-Controllers
The main difference between the JHL / DSL Series TB Chips is the newer uses lead free solder (the reason for switch)
DSL6540/6340 Series - "Alpine Ridge"
JHL6540/6340 Series - "Alpine Ridge"
JHL6240 Series - "Alpine Ridge LP"
The Asrock ad in card officially uses the JHL6540 Alpine Ridge Thunderbolt 3 Controller
ASRock > Thunderbolt 3 AIC
So its a safe bet this motherboard has built in Alpine Ridge Controller without an add in card, which so far is the only Coffee Lake board with the built in controller (without add in card)
https://www.anandtech.com/show/11692/intel-to-discontinue-first-gen-thunderbolt-3-controllers
Intel plans to discontinue the "Alpine Ridge" thunderbolt 3 controllers this year, and will be shipping the next gen to manufactures in 2018.
Also the Asrock driver for download on this motherboard is 16.3.61.275
This means the driver works for thunderbolt 3 (All alpine ridge) and earlier style thunderbolt chips mentioned
https://www.necacom.net/index.php/i...thunderbolt-software-version-16-3-61-275-whql
Intel Thunderbolt Software Version 16.3.61.275 WHQL. - This download record provides firmware and drivers for the Thunderbolt technology. Although Intel currently holds a monopoly on Thunderbolt-capable controllers, the tech is actually available in several flavors. Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 - 32/64 bits.
DriverVer = 02/27/2017,16.3.61.2
Software= 16.3.61.275 (Release Date: 16/03/17)
Supported Operating Systems
===========================
Windows* 7 32-bit/64 bit
Windows* 8 32 bit/64-bit
Windows* 8.1 32 bit/64-bit
Windows* 10 32 bit/64-bit
Target Intel Thunderbolt chipset :
DSL4410, DSL4510, DSL5110, DSL5520, DSL5320, DSL6340, DSL6540, JHL6240, JHL6340 and JHL6540 .
(These are thunderbolt 2 and earlier controllers)
DSL4510/4410 Series - "Redwood Ridge" (Tested with NVM rev 30)
DSL5520/5320 Series - "Falcon Ridge" (Tested with NVM rev 28)
DSL5110 Series - "Thunderbolt LP" (Tested with NVM rev 9)
(These are all thunderbolt 3 controllers - All alpine ridge)
DSL6540/6340 Series - "Alpine Ridge" (Tested with NVM rev 21)
JHL6540/6340 Series - "Alpine Ridge" (Tested with NVM rev 9)
JHL6240 Series - "Alpine Ridge LP" (Tested with NVM rev 4))
Intel plans to discontinue the "Alpine Ridge" thunderbolt 3 controllers this year, and will be shipping the next gen to manufactures in 2018.
Also the Asrock driver for download on this motherboard is 16.3.61.275
This means the driver works for thunderbolt 3 (All alpine ridge) and earlier style thunderbolt chips mentioned
https://www.necacom.net/index.php/i...thunderbolt-software-version-16-3-61-275-whql
Intel Thunderbolt Software Version 16.3.61.275 WHQL. - This download record provides firmware and drivers for the Thunderbolt technology. Although Intel currently holds a monopoly on Thunderbolt-capable controllers, the tech is actually available in several flavors. Supported OS: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 - 32/64 bits.
DriverVer = 02/27/2017,16.3.61.2
Software= 16.3.61.275 (Release Date: 16/03/17)
Supported Operating Systems
===========================
Windows* 7 32-bit/64 bit
Windows* 8 32 bit/64-bit
Windows* 8.1 32 bit/64-bit
Windows* 10 32 bit/64-bit
Target Intel Thunderbolt chipset :
DSL4410, DSL4510, DSL5110, DSL5520, DSL5320, DSL6340, DSL6540, JHL6240, JHL6340 and JHL6540 .
(These are thunderbolt 2 and earlier controllers)
DSL4510/4410 Series - "Redwood Ridge" (Tested with NVM rev 30)
DSL5520/5320 Series - "Falcon Ridge" (Tested with NVM rev 28)
DSL5110 Series - "Thunderbolt LP" (Tested with NVM rev 9)
(These are all thunderbolt 3 controllers - All alpine ridge)
DSL6540/6340 Series - "Alpine Ridge" (Tested with NVM rev 21)
JHL6540/6340 Series - "Alpine Ridge" (Tested with NVM rev 9)
JHL6240 Series - "Alpine Ridge LP" (Tested with NVM rev 4))
Okay i am building this computer mentioned.
This is the only board for coffee lake with thunderbolt 3 usb-c connector and alpine ridge thunderbolt controller.
I have a i7-8700k in the mail now.
ASRock Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac (with built in usbc thunderbolt 3)
The itx size board will give me opportunity to use in a 2u rack case with its built in Intel 630 UHD graphics output. (no graphics card needed)
Ill update this thread again once i get all the components built and Win10 installed and running.
This is the only board for coffee lake with thunderbolt 3 usb-c connector and alpine ridge thunderbolt controller.
I have a i7-8700k in the mail now.
ASRock Fatal1ty Z370 Gaming-ITX/ac (with built in usbc thunderbolt 3)
The itx size board will give me opportunity to use in a 2u rack case with its built in Intel 630 UHD graphics output. (no graphics card needed)
Ill update this thread again once i get all the components built and Win10 installed and running.
Do keep us updated... The older generation is not really any cheaper which is frustrating. 6700k, 7700k and 8700k are all within $15-20 still, so trying to save money going with older stuff isn't really even an option.
livingmelody
Member
Would love to know too. I'm planning to upgrade my PC in the coming months and have been looking at the ASUS Prime Z370 A: https://www.asus.com/ca-en/Motherboards/PRIME-Z370-A/
Cheers,
Hubert.
Cheers,
Hubert.
Okay ive got most of the components, but still need to buy a new ssd drive, win 10, and startech adapter.
It will be a little bit before im able to get it all running and tested with Thanksgiving next week.
Im switching from my Imac 5k (Which has been a great computer and worked perfectly with the Apollo 8)
Is there any version of windows 10 that works best with Apollo?
Hopefully everything works correctly once it is all running.
It will be a little bit before im able to get it all running and tested with Thanksgiving next week.
Im switching from my Imac 5k (Which has been a great computer and worked perfectly with the Apollo 8)
Is there any version of windows 10 that works best with Apollo?
Hopefully everything works correctly once it is all running.
According to the website: "Experience blistering ThunderboltTM 3 speeds and any-way-up connectivity
Prime Z370-A provides full support for a ThunderboltEX 3* card. An Intel-certified Thunderbolt™ 3 add-on card enables breathtaking bi-directional speeds of up to 40Gbps through a single cable — up to 4X faster than other PC data-transfer protocols. Beyond sheer bandwidth, Thunderbolt 3 supports daisy-chaining up to six devices, utilizes a Type-C reversible connector for compatibility with the latest USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C devices, and meets USB Power Delivery specifications for fast, high-power charging of up to 36W."
I thought it had to be "on the board", will it work with an add on card (the only way the 370 series seems to come)?
livingmelody
Member
From what I understand (and I'm just getting up to speed with all this thunderbolt business, so I might be wrong) when they say it won't work with an add-on card they mean for motherboards which don't have Thunderbolt support at all (and on which you try to add a Thunderbolt PCI adapter). However for motherboards who have an existing Thunderbolt header an add-on like the ThunderboltEX 3 should work.
Ive read about people using the Asus add in cards successfully but also many problems
The gigabyte x370 boards also have thunderbolt add in cards.
This is why i went with the only motherboard with built in thunderbolt usbc / alpine ridge.
The article i linked previously also states that Intel discontinuing alpine ridge thunderbolt controller shipments to manufacturers this year, so its still possible that some new devices next year may still have alpine ridge controllers.
Intel is updating the controllers to something else (untested by uaudio)
The gigabyte x370 boards also have thunderbolt add in cards.
This is why i went with the only motherboard with built in thunderbolt usbc / alpine ridge.
The article i linked previously also states that Intel discontinuing alpine ridge thunderbolt controller shipments to manufacturers this year, so its still possible that some new devices next year may still have alpine ridge controllers.
Intel is updating the controllers to something else (untested by uaudio)
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computerbeats
New Member
any news on the coffee lake compability? trying to get something for the black friday sales going on 
I hear ya. I have a colleague in the same position. Unfortunately we have not had an update from UA since z170/Skylake. Gannon from UA recently stated that z270 should be compatible via Alpine Ridge w/TB3>TB2 adapter since z170 is, but that's as official as it gets for Kaby Lake. No hints at Coffee Lake!
I renamed the thread to Z370 Motherboard Compatibility & Coffee Lake and redirected all the other similar threads here, so we can keep this discussion centralized and focused as there will be an increasing number of people interested in this.
I personally hope UA updates their supported system info. Since Intel will be discontinuing Alpine ridge in 2018, maybe UA is waiting on the next release?
I personally hope UA updates their supported system info. Since Intel will be discontinuing Alpine ridge in 2018, maybe UA is waiting on the next release?
matthew john
Member
Hey together,
i am in the same boat here.
my current system is with an i7 4790k. the system works - i would not need a new or faster cpu. there may be workarounds to get thunderbolt connectivity in this system. but i do not want to do this. i don´t want to invest money in this older system.
i bought an Apollo 8P and catched a free octo satellite. i want to use this stuff. i put all my RME stuff on craiglist...
so what to do?
buy an 7700k or 6700k system? Naaaa..... this stuff is almost the same price as coffee lake....
i went all-in.
so here my parts list:
CPU: Intel Core i7 8700K
RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4
Storage: Samsung Evo SSD + WD HDD
Case (fractal) + PSU (bequiet) + Cooler (scythe) from my old system
Thunderbolt relevant parts:
Mainboard: Asus PRIME Z370-A
Add in Card: Asus Thunderbolt EX 3 PCIe
Startech Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt Adapter
Apple Thundbolt cables
Parts should arrive next week. I´ll keep you updated.
greetings!
Matthew
i am in the same boat here.
my current system is with an i7 4790k. the system works - i would not need a new or faster cpu. there may be workarounds to get thunderbolt connectivity in this system. but i do not want to do this. i don´t want to invest money in this older system.
i bought an Apollo 8P and catched a free octo satellite. i want to use this stuff.
i put all my RME stuff on craiglist...so what to do?
buy an 7700k or 6700k system? Naaaa..... this stuff is almost the same price as coffee lake....
i went all-in.
so here my parts list:
CPU: Intel Core i7 8700K
RAM: 16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4
Storage: Samsung Evo SSD + WD HDD
Case (fractal) + PSU (bequiet) + Cooler (scythe) from my old system
Thunderbolt relevant parts:
Mainboard: Asus PRIME Z370-A
Add in Card: Asus Thunderbolt EX 3 PCIe
Startech Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt Adapter
Apple Thundbolt cables
Parts should arrive next week. I´ll keep you updated.
greetings!
Matthew